Revised fire risk assessment standard published

UK national standards body BSI has published a revised version of a fire risk assessment standard that aims to reduce fire risk and improve the safety of non-domestic buildings and housing premises.

The revisions have been made to PAS 79, Fire Risk Assessment. Guidance and a recommended methodology. The standard has been published in two parts:

PAS 79-1, Fire risk assessment – Part 1: Premises other than housing – Code of practice

PAS 79-1 gives recommendations and corresponding examples of documentation for undertaking and recording the significant findings of fire risk assessments in non‑domestic premises and parts of non-domestic premises for which fire risk assessments are required by legislation.

It is applicable to peer-to-peer rented accommodation and to premises used solely for short-term letting of flats (with letting periods ranging from one day to six months).

PAS 79-2, Fire risk assessment – Part 2: Housing – Code of practice

PAS 79-2 gives recommendations and corresponding examples of documentation for undertaking and recording the significant findings of fire risk assessments in housing premises and parts of housing premises for which fire risk assessments are required by legislation. Recommendations are also provided for fire risk assessments that are outside the scope of fire safety legislation but are designed to protect residents of blocks of flats, sheltered housing and extra care housing in the event of a fire in their own flat.

Steering group members involved in the revision of the standard included: CBRE PMFM UK; Fire Industry Association; Institution of Fire Engineers; Lend Lease; Metro Safety; National Fire Chiefs Council; National Residential Landlords Association; National Security Inspectorate; National Social Housing Fire Safety Group; NHS England/NHS Improvements; Savills; Scottish Fire and Rescue Service; University College London; and BSI Consumer and Public Interest Network.