If you’re responsible for premises in Liverpool, a fire risk assessment helps you identify fire hazards, understand the risks and know what needs attention.
At Melwood Facilities, we carry out fire risk assessments in Liverpool for businesses, landlords and organisations. We work with offices, hospitality premises, schools, student housing, HMOs, warehouses, apartment developments and other properties.
We’ll inspect the premises, check the fire safety measures already in place and provide a report setting out what we find and any action that needs to be taken.
You may need a new assessment if you’ve taken over a property, your existing assessment is out of date or changes have been made since it was last reviewed.
Why You May Need a Fire Risk Assessment
Premises change over time. Rooms get a new use, staff numbers change, storage increases and equipment gets moved. This can introduce risks that weren’t there when an earlier assessment was carried out.
Our assessors look at how the premises are being used now, who could be at risk and whether the existing fire precautions are suitable.
This gives you an up-to-date assessment based on the property as it is today, rather than relying on an old report that may no longer apply.
What We Check During a Fire Risk Assessment
An office won’t have the same risks as student housing, a restaurant, school or warehouse. We take the type of premises, how it is used and the people using it into account.
Depending on the property, we may check:
- Means of escape
- Fire detection and warning systems
- Emergency lighting
- Fire safety signage
- Firefighting equipment
- Compartmentation and fire separation
- Fire doors
- Emergency procedures
- Staff training and information
- Testing and maintenance records
We also look for issues such as blocked escape routes, damaged fire doors or procedures that no longer match the way the premises are used.
Where action is needed, your report will explain what should be addressed and which issues should be dealt with first.
Fire Risk Assessments and Your Legal Duties
For most non-domestic premises and many shared residential properties, a fire risk assessment is a legal requirement.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places duties on the responsible person to assess fire risks and put suitable precautions in place.
This can include escape routes, emergency lighting, fire doors, alarms, firefighting equipment, staff procedures and maintenance.
If you’ve recently taken responsibility for premises in Liverpool or aren’t sure whether your current assessment is still suitable, we can assess the property and explain any issues we find.
Fire Safety Advice From Melwood Facilities
We keep our reports clear and explain anything that needs attention without filling them with unnecessary technical wording.
Melwood Facilities carries out fire safety work across Liverpool, Merseyside, Manchester and the wider North West.
Melwood Facilities holds BAFE accreditation and is a member of IFSM.
If further work is needed, we can also help with fire door surveys, compartmentation surveys, statutory inspections and fire training.
Fire Risk Assessments for Different Properties
We carry out assessments for a range of premises across Liverpool and the wider Merseyside area.
Commercial Fire Risk Assessments
We assess offices, shops, hospitality premises and other commercial properties, looking at the risks to staff, customers and visitors.
Residential Fire Risk Assessments
We work with flats, apartment developments, student housing, HMOs and other residential premises.
Melwood Facilities can carry out Type 1-4 residential fire risk assessments where appropriate for the property.
Educational Fire Risk Assessments
For schools and other educational premises, we consider the number of people using the building, escape arrangements and the fire precautions already in place.
Industrial Fire Risk Assessments
For warehouses and industrial premises, we consider risks linked to stock, machinery, equipment, working practices and how the site operates.
Book a Fire Risk Assessment in Liverpool
If your current assessment is out of date, the premises have changed or you’re unsure whether you’re meeting your legal duties, speak to Melwood Facilities.
We carry out fire risk assessments across Liverpool and the wider Merseyside area for single properties and organisations with multiple sites.
Call 07887 971740, email hello@melwoodfacilities.co.uk or send us an enquiry to arrange your fire risk assessment.
Fire Risk Assessments FAQs
The cost will depend on the premises being assessed. Its size, type, layout and how it is used can all affect the amount of work involved.
A small office or shop may need a different assessment from a large warehouse, school, HMO or apartment development. Contact Melwood Facilities with some details about your premises and we can discuss what is required and provide a quote.
There isn’t a set time for every property. It will depend on the size and complexity of the premises and what the assessor needs to inspect.
We can give you a better idea of the time involved once we know what type of property you have and its size.
In some circumstances, the responsible person can carry out the assessment themselves if they have the knowledge and ability to do so properly.
For larger, more complex or higher-risk premises, getting help from someone with suitable fire safety knowledge and experience may be more appropriate. It also means you have someone who knows what to look for and can explain any action that may be needed.
Responsibility normally sits with the person who has control of the premises. Depending on the property, this could be an employer, landlord, managing agent, building owner or another person responsible for the site.
There can also be more than one responsible person where responsibility for a building is shared.
Fire risk assessments do not simply expire on a fixed date. They should be kept under review and updated when necessary.
A review may be needed after significant changes to the premises, changes in how the building is used or where there is reason to think the existing assessment is no longer suitable.
There is no single review period that applies to every premises. The assessment should be reviewed regularly and when circumstances change.
The right frequency will depend on the building and how it is used. If you have an older assessment and aren’t sure whether it still reflects the premises, Melwood Facilities can assess the current situation.
It helps to have basic information about the premises ready, such as the type of property, its approximate size, how it is used and whether you already have a fire risk assessment.
You can also tell us about any recent changes to the building or its use. From there, we can discuss what assessment is suitable and what happens next.
This will depend on the property and the work taking place there. In many cases, an assessor can inspect premises while they are in normal use, although access will be needed to the relevant areas.
If access or working hours could be an issue, let us know when arranging the assessment so this can be discussed beforehand.
