Warehouse fire risk assessment
A warehouse can hold a lot of fuel in one place. A fire in stored goods spreads fast, so the assessment focuses on how goods are stored, what can ignite them and how far people have to travel to get out.
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: factories and warehouses. Checked October 2026. FireRiskKit is written for England and Wales.
Typical fire hazards
- Pallets, timber and plastic packaging
- Charging forklift and pallet truck batteries
- Flammable liquids, aerosols and lithium-ion batteries in stock
- Heaters and hot work during maintenance
- Waste and packaging left between racks
People at risk
- Staff in remote parts of the building or on night shifts
- Drivers and visitors in the yard and loading bays
- Lone workers
Precautions to check
- Escape routes that stay clear of stock, with marked aisles
- Battery charging in a ventilated area away from stored goods
- Fire alarm audible across the whole building, including noisy areas
- Separate storage for flammable materials
- Good housekeeping: waste removed regularly
Choose “Warehouse” 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
Small warehouses and storage units can be assessed by the business. Use a competent assessor for large or high-bay warehouses, buildings with sprinklers or complex alarms, or where hazardous goods are stored.
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 stock height matter for fire safety?
Yes. High stacks and racking spread fire faster and can block escape routes. Keep a clear gap below sprinkler heads and lights, and keep aisles to the exits clear.
Who is responsible in a shared industrial unit?
Each business for the part it controls, and the landlord for shared areas. Responsible Persons must share information and cooperate.
Other premises
See also: Do I need a fire risk assessment? · Fire risk assessment checklist