Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Responsible Person has a legal duty to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment to ensure the safety of all relevant persons within residential buildings. Relevant persons include tenants, leaseholders, visitors, contractors, and any employees who may be affected by a fire. This duty applies across a wide range of residential settings, from lower-risk housing and small blocks of flats to complex and high-rise residential buildings with shared and communal areas.
 

Since the Grenfell Tower fire, there has been a significant and sustained focus on fire safety within residential buildings, particularly those with multiple occupants and shared escape routes. The tragedy highlighted the critical importance of robust fire risk assessment, effective compartmentation, properly maintained fire doors, and clear fire safety management arrangements. In response, fire safety legislation, enforcement, and regulatory expectations have evolved, placing greater responsibility on duty holders to actively manage and demonstrate fire safety compliance.
 

Hielaman are well placed to support you in meeting your fire safety obligations in this heightened regulatory environment. We provide clear, practical, and proportionate advice that reflects both the legal framework and the specific risks associated with residential buildings. Our approach recognises that no two buildings are the same and that fire safety measures must be appropriate to the construction, layout, height, occupancy, and risk profile of each property.
 

Our comprehensive residential fire risk assessments are essential for complying with current fire safety legislation, including the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, which introduced additional duties relating to fire doors, information sharing, and building safety. These requirements reinforce the need for regular, competent assessment of communal areas and active management of fire safety measures, particularly in higher-risk residential buildings.
 

We work closely with landlords, managing agents, freeholders, and other duty holders to improve building fire safety and reduce risk. Our assessments review all key fire safety provisions within the shared and communal parts of residential buildings, including means of escape, communal fire detection and alarm systems, emergency lighting, compartmentation, fire doors, signage, and fire-fighting equipment. Particular attention is given to fire separation and the integrity of escape routes, which are fundamental to protecting residents in the event of a fire.
 

Fire safety management arrangements form a crucial part of our assessment process. We review maintenance and testing regimes, record keeping, emergency procedures, and resident information, ensuring that fire safety measures are not only installed but are effectively managed and maintained over time. Where shortcomings are identified, we provide clear, prioritised recommendations to help duty holders understand what actions are required and why they are important.
 

Hielaman’s residential fire risk assessment reports are designed to be clear, structured, and easy to follow, supporting compliance, enforcement inspections, and ongoing fire safety management. Our aim is to help you meet your legal duties with confidence, demonstrate a strong commitment to resident safety, and respond effectively to the increased scrutiny and expectations that exist in the post-Grenfell landscape.

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