Fire risk assessment: guidance and templates

You're required to have an up-to-date fire risk assessment. Understand the guidance, and see template assessments from 2 fire and rescue services.

Last reviewed on 12 December 2023
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 365
Contents
  1. You must conduct a fire risk assessment
  2. Who's responsible for carrying out and approving the assessment?
  3. How often should we do a fire risk assessment?
  4. Templates to adapt

You must conduct a fire risk assessment

There are 5 steps you need to take when carrying out a fire risk assessment:

  • Identify fire hazards
  • Identify people at risk
  • Evaluate fire risks, remove or reduce hazards, and protect people from risk
  • Record your findings, prepare your action plan, inform people of this plan, and provide training
  • Keep your risk assessment under review

See pages 11 to 40 of fire safety risk assessment: educational premises from the Home Office for detailed information on each step. 

You must keep your fire risk assessment up to date, and fire precautions in your school must remain "current and adequate". The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has published information on fire safety in new and existing school buildings, explaining the regulations your school must comply with.

Who's responsible for carrying out and approving the assessment?

For schools, this means the employer,