Buy a fire risk assessment on comparable terms
Use one premises schedule, name the responsible people and give every assessor the same occupancy, hazard, record and report requirements.
A comparable quote must answer five things
- Who is the named assessor and what comparable premises experience can they evidence?
- Which buildings, floors, occupancies, shared areas and fire-safety responsibilities are included?
- What records, fire precautions, hazards and people will the assessment evaluate?
- What written findings, action priorities, limitations and review information will be delivered?
- What specialist surveys, travel, VAT, follow-up, equipment and remedial work are excluded?
Information to assemble before requesting quotes
Mark unknown items explicitly. Discovery can be priced; hidden assumptions cannot be compared.
- Responsible person or people and the premises areas each controls
- Building address, use, floor area, storeys, plans and construction information
- Maximum occupancy, employees, visitors, sleeping use and people needing assistance
- Processes, ignition sources, combustible materials and dangerous substances
- Escape routes, compartmentation, doors, alarm, lighting and firefighting provisions
- Existing assessment, emergency plan, training, drills, test and maintenance records
- Changes, enforcement contact, fires, near misses and open actions
- Access, operating hours, escorts and required report date
Project brief
Business and site: ______________________________________________
Reason for commissioning: first / periodic / new installation / change or event
Equipment and identifiers: ______________________________________
Use, process or operating conditions: ______________________________
Documents available: ___________________________________________
Sites and areas in scope: ________________________________________
Access and shutdown constraints: _________________________________
Target visit and report date: _____________________________________
Required quotation format
- Who is the named assessor and what comparable premises experience can they evidence?
- Which buildings, floors, occupancies, shared areas and fire-safety responsibilities are included?
- What records, fire precautions, hazards and people will the assessment evaluate?
- What written findings, action priorities, limitations and review information will be delivered?
- What specialist surveys, travel, VAT, follow-up, equipment and remedial work are excluded?
Competence and evidence questions
Competence is specific to the equipment, system and judgement being bought. Ask about the proposed person, not only the company.
- Who is the named assessor and which premises types are they authorised to assess?
- What current third-party registration, certification or professional evidence applies?
- Can they show a redacted report for comparable use, scale and risk?
- How will matters outside their competence be identified and referred?
- How are assessment conclusions separated from equipment or remedial sales?
- Who quality reviews the report and handles challenged findings?
- What professional indemnity and public liability evidence applies?
Comparable quote scorecard
| Comparison point | Provider A | Provider B | Provider C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named assessor and relevant experience | |||
| Responsible persons and scope | |||
| Buildings, floors and occupancies | |||
| People at risk and evacuation needs | |||
| Hazards and dangerous substances | |||
| Fire precautions and management | |||
| Records review and site attendance | |||
| Significant findings and priorities | |||
| Limitations and specialist referrals | |||
| Review triggers and follow-up | |||
| Travel, VAT, exclusions and total fee |
Do not add the scores blindly. Missing competence, equipment scope or statutory reporting can be a stop condition rather than a small disadvantage.
Report acceptance check
- Correct responsible people and premises boundary
- Current occupancy, use and people at risk are recorded
- Ignition, fuel, oxygen and dangerous-substance hazards are considered
- Escape, warning, firefighting, compartmentation and management are evaluated
- Significant findings connect to prioritised actions
- Limitations and specialist questions remain visible
- Emergency planning, information and training implications are stated
- Review date, triggers and record responsibilities are clear
Primary basis: Home Office five-step checklist .