Office fire risk assessment
Offices are usually low-risk, but the law still requires the Responsible Person to assess the fire risk, record the findings and keep the assessment up to date. Most problems come from electrics, chargers, stored paper and blocked escape routes.
What the law asks
- Assess the fire risk of the premises under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 if you are the Responsible Person: usually the employer, owner or whoever controls the premises.
- Record all the findings, your fire safety arrangements and who carried out the assessment. Since 1 October 2023 this applies to every Responsible Person, whatever the size of the business (Building Safety Act 2022, section 156).
- Review it regularly and whenever something significant changes.
Government guide for this type of premises: Fire safety risk assessment: offices and shops and Making your small non-domestic premises safe from fire. Checked October 2026. FireRiskKit is written for England and Wales.
Typical fire hazards
- Overloaded sockets, extension leads and daisy-chained adaptors
- Laptop, phone and e-bike chargers left on overnight
- Paper, archive boxes and recycling stored near heat or on escape routes
- Kitchenette toasters and microwaves
- Heaters brought in by staff
People at risk
- Staff working alone or late
- Visitors and contractors who do not know the building
- Anyone who needs help to escape: plan a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) for them
Precautions to check
- A way of raising the alarm that everyone can hear, tested regularly
- Escape routes and fire exits kept clear, with signs and emergency lighting where needed
- Fire doors that close fully and are never wedged open
- Suitable extinguishers on the escape routes and annual servicing
- Staff training at induction and a fire drill at least once a year
Choose “Office” in FireRiskKit and the template asks about these points, then turns every gap into a dated action with an owner.
When to use a professional
A single-storey or small office with simple escape routes is the kind of premises gov.uk expects a business owner to assess themselves. Use a competent fire risk assessor for offices in multi-storey or shared buildings, with complex layouts, or if you are unsure.
Fill in the template in your browser, add your own findings and download a signed PDF with the action plan.
Start the free templateQuestions
Does a small office need a written fire risk assessment?
Yes. Since 1 October 2023 every Responsible Person in England and Wales must record the findings, the fire safety arrangements and who carried out the assessment, whatever the number of employees (Building Safety Act 2022, section 156).
Who is the Responsible Person in a rented office?
Usually the employer for the area they control. In a shared building the landlord or managing agent is responsible for the common parts, and the two must cooperate and share information.
Other premises
See also: Do I need a fire risk assessment? · Fire risk assessment checklist