Fire Risk Assessment for Offices in Hull
Offices and commercial premises in Hull are legally required to have a current, written fire risk assessment. Local assessors provide qualified assessments for businesses across Hull city centre, the Humber waterfront, and East Yorkshire — with a PAS 79-compliant written report.
Legal requirement: Every office and commercial premises in England and Wales must have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Since October 2023, all assessments must be recorded in writing regardless of the number of employees. The responsible person — typically the employer or building owner — faces unlimited fines and up to two years’ imprisonment for non-compliance. Humberside Fire and Rescue Service carries out unannounced inspections of commercial premises across Hull.
Who We Help
Office and Commercial Premises Covered in Hull
Local assessors carry out fire risk assessments for all types of commercial premises across Hull and East Yorkshire — from small single-room offices to multi-floor corporate buildings.
Single & Multi-Floor Offices
From small professional offices in Hull city centre to larger multi-floor commercial buildings along the Humber waterfront and in the Hessle Road business district. Assessment includes all occupied floors, communal areas, and escape routes.
Converted & Heritage Buildings
Hull has a significant stock of converted Victorian and Georgian commercial buildings, particularly in the Old Town and around the Marina. Converted buildings often present specific compartmentation and escape route challenges that require experienced assessors.
Managed & Multi-Tenanted Buildings
Buildings with multiple tenants on different floors require careful allocation of responsible person duties between the building owner and each tenant. We advise on how fire safety responsibilities should be divided and assess both communal areas and individual tenancies.
Business Parks & Industrial Offices
Office units on Hull’s business parks — including Priory Park, Kingswood, and Bridgehead — often combine office and light industrial or storage use. The assessor looks at hybrid premises where administrative and operational areas overlap.
Co-Working & Serviced Offices
Co-working spaces and serviced office providers in Hull have complex responsible person arrangements with multiple businesses sharing facilities. The assessor looks at the full premises and advises on how fire safety obligations should be communicated to individual users.
Professional Services Premises
Solicitors, accountants, medical practices, dental surgeries, and other professional services premises across Hull. Reception areas with members of the public, archive storage, and out-of-hours occupancy all require specific assessment consideration.
Your Obligations
What the Fire Safety Order Requires from Office Occupiers
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a legal duty on the responsible person of every non-domestic premises to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. For most offices, the responsible person is the employer — the business occupying the premises. For leased buildings, the building owner or managing agent may also hold responsible person duties for communal areas such as entrance lobbies, stairwells, and shared corridors.
Since October 2023, following the Building Safety Act 2022, all fire risk assessments must be recorded in writing regardless of the number of employees or the size of the business. Previously, businesses with fewer than five employees were exempt from the written recording requirement — this exemption no longer exists. Every office in Hull must now have a written assessment.
The assessment must identify all fire hazards, evaluate the risk to employees and visitors, implement appropriate fire safety measures, and produce an action plan for any significant findings. It must be kept under review and updated whenever significant changes occur to the premises — including office refurbishments, changes to floor layout, significant changes in staff numbers, or any fire or near-miss incident.
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service carries out targeted and unannounced inspections of commercial premises across Hull. Your fire risk assessment — along with maintenance records for fire detection, emergency lighting, and fire extinguishers — is the primary evidence you will be asked to produce during an inspection.
⚖️ Key Responsible Person Duties for Offices
Required for all offices. Must be suitable and sufficient, recorded in writing, and kept under review.
Adequate escape routes, final exits, and assembly points for the number of people in the building.
Appropriate fire alarm system for the premises size and layout. Tested weekly, serviced annually.
Escape routes must be illuminated in the event of a power failure. Tested monthly and annually.
Appropriate fire extinguishers of the correct type for the hazards present, serviced annually.
All employees must receive fire safety induction training and know what to do if the alarm sounds.
Assessment reviewed at least annually and whenever significant changes occur to the premises or occupancy.
Assessment Scope
What Our Office Fire Risk Assessment Covers
Every assessment is carried out in accordance with PAS 79-1:2020 and produces a comprehensive written report with all significant findings and a prioritised action plan.
Means of Escape
Assessment of all escape routes, travel distances, final exit doors, corridor widths, and staircase arrangements. The assessor checks that escape routes are clearly signed, unobstructed, and adequate for the number of people using the building.
Fire Detection & Alarm System
Assessment of the fire alarm system type, detector coverage, sounders, manual call points, and whether the system is appropriate for the size and complexity of the office. The assessor checks maintenance records and test frequencies.
Emergency Lighting
Assessment of emergency lighting coverage along all escape routes, in stairwells, and at final exits. The assessor identifies where additional emergency lighting is required and checks maintenance and testing records.
Fire-Fighting Equipment
Assessment of fire extinguisher type, number, and location. Offices typically require CO2 extinguishers for electrical equipment and water or foam for general office risks. We verify annual servicing records.
Electrical Hazards
Identification of electrical fire risks including overloaded sockets, extension lead misuse, damaged wiring, and server room hazards. The assessor checks whether a current Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is in place.
Compartmentation & Structure
Assessment of fire compartmentation between floors and between office areas and higher-risk spaces such as server rooms, plant rooms, and kitchens. The assessor checks fire doors, service penetrations, and ceiling integrity.
Kitchen & Communal Areas
Staff kitchens and breakout areas are a common ignition source in offices. The assessor looks at cooking appliances, extraction, the provision of fire blankets, and whether kitchen areas are appropriately separated from escape routes.
Storage & Arson Risk
Assessment of storage arrangements — particularly paper storage, flammable materials, and waste disposal — and the risk of arson. External areas and car parks adjacent to the building are also assessed for arson vulnerability.
Occupant Awareness & Training
Review of staff fire safety training records, fire warden arrangements, fire action notices, and evacuation procedures. The assessor identifies gaps in training and makes recommendations as part of the action plan.
Legal Framework
Fire Safety Legislation for Offices & Commercial Premises
The key pieces of legislation that apply to offices and commercial premises in Hull.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Primary legislation for all non-domestic premises. Requires a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment by a competent person, recorded in writing, and kept under review. Enforced by Humberside Fire and Rescue Service with powers of inspection, enforcement, and prosecution.
Building Safety Act 2022
Introduced mandatory written recording of fire risk assessments for all premises from October 2023, removing the previous exemption for businesses with fewer than five employees. All Hull offices must now have a written assessment regardless of size.
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
Requires employers to ensure workplaces are safe and without risks to health. Complements the Fire Safety Order and is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive — failure to maintain fire safety standards can result in HSE enforcement action alongside fire authority action.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Requires electrical systems to be maintained to prevent danger. Relevant to offices with significant electrical equipment, server rooms, and high-density workstations. Electrical faults are one of the most common causes of office fires.
Transparent Pricing
Office Fire Risk Assessment Cost in Hull
Fixed-price quotes based on office size and complexity. Prices include the inspection, the written report and the action plan. Your quote is based on the details you give.
Office & Commercial Premises — Hull & East Yorkshire
Prices include full on-site inspection, PAS 79 report, prioritised action plan and follow-up support
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions Hull office managers and business owners ask us most often.
Get Started
Get a Free Office Fire Risk Assessment Quote
Talk to a qualified commercial assessor
Whether you manage a small professional office or a multi-floor commercial building in Hull city centre, you can get a free, no-obligation quote.
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Hull, East Yorkshire & Humber region