Small blocks of flats
If you own or run a small block of flats, you must carry out a fire risk assessment.
A small block of flats is described in the Home Office guidance (see below) as a maximum of three storey’s, with not more than a ground, first and second floor, and no more than six flats, typically with two flats per floor. They are defined as blocks that are purpose-built, or converted in accordance with the 1991 Building Regulations or later, and designed so that in the event of a fire in one flat, other occupiers would remain in their own flats ('stay put strategy').
Your Fire Risk Assessment must be carried out by your Responsible Person (RP). For information about fire risk assessments and RPs, please see below.
Fire Risk Assessments for small block of flats
If you own or are responsible for a small block of flats, you will need to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment. This is an assessment of the possible fire risks in your small block of flats and what can be done to remove or reduce them.
The assessment should be carried out by your Responsible Person and the required information recorded and kept up to date.
The Home Office has produced a guide which tells you what you need to know, along with helpful checklists, examples of accommodation layouts, and more. If you wish to carry out the fire risk assessment yourself, the Guidance asks that you please ensure that you are 'able to interpret and apply the guidance and recommendations' contained in the Home Office Guide. If this is not possible, you can employ a Fire Risk Assessor to do the Assessment for you.
If your small block of flats is different ...
If your small block of flats
- does not fall within the scope of the Home Office Guidance referred to above, or
- your fire precautions are materially different from those recommended in the Home Office Guidance above
you should instead base your Fire Risk Assessment on the government Guidance for 'Fire Safety in Purpose-built Blocks of Flats'.
Responsible persons
Every business and non-domestic building will have a Responsible Person. This is the person who has control of the premises, for example a building owner, the employer or leaseholder.
Responsible Persons (RPs) make sure premises comply with fire safety law, carry out fire risk assessments and identify what precautions need to be taken to keep those premises safe.
Learn about the role of a Responsible Person, what they need to do and why on our Responsible Person section.
Employing a competent Fire Risk Assessor
If you cannot or do not wish to carry out the Fire Risk Assessment yourself, you can employ someone to do it for you.
You will still be legally responsible for your Fire Risk Assessment and so it is important that you use or employ a person who can do the job correctly. Take a look at the things you should check before employing someone to do your Fire Risk Assessment.