CareHomeDeskCareHomeDeskWho needs one, what it must cover, and how often to review it under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, every care home is a 'regulated premises' and must have a written fire risk assessment carried out by a 'competent person'. The responsible person -- typically the registered manager or provider -- is accountable for ensuring the assessment is in place, current and acted upon. Failure to comply is a criminal offence.
A compliant FRA must identify fire hazards (ignition sources, fuel, oxygen), evaluate the risk to residents and staff including those with mobility or cognitive impairments, record significant findings, produce an action plan with priorities and timescales, and document the evacuation strategy. For sleeping-risk premises such as care homes, the standard of assessment required is higher than for office buildings.
The 'competent person' standard requires knowledge of fire safety legislation, building construction, and care home risks. For most care homes, this means using an accredited fire risk assessor -- look for membership of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM) or the Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council (FRACC) register. Some larger providers train in-house assessors, but this carries significant liability if the assessment is later found deficient.
There is no fixed statutory review period, but best practice is annual review as a minimum. You must also review following any significant change: building alteration, change of use of a room, new resident with complex mobility needs, a fire or near-miss, or following inspection feedback from the fire authority. Date-stamp every review and keep the full version history.
The most common FRA failures found during CQC and fire authority inspections are: inadequate assessment of sleeping risk, missing personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) for individual residents, fire doors not included in scope, no maintenance evidence for detection systems, and action plans that have not been signed off or reviewed. Address these before your next inspection.
CareHomeDesk gives you compliance checklists, maintenance logs, and contractor management tools built around exactly this kind of knowledge.