Melwood Facilities is a leading provider of fire risk assessments in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and across the North West of England. Our experienced team provide fire risk assessments for a wide range business premises, from offices and government buildings, hotels, restaurants many other property types.
It is a legal obligation for business owners, landlords and property managing agents to sure buildings and facilities contain all the appropriate fire safety requirements.
Owners face an array of challenges to ensure their property has all the necessary fire safety features in place, especially if your property is a recent acquisition. A fire risk assessment by Melwood Facilities provides those responsible with all the information required to improve a building’s first risk management.
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
For buildings utilised as a workspace or residential property that contain more than a single dwelling, Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 dictates that it is a legal requirement for a fire risk assessment to be made. Depending on the severity of any potential issues highlighted by a fire risk assessment, additional fire safety surveys and inspections may be required, including fire door surveys & compartmentation surveys.
What Does a Fire Risk Assessment Include?
- Identify fire hazards and potential sources
- Identify people at risk
- Evaluate, remove or reduce the identified risks
- Recorded findings, an emergency plan, and required training
- Review and update the fire risk assessment regularly
The initial fire risk assessment checklist is the minimum, so it’s highly likely more information and inspection is necessary to complete the fire safety assessment, particularly for larger or more complex facilities. Each industry may also require specialist guidance. For example, a warehouse may not carry the same fire risks as a restaurant kitchen.
Melwood Facilities conduct a comprehensive, objective fire audit to help gauge your current situation to statutory compliance and fire prevention measures to form a full and proper report with detailed fire risk assessment guidance, including:
- Premises description & use
- Persons at risk
- History of arson/fire
- Fire hazards and preventative measures
- Sources of ignition, fuel & oxygen
- Means of escape
- Compartmentation and fire separation
- Fire detection & warning system
- Emergency lighting
- Portable & fixed firefighting equipment
- Facilities for fire & rescue services
- Signage
- Emergency plan
- Fire safety information & training
- Testing & maintenance
- Management & record keeping
- Comprehensive action plan
The areas above need to be assessed in detail, in order to provide personnel responsible with the information and prioritised recommendations required to document a plan suitable for UK legislation.
Local Fire Safety Checks
At Melwood Facilities, we can provide a complete range of local fire safety checks, helping you to develop a safe fire management plan, with the goal of protecting both your employees and your building as a whole.
As part of our comprehensive, close fire risk assessments, our experienced fire risk assessors will test all in-house fire fighting equipment, including fire extinguishers, to ensure they are working as intended, located in the correct places and give the building’s inhabitants a safe, secure environment in which to work or relax.
Fire Safety Consultancy Services
Melwood Facilities is a leading provider of fire safety consultancy services in the North West of England, including a fire safety procedures review, practical fire safety consultancy and much more. As part of our risk assessments, we will share any significant findings, and provide practical safety advice to ensure that your property is as safe and protected as possible.
Whether you’re looking for an experienced team to provide training, develop a contingency plan or simply help you meet your legal obligations without negatively impacting business activities, don’t hesitate to get in touch today.
Which Premises do Melwood Facilities provide Fire Risk Assessments for?
Our experienced team of fire risk assessors regularly work with a wide range of premises, including:
- Schools
- Government Offices
- Companies’ Private
- Offices
- Council Buildings
- Hospitality Industries
- Student Housing
- Shared Accommodation (HMOs)
Melwood Facilities hold a wide range of accreditations and regulatory requirements, including BAFE regulations, CHAS, FIA, Gas Safe Register, FDIS and IFSM accreditations.
Why Choose Melwood Facilities For Fire Risk Assessments?
From our local offices in Shevington, Wigan, we’re proud to offer reliable, affordable service to commercial properties across Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and the North West of England.
With an unparalleled level of expertise, experience and all necessary accreditation, Melwood Facilities adopt a highly constructive and thorough approach to your fire risk assessment. Melwood Facilities work closely with responsible personnel and staff to provide clear, actionable guidelines and the information on how to implement changes.
Areas We Cover
For a complete fire risk assessment in Wigan, from a team of fully-accredited, certified fire safety assessors, don’t hesitate to get in touch today.
Here at Melwood, we’re proud to offer industry-leading, local services to properties across the North-West. Some of our most popular areas of service include:
- Greater Manchester (Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Eccles, Wigan, Bolton)
- Lancashire (Preston, Blackpool, Blackburn)
- Merseyside (Liverpool, Warrington, St. Helens)
- Stoke-On-Trent
- Crewe
Fire Risk Assessments FAQs
The cost of your fire risk assessment depends on a range of factors, including the size of your building, the amount of people or employees consistently in the building, and the amount of fire safety equipment, precautions and potential escape routes that your building offers.
Yes, you can carry out a fire risk assessment yourself. However, an in-house fire risk assessment will not be legally recognised unless you hold the right accreditations. Your own assessment may be useful for in-house planning, but it is not a sufficient assessment, legally.
It is always recommended that you seek professional assistance as fire risk assessments are highly technical. A professional fire risk assessor will have the knowledge and experience to properly identify potential fire hazards in your building and put together an effective fire safety plan.
The fire risk assessment should be a continuous process, meaning that you should regularly review and update the fire safety plan as your business grows or changes.
You should also conduct a fire risk assessment whenever there is a significant change to your building, such as a refurbishment, extension or change of use.
At Melwood Facilities, we’d recommend that you run a complete assessment annually following the initial fire risk assessments. That way, you can be sure you’re following all fire safety regulations, in addition to mitigating the fire risk in your commercial premises.
Yes, fire and rescue services will use your fire risk assessment during an inspection to ensure that you have taken the necessary steps to protect your employees, customers and property from fire.
If they find that your fire risk assessment is not up to date or does not meet current fire safety standards, they may issue a notice ordering you to make improvements.
If you don’t conduct a fire risk assessment and there is a fire at your premises, you may be liable for any resulting damage, injuries or fatalities.
You could also be fined or imprisoned if it is found that you have breached fire safety regulations and put your employees’ or customers’ lives at risk.
Yes, it is a legal requirement. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, a full fire safety risk assessment is a legal responsibility for all non-domestic premises, or business premises – and you’re also required by law to keep a full written record of your assessment if your business employs five or more people.
It’s important to note that a fire risk assessment does not act as a certificate of compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Instead, the purpose of a fire risk assessment is to form the basis for the Responsible Person to maintain suitable and sufficient fire precautions in the workplace.
The responsibility for compliance with the above legal requirements remains with the employer or other responsible persons in control of the business or premises.
Yes, we can. Here at Melwood Facilities, we can provide a complete range of fire risks assessments for housing associations and houses of multiple occupations. Our fire protection and assessment team offer specialist customer service, in addition to a range of practical assessments to suit your needs.
