Free Fire Risk Assessment Template (PAS 79-Structured, 2026)

Every building in England and Wales with shared areas or non-domestic use needs a fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. If you are the responsible person — whether you are a building owner, facilities manager, landlord, or employer — you are legally required to carry one out and keep it under review.

A fire risk assessment is a structured evaluation of your premises. It identifies fire hazards, evaluates who is at risk, and records the measures you have in place (or need to put in place) to reduce that risk to an acceptable level. The output is a written record that you can act on and that an enforcing authority can inspect.

The problem with most free fire risk assessment templates online is that they are either too vague to be useful or too rigid to fit your building. What you actually need is a template structured per PAS 79:2020 — the published document from the British Standards Institution that sets out the recommended format for fire risk assessments in the UK. PAS 79 is not law, but it is the accepted benchmark that fire and rescue authorities expect to see.

This template follows that structure. You can copy it directly, adapt it for your premises, or use it as a fire risk assessment checklist to verify that an existing assessment covers everything it should.

What PAS 79:2020 Requires

PAS 79:2020 replaced the original 2012 edition and introduced clearer guidance on documentation, competence, and how findings should be recorded. It organises a fire risk assessment into 10 core sections:

1. Premises information — what the building is, who uses it, and the construction type
2. Fire hazard identification — sources of ignition, fuel, and oxygen
3. People at risk — occupants, visitors, vulnerable persons, lone workers
4. Existing fire safety measures (prevention) — how fire starts are prevented
5. Existing fire safety measures (protection) — detection, warning, escape routes, emergency lighting, signage, firefighting equipment
6. Fire safety management — policies, training, maintenance routines, record keeping
7. Risk evaluation — likelihood and consequence ratings for identified hazards
8. Findings and action plan — what needs to change, by when, and who is responsible
9. Review date — when the assessment should next be reviewed
10. Assessor details — who conducted the assessment and their qualifications

The template below covers each section with fields you can fill in. It is structured per PAS 79:2020 but is not a substitute for professional competence. If your building is complex, high-rise, or has sleeping accommodation, you should engage a qualified fire risk assessor. More on that below.

The Template

Copy the sections below and fill them in for your premises. Fields marked with square brackets are prompts — replace them with your own information.

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Section 1: Premises Information

Field	Entry
Building name / address	[Full address including postcode]
Responsible person	[Name, role, and contact details]
Building use	[e.g. Office, residential block, retail, warehouse, HMO]
Number of floors	[Including basement levels]
Approximate floor area	[Total m2]
Construction type	[e.g. Traditional brick, steel frame, timber frame]
External cladding	[Material and type, or "None"]
Year of construction	[Year, or approximate decade]
Number of occupants (typical)	[Daytime / night-time if applicable]
Date of assessment	[DD/MM/YYYY]
Previous assessment date	[DD/MM/YYYY or "First assessment"]

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Section 2: Fire Hazard Identification

Sources of ignition:

• Electrical equipment and installations — [Describe condition, PAT testing status]
• Heating systems — [Type, condition, proximity to combustibles]
• Cooking equipment — [Location, extraction, controls]
• Smoking — [Policy, designated areas, disposal arrangements]
• Arson risk — [External storage, access control, lighting]
• Contractors / hot works — [Permit system in place? Y/N]
• Other — [Describe]

Sources of fuel:

• Stored materials — [Type, quantity, location]
• Furnishings and fittings — [Note any non-fire-retardant items]
• Waste management — [Storage, removal frequency]
• Flammable liquids or gases — [Type, storage arrangements, COSHH]
• Building materials — [Insulation, cladding, linings]

Sources of oxygen:

• Natural ventilation — [Windows, vents]
• Mechanical ventilation — [HVAC systems, ductwork]
• Oxidising materials stored on site — [Y/N, details]

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Section 3: People at Risk

Group	Details
Employees / staff	[Number, locations, shift patterns]
Visitors / customers	[Typical numbers, access points]
Residents	[Number of dwellings, typical occupancy]
Children	[Present? Where? Supervision arrangements]
Disabled or mobility-impaired persons	[Known individuals, PEEPs in place? Y/N]
Lone workers	[When, where, communication arrangements]
Sleeping occupants	[Y/N — if yes, this changes the risk category significantly]
Persons unfamiliar with the building	[Contractors, delivery drivers, one-off visitors]

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Section 4: Fire Prevention Measures

• Electrical installation condition report (EICR) — Date: [DD/MM/YYYY], outcome: [Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory]
• PAT testing — Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
• Gas safety certificate — Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
• Smoking policy — [Describe or reference document]
• Housekeeping standards — [Good / Acceptable / Poor — describe]
• Arson prevention — [Measures in place: fencing, lighting, bin storage]
• Hot works permit system — [In place? Y/N]
• Staff fire safety awareness — [Trained? Date of last training]

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Section 5: Fire Protection Measures

Detection and warning:

• Fire detection system — [Type: e.g. L1, L2, L3, LD1, LD2, LD3, none]
• Manual call points — [Locations, condition]
• System grade and category — [Per BS 5839]
• Last service date — [DD/MM/YYYY]
• Weekly alarm test — [Y/N, day of week, recorded?]

Escape routes:

• Number of escape routes — [Describe each]
• Travel distances — [Measured or estimated, within limits? Y/N]
• Corridor and stairway widths — [Adequate? Y/N]
• Dead-end conditions — [Any present? Describe]
• Final exit doors — [Type of lock, direction of opening, ease of use]
• Assembly point — [Location]

Emergency lighting:

• Type — [Maintained / non-maintained / none]
• Coverage — [All escape routes? Y/N]
• Last test date — [DD/MM/YYYY]
• Duration — [1 hour / 3 hours]

Fire safety signs:

• Exit signs — [Present, visible, illuminated?]
• Fire action notices — [Posted at each floor? Y/N]
• Fire door signs — [Keep shut / keep locked shut — present?]

Firefighting equipment:

• Extinguisher types and locations — [List]
• Last service date — [DD/MM/YYYY]
• Dry / wet riser — [Present? Y/N, tested?]
• Sprinkler system — [Present? Y/N, type, last test]

Compartmentation and fire doors:

• Fire doors — [Condition, self-closing devices, intumescent strips, cold smoke seals]
• Fire-resisting construction — [Compartment walls intact? Any breaches?]
• Roof void barriers — [Present? Inspected?]
• Service penetrations sealed — [Y/N]

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Section 6: Fire Safety Management

• Fire safety policy — [Document reference, date]
• Named fire safety manager — [Name, role]
• Fire evacuation plan — [In place? Date of last review]
• Fire drills — [Frequency, date of last drill, outcome]
• Staff training — [Induction and refresher, dates]
• Fire safety log book — [Maintained? Location]
• Maintenance schedules — [Fire alarm, emergency lighting, extinguishers, fire doors]
• PEEPs — [Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for disabled occupants — in place?]
• Contractor management — [Fire safety briefing process]

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Section 7: Risk Evaluation

Use a risk matrix to score each identified hazard. A standard approach:

Likelihood of fire:

• Low (1) — Ignition sources well controlled, good housekeeping
• Medium (2) — Some ignition sources present, minor housekeeping issues
• High (3) — Uncontrolled ignition sources, poor housekeeping, history of fire

Consequence if fire occurs:

• Slight harm (1) — Quick detection, short escape routes, occupants awake and mobile
• Moderate harm (2) — Moderate escape distances, some vulnerable occupants
• Extreme harm (3) — Sleeping occupants, long escape routes, inadequate detection

Risk rating = Likelihood x Consequence

Rating	Score	Action required
Trivial	1	No action needed beyond maintaining current measures
Tolerable	2	Monitor, review at next assessment
Moderate	3-4	Reduce risk within a defined timescale
Substantial	6	Urgent action required
Intolerable	9	Immediate action — consider restricting use of building

Record each hazard with its rating:

Hazard ref.	Description	Likelihood (1-3)	Consequence (1-3)	Risk rating	Priority
H01	[Describe hazard]	[1/2/3]	[1/2/3]	[Score]	[Tolerable / Moderate / Substantial / Intolerable]
H02	[Describe hazard]	[1/2/3]	[1/2/3]	[Score]	[Priority]
H03	[Describe hazard]	[1/2/3]	[1/2/3]	[Score]	[Priority]

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Section 8: Findings and Action Plan

This is the most important output. Every identified deficiency needs a recorded action.

Action ref.	Finding	Recommended action	Priority	Responsible person	Target date	Date completed
A01	[What is wrong]	[What needs to happen]	[Urgent / High / Medium / Low]	[Name and role]	[DD/MM/YYYY]	[DD/MM/YYYY]
A02	[Finding]	[Action]	[Priority]	[Person]	[Date]	[Date]
A03	[Finding]	[Action]	[Priority]	[Person]	[Date]	[Date]

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Section 9: Review Date

Field	Entry
Next review date	[DD/MM/YYYY — typically within 12 months, or sooner if significant changes occur]
Triggers for earlier review	[e.g. Change of use, building works, fire incident, enforcement notice]

For guidance on how often you should review your fire risk assessment, see how often to review.

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Section 10: Assessor Details

Field	Entry
Assessor name	[Full name]
Qualifications	[e.g. NEBOSH Fire Certificate, IFE membership, third-party certification scheme]
Organisation	[Company name]
Contact details	[Phone, email]
Signature	[Signed copy]
Date	[DD/MM/YYYY]

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How to Fill in Each Section

Premises information. Be precise about building construction. Enforcing officers will compare what you write here against what they observe on site. If you do not know the construction type or cladding material, state that and flag it as an action to investigate.

Fire hazard identification. Walk the building methodically, floor by floor. Check every room, cupboard, and plant area. Photograph anything you are unsure about. The most commonly missed hazards are electrical faults behind ceiling tiles and combustible storage in risers.

People at risk. Think beyond regular occupants. Consider night-time cleaners, weekend maintenance staff, delivery drivers who enter the building, and anyone who might not hear an alarm or reach an exit without help.

Fire prevention measures. This section records what you are doing to stop fires starting. If you cannot produce a current EICR or gas safety certificate, that is a finding that goes straight into your action plan.

Fire protection measures. This is the longest section for good reason. Go through each sub-heading systematically. Test fire doors yourself — do they self-close fully into the frame? Check intumescent strips and cold smoke seals. These degrade and get painted over.

Fire safety management. If your fire drill records show the last drill was two years ago, record that honestly. The value of the assessment is in the accuracy, not in presenting a clean picture.

Risk evaluation. Apply the risk matrix consistently. If you are not confident assigning scores, that is a signal that you may need professional support. The scoring should reflect the conditions you observed, not the conditions you hope to achieve after remedial work.

Findings and action plan. Every action needs an owner and a deadline. Vague entries like "improve housekeeping" without a responsible person and date are meaningless. Be specific: "Clear combustible storage from ground-floor electrical riser — Facilities Manager — by 15/03/2026."

Review date. Twelve months is the standard maximum interval, but review sooner after any building alteration, change of use, fire incident, or if the enforcing authority tells you to.

Assessor details. If you are the responsible person and you conducted the assessment yourself, record that clearly. PAS 79:2020 requires the assessor to have sufficient training and experience. Be honest about your competence level.

Common Mistakes When Doing Your Own Fire Risk Assessment

Treating it as a tick-box exercise. A fire risk assessment checklist is a starting point, not the finished product. You need to observe, evaluate, and make judgements — not just confirm that equipment exists.

Ignoring the building fabric. Fire doors, compartment walls, and service penetrations matter as much as extinguishers and alarms. A fire door wedged open or a breached compartment wall can be the difference between a contained fire and a fatal one.

Not recording what is wrong. People avoid writing down deficiencies because they worry about liability. The opposite is true. An honest assessment with a clear action plan demonstrates that you are managing risk. An assessment that records no issues in a building that clearly has them is worse than having no assessment at all.

Copying a previous assessment without re-inspecting. Each assessment must reflect current conditions. If you are updating a previous assessment, walk the entire building again. Conditions change.

Failing to complete the action plan. The assessment itself does not reduce risk. Only completing the actions does. An assessment with an ignored action plan is a documented failure to act.

Not considering the fire risk assessment review frequency. A single assessment is not permanent. Buildings change, occupancy changes, and regulations are updated. Plan your reviews from the start.

When You Should Hire a Professional Assessor

This template gives you the structure. Whether you have the competence to complete it depends on your building and your experience.

You should seriously consider hiring a qualified fire risk assessor if:

• Your building has sleeping accommodation (residential blocks, hotels, care homes, HMOs)
• The building is high-rise (18 metres or above) or has a single staircase
• The premises have complex layouts, multiple tenants, or mixed use
• You have vulnerable occupants who need personal emergency evacuation plans
• Your building has external cladding that may need further investigation
• You have never done a fire risk assessment before and are not sure where to start
• A previous assessment has been criticised by the fire and rescue authority

For straightforward premises — a small office, a ground-floor retail unit, a simple workplace — a responsible person with adequate training can often complete a reasonable assessment using a structured template like this one. For anything more complex, the cost of a professional assessment is minor compared to the consequences of getting it wrong.

When selecting an assessor, look for membership of a recognised professional body (such as the Institution of Fire Engineers) or registration with a third-party certification scheme. Ask for sample reports and check that they follow PAS 79:2020 structure. See our guide to choosing fire risk assessment software for what to look for when evaluating tools.

Next Steps

If you are a building owner or manager: Use this template as your starting point. Fill it in honestly, act on your findings, and schedule your review. If the building is complex or has sleeping accommodation, engage a professional. Need a professional assessment? Look for a qualified fire risk assessor registered with a third-party certification scheme such as BAFE SP205.

If you are a fire risk assessor: You already know that structured templates are only the beginning. Managing assessments across multiple sites, tracking action plans, generating reports, and keeping review dates on schedule takes more than a document template. AssessKit turns this template into a structured workflow — with PAS 79-structured assessment forms, automated action tracking, client management, and report generation built for assessors who manage multiple sites. It replaces the spreadsheets and the Word documents.

Whether you use this template, a software tool, or a professional assessor, the point is the same: identify the hazards, evaluate the risk, record your findings, and act on them. That is what the law requires, and it is what keeps people safe.