Fire risk assessments for shops & retail premises

Fire risk assessments for high street shops, convenience stores, showrooms and larger retail units.

No obligation. Prefer to talk? Call 020 8066 2499

Shop stockroom with a clear route to a fire exit door

Fire Risk Assessments for Shops & Retail

T&T Fire Safety carries out fire risk assessments for independent shops, convenience stores, showrooms, retail chains and units in shopping parades. We work for shop owners, store managers, franchisees and the landlords of retail premises.

Shops change all the time. Stock arrives, displays move and staff come and go. The assessment looks at how the shop is used day to day, not just how it was laid out when it opened.

What we consider

Stockrooms and storage

How much stock and packaging is kept, where it is stored, and whether it is close to ignition sources or escape routes.

Members of the public

Customers who do not know the building, may not see the exits and will try to leave the way they came in.

Blocked exits and deliveries

Rear fire exits blocked by cages, pallets or deliveries, and exit doors locked for security during trading hours.

Shared units and flats above

Shops in parades or with flats above, where a fire in the shop could affect people living or working nearby.

Lone working

Staff opening or closing alone, and how they would raise the alarm and get out.

Seasonal stock

Extra stock at Christmas and other peak times, and temporary displays that narrow aisles or cover signs.

Your fire risk assessment report

Significant findings

The fire risks and existing precautions identified during the assessment.

Prioritised actions

Recommended actions ranked according to priority.

Next steps

Guidance on the findings and any further action required.

Who is responsible in a shop

In England shops are covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The responsible person is the employer, or whoever controls the premises in connection with the business. In a unit with flats above or in a shared parade, the landlord may control shared parts, and responsible persons who share a building must co-operate and share information. Since 1 October 2023 every shop must keep a written record of the full assessment, whatever its size. The local fire and rescue authority can inspect and serve enforcement or prohibition notices.

Other fire safety services for retail

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Prefer to talk it through?020 8066 2499Mon–Thu 8:30am–6pm, Fri 8:30am–3pm

Frequently asked questions

I run a small shop with two staff. Do I need a written assessment?

Yes. Since 1 October 2023 the full assessment must be recorded, whatever the number of staff. Our guide on whether you need a fire risk assessment explains more.

Can fire exits be locked for security?

Fire exits must be easy to open from the inside without a key whenever people are in the building. There are fittings that allow quick escape and still give some security. The assessment checks each exit and what it is fitted with.

There is a flat above my shop. Does that change anything?

It can. The people upstairs may be at risk from a fire in the shop, and their escape route may pass the shop or share a wall with it. The assessment looks at the separation between the two and at any shared routes or alarms.

What do you need from me on the day?

Access to the shop floor, stockrooms, staff areas and exits, plus any alarm, emergency lighting and extinguisher service records. Our guide to what happens during an assessment explains the visit.

My landlord says the fire risk assessment is my job. Is that right?

Often, yes, for the parts of the building you control. The landlord may still be responsible for shared parts or systems. Check your lease, and where both of you hold duties, share your assessments.

How much does a shop fire risk assessment cost?

It depends on the size and layout of the premises and how many floors there are. Our guide on fire risk assessment costs sets out the factors, and we can give you a free quote.

Useful reading