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Fire Risk Assessment
Expert assessments for commercial and residential premises across Southport. PAS 79-1:2020 for commercial, BS 9792:2025 for residential. Written reports in 1-3 working days, with a 24-hour response.
The fundamentals
A fire risk assessment is a systematic, structured evaluation of a premises carried out to identify potential fire hazards, assess the likelihood that those hazards will lead to a fire and determine the risk to the people who use or occupy the building.
It examines the physical environment, existing fire safety measures, management procedures and human factors to produce a comprehensive picture of the premises' fire risk. The purpose is not simply to produce a document, it is to give the Responsible Person the information they need to implement appropriate measures and meet their legal obligations. A properly conducted assessment identifies what is working well, what requires attention and what constitutes an immediate or serious risk.
At Southport Fire Risk Assessment, every assessment is conducted in accordance with PAS 79-1:2020 (commercial) or BS 9792:2025 (residential), the nationally recognised specifications for fire risk assessment methodology. This makes our reports credible, legally defensible and practically useful, with photographic evidence, risk ratings and prioritised action plans throughout.
Who needs one
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a fire risk assessment for virtually all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including:

Third-party certified
AL23 Safety is a BAFE Registered Organisation, independently third-party certificated by SSAIB to the BAFE SP205 Life Safety Fire Risk Assessment Scheme. Every assessment completed under our certification is issued with a Certificate of Compliance to BAFE SP205, providing independently verified assurance of our competence and quality management systems.
Learn about our BAFE SP205 certificationScope of inspection
A comprehensive evaluation across nine key areas, every one documented and, where relevant, photographed.
Identification of ignition sources, fuel materials and oxygen supplies that could contribute to a fire.
Assessment of occupants, visitors and vulnerable individuals, including those with mobility impairments or who may be alone.
Evaluation of escape routes, exit widths, door types, travel distances and protection of escape routes.
Review of fire detection systems, alarm types, coverage, maintenance records and audibility throughout the building.
Assessment of portable extinguishers, hose reels, suppression systems and their suitability for the risks present.
Inspection of emergency lighting coverage, testing records and compliance with the relevant British Standards.
Review of escape route signage, fire action notices and extinguisher identification, with legibility and positioning.
Examination of fire safety management, including training records, evacuation procedures and fire safety policy.
Visual inspection of fire-resisting elements including walls, floors, fire doors and service penetrations.
Commercial premises
We assess any type of commercial premises, from retail units and factories to large public venues, healthcare facilities and licensed premises. All commercial assessments are conducted in accordance with PAS 79-1:2020, with assessor competency aligned to BS 8674:2025.
Premises we cover
Residential premises
We assess residential and mixed-use buildings of all shapes and sizes, from low-rise to high-rise. All residential assessments are conducted in accordance with BS 9792:2025. For the commercial parts of mixed-use buildings, assessments are conducted in accordance with PAS 79-1:2020.
Communal areas
A non-intrusive fire risk assessment of the communal areas of a residential building. Suitable for lower-risk buildings where no intrusive investigation of construction elements is required.
Communal areas
A fire risk assessment of the communal areas including intrusive investigations at sample locations, delivering a detailed review of compartmentation within the communal areas and verifying its suitability.
Communal areas + sample flats
A non-intrusive fire risk assessment of the communal areas and a sample of individual flats. Provides a wider view of fire safety across the building, including flat entrance doors and internal layouts.
Communal areas + sample flats
A fire risk assessment of communal areas and a sample of flats, including intrusive investigation at sample locations to review compartmentation within both. The most comprehensive residential assessment type.
Beyond the standard FRA
A full service of inspection works for external walls, from arranging access and carrying out opening works to documenting wall construction and materials. Relevant to buildings within scope of the Fire Safety Act 2021 and Building Safety Act 2022.
Thorough fire risk assessments of newly built and refurbished residential and commercial buildings, ensuring fire prevention, protection and safety measures are in place and suitable before occupation.
Listed and heritage buildings present unique challenges. We are qualified and experienced in carrying out fire risk assessments and tailored action plans that manage risk without impeding heritage features.
Multi-site & portfolio
We help organisations manage fire risk strategically across multi-site portfolios. Before procuring assessors for a large programme, we can provide an independent third-party audit of your existing programme, project manage the process and execute a large-scale assessment across your estate.
By implementing a comprehensive fire risk management system aligned with BS 9997:2019, organisations can minimise the likelihood and impact of fires, protect people and property and ensure compliance with fire safety legislation. We have demonstrable experience auditing such systems across multiple sectors.
Our methodology
Methodical, thorough and fully documented, built on PAS 79-1:2020 and BS 9792:2025.
Our assessors conduct a thorough physical inspection of the premises, systematically identifying all potential ignition sources (electrical equipment, heating systems, human activity), fuel sources (flammable materials, combustible furniture, paper storage) and factors that could support fire spread including oxygen sources and ventilation. Every hazard is documented and photographed where appropriate.
We assess all individuals who use or occupy the building, paying particular attention to those at greatest risk: staff, visitors, members of the public, lone workers and those with disabilities or other factors that may affect their ability to evacuate quickly and safely. The assessment considers occupancy patterns, including out-of-hours risks.
Having identified the hazards and the people at risk, our assessors evaluate the adequacy of existing fire safety precautions. We assess whether existing measures reduce the risk to a tolerable level or whether additional measures are required, considering both the likelihood of a fire occurring and the potential consequences if one does.
We produce a comprehensive written report documenting all findings in accordance with PAS 79-1:2020 (commercial) or BS 9792:2025 (residential), including a clear risk rating, photographic evidence and a prioritised action plan with recommended timescales. We brief the Responsible Person on the key findings so they understand their obligations and next steps.
Fire risk assessments are not a one-off exercise. They must be reviewed whenever circumstances change. We provide clear guidance on when review is required and offer scheduled reassessment programmes to help clients maintain ongoing compliance, with our team available between assessments.
Local coverage
We carry out fire risk assessments and fire safety services right across Southport and the wider Merseyside area, including:
Do not see your area listed? We cover all of Southport and Merseyside. Get in touch and we will confirm availability for your premises, usually with a fixed quote within 24 hours.
The law
The legislation that governs fire safety and the standards we work to.
The primary fire safety legislation requiring fire risk assessments for all non-domestic premises and communal areas of residential buildings. Non-compliance is a criminal offence carrying unlimited fines and up to two years imprisonment.
Extended duties for multi-occupied residential buildings including structure, external walls and flat entrance doors, introducing significant new obligations for building owners and managing agents.
Additional duties for responsible persons in multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 metres, including quarterly fire door checks in communal areas.
A comprehensive building safety regime for higher-risk buildings, with strengthened accountability, new duty-holder roles and Safety Case Reviews for in-scope buildings.
Fire safety requirements for the design and construction of buildings in England.
The competency framework for individual fire risk assessors. All our assessors are aligned with BS 8674:2025.
Why Southport Fire Risk Assessment
Our assessors hold recognised qualifications and professional-body memberships including IFSM and IFE. Every report meets PAS 79-1:2020 (commercial) or BS 9792:2025 (residential), recognised by courts, insurers and local authorities as the benchmark for quality.
Fire safety compliance cannot always wait. We aim to carry out assessments within 24-48 hours of initial contact and deliver written reports within 1-3 working days. Emergency assessments are available for urgent situations.
Our reports are designed to be used, not filed away. Every finding is explained in plain language and the action plan helps you prioritise works, understand urgency and demonstrate compliance to insurers and enforcement authorities.
Transparent pricing
Our fees are based on the size, type and complexity of your premises. We do not publish standard tariffs because every building is different: a small retail unit and a large residential block require very different levels of work.
What we can promise is that our quotations are transparent, fair and provided without obligation before any work is agreed. Contact us today for a free quote tailored to your specific premises.
No-obligation quote
Tell us about your building and we will respond with a clear, fixed quotation, tailored to your premises.
Questions, answered
Free, no-obligation quote
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