When businesses ask for a fire safety “audit”, “survey”, “inspection” or “assessment”, they often mean the same thing: someone competent looking at the building and telling them what needs to be done. The words matter less than what you get at the end.
What a fire risk assessment is
A fire risk assessment is a structured look at how fires could start in your premises, who could be harmed and what measures are in place to prevent fire, detect it, warn people and get everyone out safely. It ends with a written record and a prioritised action list.
What people usually mean by an audit
An audit tends to suggest checking your arrangements against a set of requirements, such as records, servicing, training and procedures. A good fire risk assessment already covers these, because a plan is only as good as the checks behind it.
What to look for in any visit
- A site walk-through of the whole premises, not a desktop exercise.
- Conversations with the people who run and use the building.
- A review of your fire safety register, servicing and drill records.
- A clear written report with practical, prioritised actions.
- A plan for review. See our guide on how often to review a fire risk assessment.
Which should you ask for?
Ask for a fire risk assessment, and tell us what is driving the request: a new building, a change of use, a lease, a regulator, an insurer or just peace of mind. We will make sure the scope fits.
Your duties
Under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, a person in control of premises must take reasonable measures to guard against fire and to protect people if one occurs. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 places wider duties on employers to manage workplace risks.
Talk to Safer Solutions
A fire risk assessment looks at your premises, your people and the way you work, and gives you a clear written action list. Call us on 086 275 9728 or email info@safersolutions.ie for a friendly, no-obligation chat. See our fire risk assessments in Ireland and our fire and legionella guides.