“Reasonably practicable” is one of the most commonly used phrases in UK fire safety, and one of the least well understood. It appears in guidance, enforcement conversations and fire risk assessments, yet many duty holders are left unsure what it actually means in practice. Does it mean doing everything possible, regardless of cost or disruption? Or does it mean doing the bare minimum to stay compliant? In reality, it means neither.

Where the phrase comes from

The concept of what is reasonably practicable runs through UK health and safety law, including fire safety legislation. It recognises that risk can rarely be eliminated entirely, and that control measures must be balanced against the time, effort and cost required to implement them. In simple terms, it requires duty holders to reduce risk to a level where further reduction would be grossly disproportionate to the benefit gained. That balance is the key point many people miss.

What “reasonably practicable” does not mean

It does not mean doing nothing because something is inconvenient or expensive. It also does not mean automatically choosing the most extensive or costly solution available. Fire safety decisions should not be driven by fear of enforcement alone, nor by a desire to over specify “just in case”. Both approaches can lead to poor outcomes.

What it looks like in real buildings

In practice, reasonably practicable fire safety is about judgement. It means identifying the real risks in a specific building, understanding how people use that space day to day, and then applying control measures that genuinely reduce the likelihood and consequences of fire. In some buildings, that might mean improvements to detection or warning systems. In others, it may mean better management of escape routes, clearer procedures, improved training or addressing small but persistent issues such as wedged fire doors or blocked corridors. Often, the most effective measures are not the most technical ones.

Why this causes confusion for duty holders

Many building owners and property managers feel caught in the middle. On one side is a fear of doing too little and being criticised after an incident. On the other is pressure to control costs and disruption, particularly in occupied buildings. This can lead to a default position of accepting every recommendation without challenge, even when it is unclear how much additional risk reduction is actually being achieved. Understanding reasonably practicable decision making gives duty holders confidence to ask better questions.

The role of the fire risk assessment

A good fire risk assessment should not simply list measures. It should explain why certain actions are recommended, how much risk they address, and how they compare to other available options. Crucially, it should help prioritise actions so that attention is focused where it will have the greatest impact on life safety. Where everything is presented as equally urgent, reasonably practicable judgement is usually missing. Fire risk assessments are something that Fletcher Risk specialises in.

Where proportionality really matters

Proportionality becomes especially important in:

Older buildings where perfect compliance is unrealistic.
Mixed use premises with varied occupancy.
Sites where significant capital works are being considered.
Buildings that rely heavily on management controls and human behaviour

In these settings, clear, proportionate advice is essential to avoid unnecessary work while still managing risk responsibly.

Asking the right questions

Duty holders do not need to be fire safety experts to make informed decisions. Asking a few simple questions can reveal whether advice is genuinely risk led:

What specific risk does this recommendation address?
What alternatives were considered?
What would happen if this measure were delayed or implemented differently?
How does this relate to how the building is actually used?

Clear answers are usually a sign of sound judgement.

How Fletcher Risk approaches “reasonably practicable”

At Fletcher Risk, reasonably practicable fire safety is about clarity and proportion. Our assessments start with understanding risk in the context of the building and its occupants, not with predefined solutions. Recommendations are prioritised and explained so that duty holders understand what matters most and why.

A final thought

Reasonably practicable fire safety is not about doing the least possible, or the most possible. It is about doing the right things, in the right order, for the right reasons. When that judgement is applied well, fire safety becomes more effective, more defensible and easier to manage over time.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Fire safety duties and appropriate control measures depend on the specific premises, occupancy, management arrangements and findings of a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. If you require advice on your circumstances, you should seek competent professional support.

Fletcher Risk Team - 19 December 2025

What “Reasonably Practicable” Actually Means in Fire Safety