Choosing someone to carry out a fire risk assessment in Glasgow should involve more than simply searching online and selecting the first available assessor. The person completing the assessment needs enough knowledge, training and experience for the type of premises involved.
I was recently asked to assess a property where a previous fire risk assessment had not been accepted by the local authority. I will not go into the details of that property or the previous assessor. However, it was a useful reminder that a fire risk assessment needs to stand up to proper scrutiny.
A professional-looking report alone does not prove that an assessor is competent. Before appointing someone, there are several practical checks I would recommend.
What does a competent fire risk assessor need to know?
A competent fire risk assessor needs the skills and knowledge to identify significant fire hazards. They must also understand how people could be affected if a fire starts.
That means looking beyond obvious items such as smoke alarms and extinguishers. The assessor should understand escape routes, fire doors, fire separation, emergency lighting and fire detection.
They also need to consider how the premises are managed. Staff training, testing records, evacuation arrangements and housekeeping can all affect the level of risk.
Scottish Government guidance makes an important point here. Someone working within the fire sector, or someone with previous fire service experience, is not automatically a competent fire risk assessor.
Competence should match the complexity of the premises. Assessing a small ground-floor shop is very different from assessing sleeping accommodation, a nursery or a large multi-storey building.
What should Glasgow businesses ask an assessor to provide?
You should be comfortable asking an assessor to provide evidence of their competence before appointing them.
Relevant evidence could include fire risk assessment qualifications, training records and experience with similar properties. Professional indemnity insurance is another sensible check.
I would also ask whether the assessor can demonstrate:
- Relevant fire risk assessment qualifications
- Experience with your type of premises
- Professional indemnity insurance
- Examples of previous work or suitable references
- Ongoing training or continuing professional development
SFRS specifically recommends checking whether an assessor has experience carrying out assessments for your type of business and premises. It also suggests asking previous clients about their experience.
An assessor should also know their own limits. If a building requires specialist structural, engineering or technical advice, they should recognise this rather than make assumptions outside their competence.
What about third-party certification and professional registers?
This is an area that can sometimes cause confusion.
Scottish Government and SFRS guidance recommends the use of professional registration or recognised third-party certification as a way of gaining additional assurance about an assessor.
However, I would not look at one badge or membership in isolation.
Scottish Government guidance also says that the assessor’s competence for the specific building type should be checked. An assessor may have strong credentials but limited experience with the type of property you operate.
For example, someone experienced with offices and retail units may not necessarily have the right experience for complex care premises or higher-risk residential buildings.
Registration and certification can therefore provide useful assurance. Qualifications, relevant experience and the assessor’s understanding of your particular premises still matter as well.
The important point for the client is to ask questions and request evidence rather than simply assume competence.
A fire risk assessment should be specific to your Glasgow premises!
The quality of the finished report is another important indicator.
A fire risk assessment should clearly relate to the building being assessed. Generic recommendations that could apply to almost any property should raise questions.
The assessor should explain what they found and why it matters. Recommendations should also be proportionate to the actual level of risk.
Scottish Government guidance for higher-risk buildings specifically advises that conclusions should be supported by reasoned judgement. It also warns against generic recommendations that are not specific to the premises.
In practice, I believe a good report should make it easy for the dutyholder to understand three things: what is satisfactory, what needs improved and what should be dealt with first.
Photographs can also help explain important findings. A clear action plan should then provide sensible priorities and timescales.
The assessment should be useful to the person responsible for the building, not simply a document produced to say that an assessment has been completed.
The dutyholder still has responsibility
Employing an external fire risk assessor does not remove the dutyholder’s responsibility for fire safety.
The dutyholder remains responsible for ensuring that a suitable assessment is carried out and that necessary fire safety measures are implemented.
This makes choosing the right assessor important.
If you are appointing someone, ask what qualifications they hold. Ask about experience with similar premises and whether they can provide evidence of insurance and competence.
A reputable assessor should be comfortable answering those questions.
I provide clear and practical fire risk assessments for businesses, landlords and short-term let hosts across Glasgow. I am also happy to explain my qualifications, experience and the scope of an assessment before any work is agreed.
If you need a fire risk assessment, fire safety training or advice on an existing assessment for premises in Glasgow, get in touch with AMC Fire Safety.