Essential Fire Safety Checks for Small Business Premises

Why regular fire checks are your legal duty

Every business in the UK has a legal duty to keep its premises safe from fire, and for most small firms the buck stops with the owner or manager. In England and Wales, the main framework is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which makes you the "responsible person". That means carrying out a fire risk assessment, acting on what it finds and reviewing it regularly. If you employ five or more people, the assessment must be written down.

The good news is that the day-to-day work is far less daunting than it sounds. A focused walk-round once a week, plus a handful of monthly and annual tasks, will catch almost every problem before it becomes a danger to staff or visitors. What matters is consistency — and writing down what you find.

Testing your fire alarm and detection system

Your alarm is the first line of defence, so give it a proper test each week. Pick a fixed time when the building is occupied, tell everyone in advance, and use a different call point each week so every point is checked over the course of a few months.

While you are at it, look for the things that quietly undermine a system:

• Check the sound is loud enough in every area, including toilets, stockrooms, kitchens and any upstairs rooms.
• Make sure detectors are not obstructed by stacked boxes, decorations or new partitioning.
• Look for signs of damage, heavy dust build-up or painted-over heads — these need attention from a competent engineer.
• Confirm that any linked systems, such as sprinklers or gas shut-off valves, are working as expected.

If your alarm is monitored remotely, tell the receiving centre before you test so nobody calls the fire service by mistake.

Fire extinguishers: monthly checks and annual servicing

Extinguishers are simple pieces of kit, but they only work if they are in the right place and in good order. Give each one a quick visual check every month:

• Is it in its correct position, on its bracket, and free from obstruction?
• Is the pressure gauge needle sitting in the green section?
• Are the pin and tamper seal intact, with no sign of interference?
• Is the body free from dents, rust or corrosion?
• Are the hose and nozzle free from cracks or blockages?
• Is the service label present and legible?

Beyond that, extinguishers need a service by a competent person once a year, with an extended service at five years. CO2 extinguishers also require a hydraulic pressure test at ten years. If an extinguisher has been used — even briefly — it must be recharged or replaced straight away, never simply hung back on the wall as though nothing happened.

Keeping escape routes and exits clear

Escape routes are the part of fire safety that slips most often, because they are also the places we store things when we run out of room. Build a habit of checking them daily in busy areas.

• Corridors and stairways must be free of boxes, chairs, deliveries and equipment.
• Final exit doors must open easily, without a key, code or special knowledge.
• External routes should be clear of bins, pallets and overgrown shrubs, and well lit at night.
• Check that floors are sound, handrails are secure and any steps are clearly marked.
• Never chain or lock a fire exit during working hours, even for a few minutes.

Fire doors, signage and emergency lighting

Fire doors do a huge amount of work, but only when they are closed. Check that each one sits properly in its frame, that the intumescent and smoke seals are intact, and that the self-closing device actually shuts and latches the door. Wedging a fire door open, even with a small wooden chock, removes its protection entirely. If you need a door held open for access, use a device that releases automatically when the alarm sounds.

Signage should be clear and visible from a distance: escape route signs wherever the route is not obvious, and a fire action notice at each call point explaining what people should do. Emergency lighting needs a short monthly flick test using the test button, plus an annual test of the full rated duration. If a light or sign is out, repair or replace it promptly rather than adding it to a list for later.

Recording your checks and keeping staff prepared

Write everything down. A simple log book with the date, the initials of whoever carried out the check and any action taken is enough, and it is exactly what a fire officer will ask to see. Review your fire risk assessment at least once a year, and again whenever you change your layout, introduce new equipment or processes, or take on more staff.

Finally, make sure people know what to do. New starters should be told about escape routes and assembly points on their first day, and everyone should take part in at least one fire drill a year. Fifteen minutes a week, a clear checklist and a bit of discipline will keep your premises, your team and your visitors safe — and give you one less thing to worry about.