Fire safety for the
defence industry.Properly assessed, from £295.
The defence supply chain occupies ordinary commercial and industrial premises, but it operates in anything but an ordinary way. Classified materials, strict security protocols, controlled access zones, and the need for an assessor who understands that discretion and confidentiality are part of the job, not an afterthought, all shape what a suitable fire risk assessment looks like for a defence contractor. We carry out fire risk assessments for defence industry suppliers and contractors across the North West, working with the operational and security constraints that come with the territory.
Who is the Responsible Person?
In a defence contractor's premises the responsible person duty is the same as for any employer, sitting clearly with the organisation, but the operational context changes how it is managed.
The employer operating the site, whether a prime contractor, a tier-two supplier, or a specialist manufacturer, is the Responsible Person under fire safety law. The duty is the same as for any industrial employer, regardless of the classification of the work carried out on site.
Where the premises includes controlled access zones, secure areas, or classified material storage, the fire risk assessment needs to account for the access restrictions in its evacuation strategy and in its specification of detection and protection measures, without compromising security protocols.
The storage of classified or sensitive materials may impose specific constraints on how fire safety information is recorded, shared, and handled. The assessment needs to reflect those constraints rather than ignoring them.
Where the premises is leased from or shared with the MOD estate, there may be DIO fire safety standards and obligations alongside the civilian fire safety order duties. Both need to be addressed.
The problems we
hear most often
Fire safety in a defence contractor's facility sits with the H&S or facilities team, often navigating the tension between compliance visibility and security requirements. These are the gaps we find most regularly.
"Our site has secure and non-secure areas, and we are not sure how to handle the fire risk assessment for the restricted parts without compromising our security obligations."
A fire risk assessment for a site with controlled access zones needs an assessor who understands that some areas have restricted access for legitimate and non-negotiable reasons, and who can work with that constraint rather than treating it as an obstacle. We work within your access and security protocols, produce documentation at the appropriate classification level, and ensure the evacuation strategy is realistic for a building where not everyone can go everywhere.
"We have processes or materials on site that create specific fire hazards, but we are reluctant to have a generic assessor on site because of the sensitivity of what they might see."
Discretion and confidentiality are standard practice for us, not something that needs to be negotiated. We have a background that gives us a working understanding of the defence and security environment, and we approach site visits with the professional discretion that the sector requires. Assessment documentation is handled appropriately for the sensitivity of the site.
"Our facilities team has moved on and the site's fire risk assessment has not been reviewed for several years, partly because of the difficulty of arranging appropriate access for an external assessor."
Reviewing a lapsed fire risk assessment at a security-sensitive site is exactly the kind of task that falls between the gaps of a normal compliance cycle. We make the process straightforward, working with your security team on access arrangements and producing a current, compliant assessment that your H&S team can stand behind.
What makes defence premises
different to assess
A defence contractor's premises carries the fire risks of the industrial or commercial building it occupies, with an additional layer of operational and security constraints that shape every element of the assessment.
Evacuation across a security boundary
An evacuation strategy that cannot move people across a security boundary without compromising protocols needs to be designed around those constraints, with assembly areas, accountability arrangements, and communication with on-site security built into the plan.
Fire protection of sensitive assets
Where classified documents, materials, or equipment are stored, the fire protection of those assets, including detection, suppression, and access controls for the fire service, needs to be addressed in a way that reflects both the fire risk and the security obligation.
Energetic materials, composites & electronics
Defence manufacturing and assembly can involve energetic materials, specialist composites, high-value electronics, and other substances or processes with specific fire characteristics. The assessment has to understand those processes to assess them properly.
CCTV, access control & fire response
On a security-managed site, the fire service's response, including their access to the building, the areas they can enter, and the information available to them, may be constrained. The fire risk assessment and the emergency plan need to account for this.
Defence supply chain site access
Defence sites often have complex contractor management arrangements, with tiered access, escort requirements, and induction protocols. Hot works, maintenance, and building work by contractors need to be managed within these arrangements without compromising either fire safety or security.
Production continuity and fire risk
For a defence supplier, a fire that halts production is not just a financial loss but a potential breach of supply chain obligations to a programme. The business continuity dimension of fire risk is part of the picture for this sector in a way it is not for most commercial premises.
Discretion, access, and a working understanding of the defence environment
A fire risk assessment for a defence contractor requires an assessor who understands that not everything can be written down in the same way, not every area can be accessed without prior arrangement, and not every piece of documentation can be handled like an ordinary commercial report. We bring a professional background that includes an understanding of the defence and security environment, and we approach every site visit with the discretion and confidentiality the sector demands. Assessment documentation is produced and handled appropriately for the sensitivity of the premises.
Three services.
One point of contact.
Fire risk assessments, fire door inspections, and fire safety training, delivered by one company that understands the operational and security constraints of the defence supply chain.
Fire risk assessments
From £295 per assessmentA thorough assessment that works within your access and security protocols, covers controlled zones and classified material handling, and produces documentation handled at the appropriate level for your site. Clear written report and a prioritised action list for your H&S team.
- Controlled access zones and evacuation strategy assessed
- Classified material storage and fire protection covered
- Specialist processes and materials assessed
- Security overlay on fire service access considered
- Contractor management and hot works reviewed
- Documentation produced and handled appropriately
Fire door inspections
From £14 per doorDefence premises have fire doors and compartmentation protecting controlled zones, plant rooms, and escape routes. We inspect every component and give you a clear, photographed condition record handled at the appropriate level.
- Frame, leaf, intumescent seals, hinges & hardware
- Self-closing devices and smoke seals
- Controlled zone, plant room, and final exit doors
- Photographic evidence per door
- Prioritised remedial recommendations
Fire safety training
From £395 per sessionPractical fire safety training for site staff, security personnel, and fire marshals, adapted to the defence environment including evacuation across security zones and contractor fire awareness.
- Fire marshal training for H&S and facilities staff
- Evacuation procedures across controlled access zones
- Contractor fire safety awareness
- Hands-on extinguisher use on a live fire
- Certificates issued to all attendees
The framework
defence contractors work within
A defence contractor's premises answers to the fire safety order and the fire authority in exactly the same way as any other employer, alongside the security and contractual obligations of the defence supply chain.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to all non-domestic premises, including those on or used by the defence industry. There is no exemption for security-sensitive sites, classified premises, or MOD contractors. The Responsible Person must carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and implement the measures it identifies, within the operational and security constraints that apply to the site.
Where the premises is on or adjacent to the MOD estate, or leased from the DIO, MOD fire safety standards and DIO policy instructions may apply alongside civilian fire safety law, through the Defence Infrastructure Organisation's Senior Fire Safety Manager process. An assessment for such premises needs to be consistent with both frameworks.
Defence contractors also have fire safety obligations under their security and supply chain contracts, and a failure of fire safety that halts production or compromises classified material may constitute a breach of those obligations. A current, well-documented fire risk assessment is part of demonstrating that the contractor is meeting its duty of care to its people and its programme obligations to its customers.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Always appliesThe core legislation. Applies to defence contractors' premises in the same way as any other employer. No exemption for security-sensitive sites. Failure can result in unlimited fines or prohibition.
MOD fire safety standards
DIO premisesWhere premises are on or leased from the MOD estate, DIO policy instructions and the Defence Infrastructure Fire Standard may apply alongside the civilian fire safety order.
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
From January 2023Requires Responsible Persons to record fire safety measures, provide information to relevant persons, and maintain records of checks and actions. Applies to defence contractor premises in England.
Supply chain obligations
Contractual dutyDefence supply chain contracts typically impose health and safety obligations on contractors. A fire that halts production or damages classified assets may constitute a breach of programme obligations alongside the fire safety law failure.
Experience you can
put in a report.
Tim founded Fletcher Risk Management to bring genuine expertise and personal accountability to fire safety consultancy in the North West. With more than 30 years in the fire industry and a background that includes service as a commissioned officer in the Royal Air Force and a connection to the Intelligence Corps, he brings a working understanding of the defence and security environment to every assessment. He understands the operational constraints, the confidentiality obligations, and the need for an assessor who can be trusted on a sensitive site. When you book with Fletcher Risk, Tim carries out the work.
- ABBE Level 4 Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment
- NEBOSH National General Certificate
- FPA Fire Safety Management Certificate
- Member — Fire Protection Association
Sam oversees operations and documentation, so you have one point of contact and a consistent standard of reporting from first visit to final action log. For defence contractors managing compliance across several sites or programmes, that means consistent, appropriately handled documentation and a single point of contact for the H&S and facilities team.
- ABBE Level 4 Certificate in Fire Risk Assessment
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- 10+ years fire safety experience
"We have engaged Fletcher Risk Management to carry out surveys on a number of our sites for a very important client. The work produced exceeded our expectations by far. I would definitely recommend using this company." — Marie Morgan · EIS Ltd ★★★★★
"Without doubt one of the best and most professional businesses I have used for our Fire Risk Assessment. Tim Fletcher is a highly regarded professional in his field. Don't take a chance — protect your staff, protect your building."
"We have engaged Fletcher Risk Management to carry out surveys on a number of our sites. I would never hesitate to send Tim — always professional, friendly and accommodating. The work exceeded our expectations."
"Thorough, professional, and excellent value. The report was clear and the action points prioritised in a way that made it easy to know exactly what to tackle first. Would recommend without hesitation."
Book an assessment
built for your site.
Whether you need a fresh assessment that works within your access and security protocols, a review of a lapsed assessment, or training for your team, we can help. Call us for a confidential, no-obligation conversation.