What a PAS 79 Fire Risk Assessment Should Cover
- Posted by Sam Yates
- On September 11, 2026
- 0 Comments
A PAS 79 fire risk assessment is not simply a checklist for a property file. It is a structured examination of how a fire could start, how people may be affected, and whether the precautions in place are sufficient for the building, its occupants and its day-to-day use. For landlords, managing agents and duty holders facing an insurer query, enforcement visit, mortgage condition or urgent transaction, the quality of that document matters as much as having one at all.
PAS 79 provides a recognised methodology for recording fire risk assessments. Used properly, it produces a clear, evidence-based report that helps the responsible person demonstrate that risks have been considered properly and that proportionate action is being taken.
Why PAS 79 matters for fire safety compliance
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to take general fire precautions, carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, and keep it under review. The duty applies to most non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including the common parts of blocks of flats, workplaces, shops, schools, care settings, places of worship and community buildings.
The legislation does not require every assessment to follow PAS 79. However, PAS 79 is widely respected because it gives assessors and duty holders a disciplined way to inspect, evaluate and record findings. This is particularly valuable where reports must stand up to scrutiny from insurers, lenders, legal conveyancers, enforcing authorities, residents or senior management.
A short report that says a building is “compliant” without explaining the risks, evidence and required actions offers limited protection. A properly prepared assessment identifies the premises and relevant persons, records significant findings, explains the risk evaluation and sets out practical recommendations with clear priorities. That creates a defensible compliance record, rather than a document that merely looks official.
What a PAS 79 fire risk assessment should examine
The precise scope depends on the premises. A small office occupied by a handful of trained staff presents different issues from a converted HMO, a tenant-occupied block, a school or a healthcare facility. A competent assessor should understand that difference and inspect the building in context, not apply the same generic template to every address.
The people at risk
An assessment starts with the people who may be affected by fire. This includes employees, residents, visitors, contractors and members of the public. It must also consider people who may need additional support to recognise an alarm, move through the building or evacuate safely, such as young children, older people, disabled occupants, sleeping residents and lone workers.
In residential buildings, the evacuation strategy requires particular care. A stay-put approach, simultaneous evacuation or another arrangement must be understood in relation to the building’s design, fire-resisting construction and management arrangements. It should never be assumed from the property type alone.
Fire hazards and ignition sources
The inspection considers likely sources of ignition, fuel and oxygen. Electrical installations, portable heaters, cooking equipment, smoking controls, hot works, lithium-ion battery charging, plant rooms, refuse storage and commercial processes may all require attention. The objective is not to list every theoretical risk. It is to identify realistic hazards and judge whether existing controls are adequate.
Good housekeeping is often decisive. Combustible materials stored in corridors, under stairways or in electrical cupboards can compromise otherwise sound fire precautions. Similarly, a fire door held open with a wedge can undermine the compartmentation on which an evacuation strategy relies.
Means of escape and fire protection
Escape routes must be available, appropriately protected, adequately lit and kept clear. The assessment should consider travel distances, final exits, stairways, signage, emergency lighting and whether occupants can realistically use the routes provided.
It should also review the measures intended to detect, contain and fight fire. Depending on the premises, this may include the fire alarm and detection system, extinguishers, fire doors, compartment walls and floors, smoke control systems, sprinklers, dry risers and fire-service access. An assessor may identify the need for specialist testing, maintenance or further investigation where a visual inspection alone cannot confirm performance.
Management arrangements
Fire safety is maintained through people and processes as well as physical equipment. The report should consider testing schedules, servicing records, staff training, emergency plans, evacuation drills, contractor controls and the communication of fire procedures. For managed blocks, this can include arrangements for communal areas, resident information, vacant flats and planned works.
This is where an assessment becomes useful operationally. It should distinguish between a straightforward improvement, such as replacing missing signage, and an issue requiring technical input, planned budget or urgent interim controls.
What a useful report looks like
A PAS 79-aligned report should be detailed enough for another competent person to understand the premises, the findings and the rationale behind them. It should not leave a facilities manager or landlord guessing what needs to happen next.
Expect the report to describe the building and its occupancy, record relevant fire hazards and existing measures, identify persons at risk, evaluate the level of risk and provide an action plan. Recommendations should be specific. “Review fire doors” is far less helpful than identifying the relevant doors, the observed defects, the likely consequence and the action required.
Prioritisation is equally valuable. Not every issue demands the same response. A blocked protected stairway or a failed life-safety system may require immediate action, whereas an improvement to records or signage may be programmed within a sensible timescale. The responsible person must still make decisions, but a clear risk-based plan makes those decisions easier to justify and manage.
Digital reporting and secure document access also reduce a common compliance problem: reports, certificates and action updates being lost between agents, contractors and owners. Keeping records together supports ongoing review and makes information available when an insurer, auditor or purchaser asks for it.
How often should an assessment be reviewed?
There is no universal expiry date for every fire risk assessment. The responsible person must review it regularly and whenever there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid or there has been a significant change. In practice, many organisations schedule an annual review, but the appropriate interval depends on the building, its occupancy, management standards and level of risk.
A new assessment or substantive review should be considered after refurbishment, a change of use, changes to occupancy, a fire or near miss, repeated unwanted alarm signals, alterations to escape routes, installation of new equipment, or material changes to fire safety management. A building that has remained physically unchanged can still require review if records, maintenance or staffing arrangements have deteriorated.
For premises with tenant access or restricted operating hours, scheduling matters too. A thorough inspection should be arranged around the building’s use without reducing the assessor’s ability to inspect key areas. Early, late and urgent appointments can be particularly helpful where a sale, remortgage or insurer deadline is involved.
Choosing a competent assessor
Competence is more than a qualification certificate or a low quotation. The assessor should have suitable knowledge, experience and professional insurance for the premises being assessed. They should be prepared to explain the inspection scope, any limitations, the reasoning behind recommendations and what further specialist advice may be required.
Ask whether the service includes a site inspection, a full written report, photographs where appropriate, a prioritised action plan and support after the report has been issued. Clarify the turnaround time before booking, particularly if documents are needed for a lender, conveyancer or insurance renewal. The cheapest assessment can become expensive if it omits relevant areas, produces vague actions or cannot be clarified when questions arise.
Firelux provides PAS 79-aligned assessments with exhaustive digital reporting, insured assessors and flexible appointments for occupied and time-sensitive premises. The aim is not to create unnecessary work. It is to give responsible persons a clear, practical route from identified risk to proportionate compliance action.
A well-prepared assessment gives you more than a report for the file. It gives you a clear picture of the risks within your premises, the evidence behind the findings and the next actions needed to protect people and meet your responsibilities with confidence.
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