If you are responsible for a workplace, school, clinic, residential block or managed property, one of the first questions you are likely to ask is who can carry out a fire risk assessment. The short answer is not just anyone. The law expects the assessment to be completed by someone competent – meaning they have enough training, knowledge, experience and practical understanding of the premises to identify fire risks properly and recommend suitable action.
That matters because a fire risk assessment is not a box-ticking exercise. It is the basis for how you protect staff, visitors, residents and contractors, and how you demonstrate that your fire precautions are suitable for the building and the way it is used. If the assessment is poor, the problem is not only compliance. It can leave real risks in place.
Who can carry out a fire risk assessment legally?
In England and Wales, the responsible person has the legal duty to ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out. In some straightforward premises, the responsible person may complete it themselves. That might apply to a very simple, low-risk building where the fire hazards are limited, the layout is easy to understand, and the person completing the assessment knows what they are doing.
In practice, many business owners and site managers are better served by appointing a competent external assessor. The key issue is not job title. It is competence. A facilities manager, landlord, office manager or school business lead can arrange the assessment, but the person carrying it out must be capable of recognising fire hazards, evaluating existing controls, understanding escape routes, and judging whether further measures are needed.
So, who can carry out a fire risk assessment? A competent in-house person may be acceptable in some settings. A qualified external fire risk assessor is often the safer choice where the building is larger, more complex, higher risk or used by vulnerable occupants.
What does “competent” actually mean?
Competence is where many organisations get caught out. There is no single licence that automatically makes someone suitable for every type of fire risk assessment. At the same time, there is a clear expectation that the assessor should have relevant fire safety knowledge, practical experience and an understanding of the type of premises being assessed.
That could include formal fire safety training, recognised qualifications, membership of a professional body, and experience assessing similar buildings. Just as important is the ability to apply that knowledge properly on site. A competent assessor should be able to look beyond obvious issues and consider how the building is really used day to day.
For example, an office with standard occupancy is different from a care setting, a school, a house in multiple occupation, or a mixed-use property with shared escape routes. The more complicated the building or occupancy, the higher the expectation on the assessor’s experience and judgement.
When can the responsible person do it themselves?
A responsible person can carry out their own fire risk assessment if they are genuinely competent to do so. That is the legal position. The practical question is whether they should.
If you manage a small, simple premises with low fire risk, clear escape routes, basic fire safety systems and no unusual processes, self-assessment may be realistic. Even then, you need enough knowledge to identify ignition sources, combustible materials, people at risk, means of detection, emergency lighting, signage, compartmentation issues and maintenance needs.
Where people sometimes misjudge this is by assuming familiarity with the site equals competence in fire risk assessment. Knowing the building well is helpful, but it is not enough on its own. Fire safety requires technical judgement. If there are sleeping risks, vulnerable occupants, multiple floors, plant areas, fire doors, changing layouts, contractors on site, or a history of alterations, bringing in a specialist is usually the more responsible route.
When should you appoint a specialist fire risk assessor?
For many organisations, the sensible answer to who can carry out a fire risk assessment is a specialist with the right credentials and site experience. That is especially true if your premises are anything other than simple.
You should strongly consider a specialist assessor if your building has complex escape arrangements, a high occupancy, sleeping accommodation, young people, elderly residents, patients, restricted mobility users, or high-value operational assets that would be severely affected by a fire. The same applies if the premises have had extensions, changes of use, compartmentation concerns, or uncertainty around existing fire precautions.
An external assessor also brings independence. Internal staff can be knowledgeable, but they may be too close to day-to-day operations or may not spot issues that an experienced outsider will identify immediately. A good assessor should be able to explain findings clearly, prioritise recommendations and keep disruption to your site to a minimum.
What qualifications and evidence should you look for?
There is no benefit in appointing a provider simply because they are available quickly or offer the lowest price. The assessment needs to stand up to scrutiny if there is ever an incident, an enforcement visit or an insurer query.
Ask what fire safety qualifications the assessor holds, what type of premises they regularly assess, and whether they can show evidence of relevant training and experience. It is also worth checking whether they follow a clear, structured process and provide practical reports rather than generic templates.
For organisations that need a dependable compliance partner, visible standards matter. Qualifications, DBS-cleared personnel where appropriate, and a professional approach to planning and site access all help reduce operational friction. Janus Safety Solutions, for example, works in a way that reflects that expectation – with qualified engineers, site-specific planning and a strong focus on completing compliance work with minimal disruption.
Why competence depends on the building type
Not all fire risk assessments are equal. A straightforward office suite and a residential care environment may both need assessments, but the risk profile is completely different.
In a school, the assessor needs to consider evacuation of large groups, teaching areas, halls, storage, kitchens and after-hours use. In healthcare settings, delayed evacuation and patient dependency may be critical factors. In multi-occupied buildings, shared responsibilities and common parts can complicate the picture. In older properties, hidden voids, legacy alterations and fire door performance may all need close attention.
That is why a general understanding of health and safety does not automatically qualify someone to assess every property. The assessor should have experience that matches the setting. A competent person for a small office is not always the right person for student accommodation, a warehouse, or supported living premises.
What should a suitable fire risk assessment cover?
A proper fire risk assessment should identify fire hazards, people at risk, existing fire safety measures, and any gaps that need to be addressed. It should review how a fire might start, how it could spread, whether people can be warned and escape safely, and what management controls are in place.
That includes practical issues such as housekeeping, electrical risks, ignition sources, storage, emergency lighting, fire alarm provision, extinguishers, signage, fire doors, compartmentation and staff procedures. It should also take account of vulnerable occupants, out-of-hours arrangements and how maintenance is managed.
The outcome should not be vague. You should receive clear findings and prioritised actions. If the report is full of generic wording and does not seem tailored to your premises, that is a warning sign.
Common mistakes when choosing who carries out the assessment
The most common mistake is assuming that any health and safety consultant can do the job well. Some can, but only if they also have sufficient fire-specific competence. Another mistake is relying on a template without a proper site inspection. Fire risk assessment is about the real conditions on site, not a form filled in from memory.
A third issue is choosing someone who understands regulations in theory but cannot apply them practically. Good assessors know how to balance legal standards, building use and realistic recommendations. They should help you improve safety in a manageable way, not leave you with an unclear report and a long list of untargeted actions.
A practical way to make the right choice
If you are deciding who can carry out a fire risk assessment for your organisation, start with the complexity of the premises and the people who use it. The more complex the site, the stronger the case for an external specialist.
Then look at competence in plain terms. Does the person have relevant fire safety knowledge, suitable experience, and a track record with similar buildings? Can they explain their method clearly? Will the report be specific, practical and suitable for your compliance records? And can the work be arranged around your site operations without unnecessary disruption?
That is usually the difference between an assessment that simply exists on file and one that genuinely helps you manage risk.
A careful choice at this stage saves time later. It also gives you more confidence that your fire precautions have been reviewed by someone who understands both the legal duty and the day-to-day reality of running a busy site.