Fire safety blog for UK small businesses
Practical articles for shops, offices, pubs and restaurants. General information based on GOV.UK guidance, not legal advice or a fire risk assessment. Looking for quick answers? See our fire safety guides.
Who is responsible for fire safety in a UK business, what the law asks of you, what inspectors look at and what happens if you do not comply.
Do I need a fire risk assessment if I rent my shop or office?
Tenants and landlords can both be responsible for fire safety. Who must do the fire risk assessment in a rented UK shop or office, and how to share the job.
3 min readReadWhat are the penalties for not having a fire risk assessment?
Failing to carry out a fire risk assessment or follow fire safety rules can lead to enforcement action, fines or, in serious cases, prison. What to know in the UK.
3 min readReadWhat happens in a fire safety inspection?
What UK fire and rescue authority inspectors look at, what they ask to see, and how to prepare your small business.
3 min readReadFire safety for a home-based business: does the law apply?
Fire safety law covers non-domestic premises. What it means for a UK home-based business, especially when staff or customers visit.
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Fire risk assessment questions for UK small businesses: cost, who can do one, doing your own and how often to review it.
How much does a fire risk assessment cost in the UK?
There is no fixed price for a UK fire risk assessment. What affects the cost, what to ask for in a quote, and when you can reasonably do your own.
3 min readReadWho can carry out a fire risk assessment?
A fire risk assessment must be done by a competent person. What that means in the UK, and how to choose a fire risk assessor.
3 min readReadCan I do my own fire risk assessment in the UK?
Yes, for many small low-risk premises. How to do your own fire risk assessment using the five steps, and when to hire a professional instead.
3 min readReadHow often should a fire risk assessment be reviewed?
There is no single review date for every business. When to review your UK fire risk assessment and what should trigger an earlier review.
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Fire extinguishers, alarms, emergency lighting, signs, exit doors and kitchen extraction for UK workplaces: what you need, how to check it and how often to service it.
How many fire extinguishers does a small shop need?
There is no single number of extinguishers for every shop. How to decide how many fire extinguishers a UK small shop needs and where to put them.
3 min readReadHow often should fire extinguishers be serviced?
Fire extinguishers should be serviced by a competent person, usually every year, with simple checks by you in between. What to check and keep.
3 min readReadWhat fire safety signs does a workplace need?
The fire safety signs UK workplaces commonly need: exit signs, fire door signs, extinguisher signs and fire action notices.
3 min readReadCan fire exit doors be locked in a workplace?
Fire exit doors can be locked only if they can be opened easily from the inside without a key whenever people are in the building. Rules for UK workplaces.
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Fire safety training, fire drills, evacuation plans, assembly points, fire wardens and personal emergency evacuation plans for UK workplaces.
How to run your first fire drill in a small business
A step by step guide to planning, running and recording a fire drill in a small UK workplace, including what to time, count and write down.
4 min readReadDo I need fire wardens or fire marshals, and how many?
There is no fixed number of fire wardens for every UK workplace. How to decide whether you need them, how many, and what training they need.
3 min readReadHow to write a fire evacuation plan for a small business
A simple fire evacuation plan for a UK small business: what to include, who does what and how to share and test it.
3 min readReadWhere should a fire assembly point be?
How to choose a safe fire assembly point for a UK workplace, how to mark it and who takes the roll call.
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What fire safety records to keep, what a fire log book is, how long to keep records and what inspectors and insurers ask to see.
What fire safety records will an inspector or insurer ask to see?
The fire safety records UK businesses are usually asked for by fire inspectors, insurers and landlords, and how to keep them ready.
4 min readReadWhat is a fire log book and do I need one?
A fire log book records your fire safety checks, servicing, training and drills. Whether you need one in the UK and what to put in it.
3 min readReadHow long should you keep fire safety records?
There is no single legal period for every fire safety record. How long UK businesses commonly keep fire risk assessments, checks, servicing and training records.
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Fire safety checks tailored to UK shops, offices, pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, salons and gyms.
A weekly fire safety checklist for a small shop
A simple weekly fire safety routine for UK shops: what to check on the shop floor, in the stockroom and at the exits, and what to write down.
4 min readReadFire safety for pubs and restaurants: the checks that matter
The weekly fire safety checks for UK pubs, bars and restaurants: exits, kitchen, cellar, gas, decorations and drills, and how to record them.
5 min readReadFire safety in a small office: a ten-minute weekly routine
A short weekly fire safety routine for UK small offices covering escape routes, fire doors, the alarm, kitchenette, electrics and visitors.
4 min readReadFire safety for hairdressers and beauty salons
Key fire risks in UK hair and beauty salons: hot tools, aerosols, chemicals, laundry and clients mid-treatment, and the weekly checks to run.
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Fire safety basics for UK workplaces: the fire triangle and the most common causes of workplace fires.
What is the fire triangle and why does it matter?
The fire triangle explains that fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen. How it helps you prevent fires and use the right extinguisher in a UK workplace.
3 min readReadWhat are the most common causes of workplace fires?
Common causes of fires in UK workplaces: electrics, cooking, heating, smoking, waste and arson, and how weekly checks reduce the risk.
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