How Office Attendance Changes Fire Safety: What Hybrid Teams Need to Know in 2026
Hybrid working is now part of everyday office life. Most offices we visit follow the same rhythm: busy a couple of days a week, quieter the rest. Tuesdays feel like a full house, Fridays can be almost empty, and everything in between shifts week by week.
For business owners and office managers, this unpredictability creates a quiet fire-safety challenge. Most building procedures were designed for stable, predictable attendance. When people flow in and out in waves, plans that used to run smoothly can start to fall slightly out of sync.
At Fletcher Risk, we see this first-hand when we’re out visiting clients. Whether it’s a firm based in one of the smaller refurbished offices on Foregate Street, or a larger operation out at Chester Business Park where MBNA, M&S Bank and others are based, the same pattern keeps cropping up. Hybrid working changes how a building is used, and your fire-safety arrangements need to keep pace with that.
Why Hybrid Patterns Change Fire Safety
1. Variable attendance affects evacuation plans
If a building jumps from quiet to busy depending on the day, the evacuation flow changes with it. A plan designed around 30 people can feel very different when 60 show up for a team day.
2. Fire wardens aren’t always in on the same days
A lot of companies still rely on wardens whose schedules don’t align with peak attendance. This is one of the most common issues we find.
3. Informal checks happen less when fewer people are around
Quiet offices make it easier to miss blocked exits, propped-open fire doors or equipment that’s been moved.
4. Desk layouts drift without anyone updating the assessment
Hot-desking means people naturally rearrange furniture. Over time this can subtly change escape routes or load up power sockets in ways that weren’t originally planned.
What Good Hybrid Ready Fire Safety Looks Like
Flexible evacuation plans
Some businesses now use two versions: one for quieter days and one for peak attendance. Both need to be understood and tested.
A warden rota that reflects actual working patterns
A simple rota, preferably shared with the whole team, reduces last-minute gaps.
Regular short walkthroughs
A weekly or fortnightly sweep is usually enough to catch common issues.
Updating the fire risk assessment when layouts change
It doesn’t need to be a major refurbishment. Even moving desks can warrant a quick review.
Clear guidance for staff who don’t come in often
Those who only visit the office once or twice a week need to know the basics, where to go and what’s changed since their last visit.
Why This Matters for Local Businesses
The North West is full of mixed-use buildings and busy professional hubs. Offices around our region all experience the same pattern: fluctuating attendance across the week.
Buildings designed around predictable footfall don’t always react the same way when hybrid working becomes the norm. Small gaps can become bigger problems if they’re not reviewed regularly. A few simple adjustments usually make everything run far more smoothly.
Not sure where to start
If you want a sense check of your current arrangements or you’re unsure whether your office setup still works with hybrid patterns, feel free to get in touch with Fletcher Risk. We help businesses across the North West and North Wales understand what’s changed so they can stay safe, compliant and confident.
Disclaimer
This article provides general information only and is not a substitute for professional fire-safety advice or a formal fire-risk assessment. Every building and business is different, so if you’re unsure, seek competent guidance.
Fletcher Risk Team - 8 December 2025