Fire risk assessments for commercial premises
Is your building compliant with the latest fire safety regulations? We arrange fire risk assessments for businesses through our sister company, Pyro Fire. When the report calls for work, fire alarms and fire extinguishers are handled by our own engineers, and fire doors and fire stopping by our sister company, Aran Fire Protection.
- Commercial premises
- Assessments by Pyro Fire
- 24-hour call-out for fire systems we maintain
At a glance
- Based in
- Huntingdon
- Covering
- Cambridgeshire and East Anglia
- Assessments
- Arranged through Pyro Fire, our sister company
- Follow-on work
- Fire alarms and extinguishers by our engineers; fire doors and fire stopping by Aran Fire Protection
- Support
- 24-hour service line and call-out for fire systems we maintain
- Premises
- Commercial, single site to multi-site
Overview
Commercial fire risk assessments, and the work that follows
If you are responsible for business premises, you need a fire risk assessment, and it needs reviewing regularly. BDi Advance arranges fire risk assessments for commercial premises through Pyro Fire, our sister company in the New Path Fire and Security Group. Where the assessment identifies improvements, the follow-on work stays within the group: fire alarms and fire extinguishers by our own engineers, and fire doors and fire stopping by our sister company, Aran Fire Protection.
- Fire risk assessments arranged through our sister company, Pyro Fire
- Fire alarm installation, servicing and maintenance by our own engineers
- Fire extinguisher supply and servicing by our own engineers
- Fire doors and fire stopping by our sister company, Aran Fire Protection
- Fire alarms installed by other companies serviced and taken over
- 24-hour call-out for fire systems we maintain, 365 days a year
- Local engineers based in Huntingdon, covering Cambridgeshire and East Anglia
Quotations for fire alarm and extinguisher work start with a free site visit. Call 01223 566 599 or send us your details to request a fire risk assessment quote.
Your duties
Who needs a fire risk assessment?
For business and other non-domestic premises in England and Wales, fire safety law puts the duty on the responsible person. This is general information based on GOV.UK guidance, not legal advice.
The responsible person
Who
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, this is the employer, owner, landlord, occupier or anyone else with control of the premises, such as a facilities or building manager. Where there is more than one, they must work together.
Carry out and review it
Core duty
The responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment of the premises, review it regularly, and put in place and maintain suitable fire safety measures.
Keep a written record
Record
You must keep a written record of your fire risk assessment. Since 1 October 2023 the assessment has to be recorded in full, whatever the number of employees.
Use a competent person
If needed
If you do not have the expertise or time to do it yourself, government guidance says you need to appoint a competent person to help, for example a professional fire risk assessor.
Buildings that include flats
Mixed use
The Fire Safety Act 2021 confirmed that, in buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises, the Order covers the structure, external walls and flat entrance doors. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, in force since 23 January 2023, added duties for those buildings, such as fire safety information for residents and, where the top storey is more than 11 metres high, regular fire door checks. They do not apply to commercial-only premises.
Enforcement
Penalties
Local fire and rescue authorities inspect premises and can issue fire safety notices requiring changes. Not following fire safety law can lead to a fine or prison.
Fire risk assessments
What a fire risk assessment covers
A fire risk assessment is a structured look at your premises and the people who use them. Government guidance sets out the steps: identify the fire hazards, identify the people at risk, evaluate and remove or reduce the risks, record the findings, prepare an emergency plan and provide training, then review and update the assessment regularly.
In practice the assessor looks at what could start a fire and what could burn, escape routes and fire doors, how a fire would be detected and people warned, firefighting equipment, signage, housekeeping and how the building is managed day to day. The written report sets out what needs attention.
Who carries out the assessment
Fire risk assessments are carried out by Pyro Fire, our sister company in the New Path Fire and Security Group. We arrange the quote and stay involved for the follow-on work.
Booking the assessment
Tell us where your premises are, what they are used for and roughly how large they are. A date and assessor are then arranged, and you receive a written report of the findings.
Joined up with your fire systems
If we already look after your fire alarm or extinguishers, the report can be read alongside our service records, so actions on the equipment we maintain are not missed.
A fire risk assessment is not a one-off. It needs reviewing regularly, and it makes sense to look at it again after significant changes such as building work, a change of use or more people on site.
After the assessment: putting the findings right
Most reports come with a list of actions. Fire alarm and fire extinguisher work is quoted for and carried out by our own engineers; fire doors and fire stopping are handled by our sister company, Aran Fire Protection.
Fire doors and fire stopping
Damaged or badly fitted fire doors, and gaps where pipes and cables pass through fire-resisting walls, are common findings. Both are handled by our sister company, Aran Fire Protection: see fire doors and fire stopping.
Fire alarms and extinguishers
Where detection, warning or firefighting equipment falls short, our own engineers install, service and maintain fire alarms and supply and service fire extinguishers, including systems installed by other companies.
Our maintenance contracts for the fire systems we look after include a full check twice a year as standard, backed by a 24-hour manned service line and a 24-hour emergency technician call-out, 365 days a year. More about maintenance
Fire safety guides
Planning your fire safety
A fire risk assessment works best alongside a clear emergency plan and staff who know what to do. Our guides cover the basics for responsible persons and facilities teams.
For an overview of everyday fire precautions, read Fire safety: protecting your workplace.
Fire safety regulations
Know your duties
What the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 changed for responsible persons, and which buildings they apply to.
Office fire safety
A practical checklist
Points to check in an office, from escape routes and equipment to making sure your team knows how to respond.
Emergency planning
Beyond fire
What building managers need to know about Martyn's Law, emergency preparedness and invacuation planning.
Common findings
What assessments often find, and how we help
Every building is different, but the actions in a fire risk assessment often fall into a few familiar areas.
Fire alarms and fire extinguishers are handled by our own engineers; fire doors and fire stopping by our sister company, Aran Fire Protection.
Detection and warning
Areas without detection, faulty devices, or a fire alarm that has not been serviced.
What we do: design, install, service and maintain commercial fire alarms.
Worth knowing: our maintenance contracts include a full check twice a year as standard.
Firefighting equipment
Missing extinguishers, the wrong type for the risk, or equipment overdue a service.
What we do: supply, install and service fire extinguishers.
Worth knowing: the right type depends on what could burn. Which extinguisher do I need?
Fire doors
Damaged doors, worn seals, faulty closers or doors wedged open.
Who does it: our sister company, Aran Fire Protection, offers fire door inspections and remediation.
Worth knowing: a fire door only protects an escape route if it closes fully on its own.
Fire stopping
Gaps around pipes, cables and ducts where they pass through fire-resisting walls and floors.
Who does it: our sister company, Aran Fire Protection, carries out fire stopping to restore compartmentation.
Worth knowing: gaps are often hidden above ceilings, and new cabling can undo earlier work.
Fire risk assessment process
How it works
From the first call to the last action on the report, the work stays within one group. The assessment is carried out by our sister company, Pyro Fire; fire alarm and extinguisher work by our own engineers; and fire doors and fire stopping by our sister company, Aran Fire Protection.
Your premises
Tell us the location, size and use of the building
Assessment booked
A date and assessor arranged with Pyro Fire, our sister company
Written report
The findings and recommended actions set out in a written report
Follow-on work
Free site visit and quotation for fire alarm and extinguisher work; fire doors and fire stopping quoted by Aran Fire Protection
Ongoing support
Planned maintenance for the fire systems we look after, and a regular review of the assessment
The assessment and the follow-on work within one group
Pyro Fire, Aran Fire Protection and BDi Advance are all part of the New Path Fire and Security Group. Pyro Fire carries out the fire risk assessment, our own engineers carry out fire alarm and fire extinguisher work, and Aran Fire Protection handles fire doors and fire stopping. We can look after your security systems too. If your insurer sets conditions on fire protection, tell us at the start so they can be taken into account.
Fire risk assessments across Cambridgeshire and East Anglia
We arrange fire risk assessments for commercial premises across the region through Pyro Fire, and our Huntingdon-based engineers carry out the fire alarm and fire extinguisher work that follows, including servicing systems installed by other companies.
Areas we cover
We arrange fire risk assessments and carry out follow-on fire alarm and extinguisher work across Cambridgeshire and East Anglia, including Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough, St Ives, Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds and Bishops Stortford.
Our engineers are local to the region, and we also work with national clients across the UK.
Sectors we work in
We carry out fire alarm and extinguisher work for commercial premises including retail and shopping centres, warehouses and distribution sites, pharmaceutical sites, education and secure sites.
- Retail
- Warehouses
- Pharmaceutical
- Education
- Secure sites
Each has its own fire risks, from stock and packaging in a warehouse to large numbers of visitors in a shopping centre. Read our pharmaceutical fire system case study.
“Advance are doing really well. Luke has settled nicely at Huntingdon, and his communication with me is great. Chris is brilliant. His knowledge and patience have helped me gain confidence. You have a good team, and a big thanks to Seb for all the last-minute call-outs.”
Pharmaceutical client, fire system improvements across two sites
Next step
Request a fire risk assessment quote
Tell us about your premises and we will arrange a fire risk assessment quote through our sister company, Pyro Fire. For fire alarm and extinguisher work that follows, quotations start with a free site visit.
Talk to us about fire risk assessments and the work that follows
Request a quoteCall 01223 566 599Free site visit for fire alarm and extinguisher work
Frequently asked questions
If you are responsible for business or other non-domestic premises, yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment of the premises and review it regularly. It can be tempting to put it off, but the assessment is the basis for every other fire safety decision in the building, from alarms and extinguishers to escape routes and staff training.
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