Large buildings.
High fire load.
One fire risk assessment done properly.
Warehouses, manufacturing units, logistics hubs, and industrial premises present a fire risk profile that a standard commercial assessment simply doesn't address. High racking, large open floor plates, hazardous substances, shift workers, and arson exposure all demand a more rigorous approach. We work with industrial operators across the North West to make sure your assessment reflects the reality of your site.
Does your assessment need reviewing?
Any of these mean yes — by law.
Racking layout or stock type has changedA change in what you store or how it is stored is a material change requiring reassessment.
You have introduced EV or forklift chargingLithium-ion charging changes your fire risk significantly. Most existing assessments predate it.
Headcount or shift patterns have changedYour evacuation plan must reflect current staffing — including the minimum overnight crew.
Building work or structural changesAny alteration to compartmentation, escape routes, or external structures triggers a review.
New substances stored or used on siteFlammable liquids, compressed gases, or dust-producing processes alter the assessment fundamentally.
Your last assessment is more than 12 months oldHigher-risk industrial premises should be reviewed annually as a minimum.
The problems we
hear most often
Industrial premises are often assessed by consultants who are more comfortable with offices than warehouses. These are the gaps we find most regularly.
"Our fire risk assessment was done when the building was half empty. The racking layout and stock levels have changed completely since then."
A fire risk assessment must reflect the actual conditions on site — not the conditions that existed when the assessment was carried out. Changes to racking layout, stock type, or occupancy patterns are all material changes that trigger a review. We carry out reassessments and will tell you honestly how far the existing documentation is from current reality.
"We've started charging electric forklifts and a fleet of delivery vans overnight. Nobody has told us whether that changes our fire risk."
It does — significantly. Lithium-ion battery charging is one of the fastest-growing industrial fire risks in the UK. The location of charging points, ventilation, proximity to combustible stock, and the capacity of the electrical installation all need to be specifically assessed. This is frequently absent from existing assessments carried out before EV adoption became widespread.
"We had a fire authority visit and they flagged issues with our escape routes and fire door provision. We need to respond formally."
A fire authority improvement notice requires a formal, documented response — not just verbal reassurances. We can carry out a full reassessment, document the remedial actions taken, and produce the kind of written evidence that satisfies an improvement notice and demonstrates to the authority that you have taken your obligations seriously.
Hazards that require
specialist assessment
Industrial and warehouse premises have a fire risk profile that is fundamentally different from a commercial office. These are the areas that require specific attention.
High fire load
Dense racking systems loaded with combustible stock create an enormous fire load. Rack layout, aisle width, and the nature of the goods stored all affect how quickly a fire can spread and how accessible escape routes remain. A change in stock type — from clothing to plastics, for example — is a material change requiring reassessment.
EV & forklift charging
Lithium-ion batteries present a distinct fire risk — they can ignite spontaneously, burn at extreme temperatures, and are extremely difficult to extinguish. Charging locations, ventilation provisions, proximity to stock, and the adequacy of detection systems all need to be specifically addressed. This is one of the most rapidly evolving industrial risks.
Arson exposure
Industrial premises — particularly those on trading estates with unlit perimeters, external waste storage, and overnight vacancy — are among the most common arson targets. Bin stores and skip positions, perimeter lighting, external combustible materials, and the condition of boundary fencing all need to be assessed as part of the arson risk evaluation.
Hazardous materials
Many industrial premises store or use flammable liquids, compressed gases, or chemical substances that dramatically affect the fire risk. DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations) compliance often interacts with fire risk assessment requirements. We identify where these interactions exist and how they affect your overall fire safety regime.
Compartmentation & cladding
Many older industrial buildings have inadequate fire compartmentation — large open floor plates with no fire-rated separation, penetrations in fire walls from services, and in some cases external cladding that is not fire-rated. These are critical findings that significantly affect fire spread and available evacuation time.
Shift worker evacuation
A warehouse that operates 24 hours a day with different numbers of staff on each shift needs an evacuation plan that works for the minimum staffing scenario — not just the day shift. Night-time and early-morning evacuations present specific challenges around accountability, roll call, and external assembly points.
A note on DSEAR and fire risk assessment
Where dangerous substances are stored or used on site, the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) require a separate risk assessment alongside your fire risk assessment. The two must be consistent with each other. If your premises stores flammable liquids, compressed gases, or dust-producing processes, we can advise on where DSEAR intersects with your fire safety obligations and whether a combined assessment approach is appropriate for your site.
Three services.
One point of contact.
Fire risk assessments, fire door inspections, and fire safety training — delivered by one consultant who understands the specific demands of an industrial environment.
Fire risk assessments
From £295 per assessmentA thorough, premises-specific assessment that goes beyond the generic commercial checklist — covering your actual stock, processes, shift patterns, and site layout.
- Full site walk including yard, loading areas & perimeter
- Racking layout, stock type & fire load assessment
- EV and forklift charging risk assessment
- Arson risk evaluation — waste, perimeter, access
- Hazardous substance interaction assessment
- Written report suitable for fire authority & insurers
Fire door inspections
From £14 per doorIndustrial premises often have a significant number of fire doors — roller shutters, fire-rated personnel doors, and compartmentation doors. We inspect every component and give you a clear record of condition.
- Personnel doors on escape routes and compartmentation lines
- Frame, leaf, seals, hinges & hardware
- Self-closing devices and smoke seals
- Photographic evidence per door
- Prioritised remedial recommendations
Fire safety training
From £395 per sessionPractical, hands-on training for your team delivered at your premises. We cover the specific evacuation challenges of an industrial site — large floor plates, shift patterns, external assembly points.
- Fire marshal and warden training
- Hands-on extinguisher use on a live fire
- Industrial evacuation procedures & roll call
- Shift-specific scenarios including nights & early starts
- Certificates issued to all attendees
What the regulations
require of you
Industrial operators face obligations under several overlapping frameworks. A robust fire risk assessment sits at the centre of all of them.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to all non-domestic premises including warehouses, manufacturing units, and industrial estates. As the Responsible Person — typically the employer, the owner, or the person with control of the premises — you are legally required to carry out and record a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and implement all measures identified by it.
For premises where dangerous substances are stored or used, DSEAR 2002 adds a separate layer of risk assessment obligation. The two frameworks must be considered together — a fire risk assessment that ignores DSEAR substances is not suitable and sufficient.
From an insurance perspective, most commercial property and business interruption policies require you to maintain a current, competently carried out fire risk assessment. A fire in a warehouse with an outdated or inadequate assessment is exactly the scenario in which insurers will scrutinise your compliance records most carefully. The cost of a proper assessment is negligible compared to the exposure of an uninsured fire loss.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Always appliesThe core legislation. Requires a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment for all non-domestic premises. Failure to comply can result in unlimited fines, prohibition notices, or imprisonment.
DSEAR 2002
Where applicableDangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations. Applies where flammable liquids, gases, dusts, or explosive atmospheres are present. Must be assessed alongside the fire risk assessment.
Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
Always appliesImposes a general duty of care to employees and visitors. Fire safety failures that result in injury or death can lead to prosecution under HSWA as well as the fire safety order.
Insurance policy compliance
Check your policyMost commercial and industrial policies require a current, competently produced fire risk assessment as a condition of cover. An outdated assessment can provide grounds to decline or reduce a fire claim.
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 — including extensive experience across industrial and commercial premises — he understands how fires behave in large buildings, how they spread through racking systems, and what a genuinely site-specific assessment looks like. 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 — Institute of Fire Safety Managers
- Member — Fire Protection Association
Sam oversees operations and brings both fire safety qualifications and a legal background that is particularly useful for industrial operators navigating improvement notices or insurance disputes. His LLB gives him a thorough understanding of the regulatory framework — and the ability to produce documentation that stands up to scrutiny from both the fire authority and an insurer's loss adjuster.
- 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." — 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 to meet the staff — 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."
Get an assessment
built for your site.
Industrial premises vary enormously — call us and tell us about your site. We will give you honest advice about what a proper assessment involves and what it will cost.