Fire risk assessment review or new assessment?
A review checks whether the existing fire risk assessment remains valid and updates it where needed. A fresh assessment is more suitable when the premises, responsibility, evidence or original assessment cannot support a dependable update.
Check my situationTest the existing record against current conditions
Check that the assessment identifies the correct responsible people, premises, occupancy, hazards, escape arrangements, fire precautions and actions. A date alone does not show that the record still represents the building.
- Can every significant finding be traced to the current premises?
- Have layout, use, occupants, processes or fire-safety systems changed?
- Are original limitations, missing areas and overdue actions resolved?
What to do next: Give providers the existing assessment and a change schedule. Ask them to state whether the quotation is for a documented review, an updated assessment or a fresh assessment and what evidence will be rechecked.
Review route
A review suits a usable assessment where the premises remains substantially represented and the reviewer can verify changes, actions, fire precautions and current management arrangements.
The review should be recorded with its date, findings, changes and resulting actions. A signature added without checking the premises and evidence is not a meaningful review.
Fresh assessment route
A new assessment is appropriate when no written record exists, the scope is unclear, major changes have occurred or the previous work lacks the information needed to judge risk.
- New or acquired premises
- Changed use or major refurbishment
- Missing or generic report
- Unresolved premises boundary
- Fire or material near miss
No universal annual expiry
The Fire Safety Order requires regular review and specific review when validity is doubtful or significant change occurs. The legislation does not set one universal annual expiry date for every premises.
Contracts, insurers, housing policies or sector guidance may set additional review frequencies. Record their source separately from the statutory trigger.