Fire Risk Assessment Checklist: 30 Items Every Assessor Should Cover

A checklist is not a substitute for professional judgement. But used alongside your PAS 79:2020-structured report, it ensures nothing gets missed during a busy site visit.

This checklist covers the 30 areas you should inspect, document, or verify during a standard fire risk assessment in England and Wales. Adapt it for the specific premises type — HMOs and care homes have additional requirements beyond this list.

Before the Visit

1. Previous assessment. Obtain and review the last fire risk assessment. Note outstanding actions and any changes since the previous visit.
2. Building information. Confirm building address, use, age, construction type, number of floors, and approximate floor area before arriving.
3. Documentation request. Ask the responsible person to have available: fire log book, alarm test records, emergency lighting test certificates, fire door inspection records, EICR, gas safety certificate, and staff training records.

On-site: Fire Hazards

4. Sources of ignition. Identify and record: electrical installations (check EICR date), heating systems, cooking equipment, smoking arrangements, arson risk (external bin storage, access control), and any hot works activity.
5. Sources of fuel. Record: stored materials, furnishings, waste management, flammable liquids/gases, and combustible building materials (including insulation and cladding).
6. Sources of oxygen. Note: natural ventilation, mechanical ventilation systems, and any oxidising materials stored on site.
7. Housekeeping. Assess general tidiness, waste accumulation, storage in escape routes, and electrical lead management.

On-site: People at Risk

8. Occupancy. Record typical and maximum occupancy, operating hours, and patterns (shift work, events).
9. Vulnerable occupants. Identify: people with mobility impairments, sensory impairments, children, elderly, anyone who may need assistance to evacuate. Check if PEEPs exist where needed.
10. Sleeping risk. If occupants sleep in the building, flag this — it changes detection requirements, escape provisions, and overall risk rating.
11. Unfamiliar visitors. Note whether contractors, delivery drivers, or members of the public access the building and whether they receive fire safety information.

On-site: Fire Protection Measures

12. Fire detection and alarm. Record system type, category (L1-L5, LD1-LD3, P1-P2, M), condition, and last service date. Check weekly test records.
13. Manual call points. Verify locations (at exits, on escape routes), condition, and accessibility.
14. Emergency lighting. Record type (maintained/non-maintained), coverage of escape routes, last test date, and duration.
15. Fire doors. Inspect: fire rating evidence, self-closing devices, intumescent strips, cold smoke seals, gap dimensions, condition. Use our fire door inspection checklist for a systematic approach.
16. Compartmentation. Check fire-resisting walls, floors, and partitions for breaches. Inspect service penetrations, risers, and roof voids for fire-stopping.
17. Escape routes. Measure or estimate travel distances. Check corridor widths, dead-end conditions, stairway protection, and final exit doors (direction of opening, lock type).
18. Fire safety signs. Verify exit signs (illuminated where required), fire action notices, fire door signs, and extinguisher location signs.
19. Firefighting equipment. Record extinguisher types, locations, service dates, and accessibility. Note dry/wet risers, hose reels, and sprinkler systems if present.

On-site: Fire Safety Management

20. Fire safety policy. Ask to see the documented fire safety policy (required for premises with 5+ employees or where the assessment is required to be recorded).
21. Responsible person. Confirm who the responsible person is and whether they understand their duties under the Fire Safety Order.
22. Staff training. Check induction training records, refresher training dates, and whether staff know the evacuation procedure.
23. Fire drills. Review drill records: frequency (should be at least 6-monthly), participation, outcomes, and any issues identified.
24. Maintenance records. Verify testing and maintenance schedules for: fire alarm system, emergency lighting, extinguishers, sprinklers, and fire doors.
25. Fire log book. Inspect the fire log book for completeness and currency. Check that test records are signed and dated.

Evaluation and Reporting

26. Risk evaluation. Apply the risk matrix (likelihood x consequence) to each identified hazard. Record your reasoning — PAS 79:2020 requires the rationale to be documented.
27. Significant findings. List findings that are significant enough to require action. Link each to a recommended action with priority, responsible person, and target date.
28. Action plan. Create a prioritised action plan. Every action needs an owner, a deadline, and a description specific enough to act on.
29. Review date. Recommend a review date based on building type, risk level, and any trigger events. Use our review date calculator for guidance.
30. Limitations. Record any areas you could not access, information you could not obtain, or assumptions you made. This protects you and informs the responsible person of gaps.

Using This Checklist

Print this, load it on a tablet, or integrate it into your assessment workflow. The point is not to tick boxes — it is to ensure that every aspect of the assessment has been considered and documented.

For the full PAS 79:2020 section structure, see our PAS 79 guide. For a ready-to-use template with fill-in fields, see our free fire risk assessment template.

AssessKit is being built with this checklist logic embedded in the assessment workflow — each PAS 79 section includes guided prompts to ensure nothing is missed. Join the waitlist to be notified when it launches.

Sources

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 — UK Legislation
• PAS 79:2020 — BSI