Care home fire risk assessments
A care home fire risk assessment in England has to account for residents who cannot leave without help, so it looks closely at compartmentation, fire doors, horizontal evacuation, night-time staffing and personal evacuation plans. Care homes sit outside BS 9792:2025, so Garrison FM assesses them to PAS 79-1:2020 alongside the government guide for residential care premises. Every care home is priced by quote.
Care home or larger building
Quote
Fixed price after a short call. Report within 5 working days of the visit, reviewed by a second senior assessor.
What the law requires for care homes
A care home is a workplace and a place where people sleep, so the Fire Safety Order applies to the whole building.
- Fire Safety Order 2005: the responsible person, usually the registered provider, must make and record a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment of the premises. Read article 9.
- Written record: since 1 October 2023 the full assessment must be recorded, with the name of anyone engaged to make or review it. Read the GOV.UK guidance.
- Government guidance: Fire safety risk assessment: residential care premises is the government guide for care homes, issued under article 50 of the Order and last updated in September 2023.
- Enforcement: the local fire and rescue service enforces the Order. In Berkshire that is Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
What a care home assessment covers
The assessor works with the manager or a nominated member of staff throughout the visit.
- The evacuation strategy, including progressive horizontal evacuation between compartments
- Compartment walls, fire doors and hold-open devices linked to the alarm
- Night-time staffing levels against the evacuation plan
- Personal emergency evacuation plans for residents, and the equipment they rely on
- Fire detection and alarm, emergency lighting and their records
- Kitchens, laundries, oxygen storage and smoking arrangements
- Staff training and fire drill records
- Bedroom doors and the risk from items brought in by residents
Every assessment is non-destructive unless agreed in advance. See the full scope and exclusions and a sample report.
PAS 79-1:2020 for care homes
BS 9792:2025, the housing standard, excludes care homes. Garrison FM therefore assesses care homes to PAS 79-1:2020, the BSI code of practice for premises other than housing, and against the government residential care guide.
Supported and sheltered housing is different. It falls within BS 9792:2025 and is assessed to that standard.
Why care homes are quoted
The time on site depends on the number of beds, floors and compartments, the evacuation strategy and the records to review. A short call with the manager lets us give a fixed price and plan the visit around residents' routines.
The report is reviewed by a second senior assessor before issue and arrives within 5 working days of the visit, the same as every Garrison FM report.
What we need from you
- Number of beds, floors and residents who need help to evacuate
- The fire strategy drawing or floor plans showing compartments
- The emergency evacuation plan and personal emergency evacuation plans
- Day and night staffing levels
- Fire drill and staff training records
- Fire alarm, emergency lighting and fire door records
- The current fire risk assessment
Questions
Related guides
Which standard applies to a care home fire risk assessment?
BS 9792:2025 excludes care homes, so the relevant code of practice is PAS 79-1:2020 for premises other than housing. The government guide Fire safety risk assessment: residential care premises sets out what fire services expect in care homes. Garrison FM assesses care homes against both.
Why is a care home priced by quote?
Care homes vary more than flats or offices in size, layout and how residents are evacuated. Garrison FM agrees the scope with the manager on a short call, then gives a fixed price before booking. The price covers the visit, the report and the review by a second senior assessor.
Do you assess supported living and sheltered housing?
Yes. Supported and sheltered housing falls within BS 9792:2025, the housing standard, and Garrison FM assesses it to that standard. Send the number of flats or rooms, storeys and the support model with your enquiry and we reply with a fixed price.
How is the visit planned around residents?
The assessor agrees the visit time with the manager in advance and works with a member of staff throughout. Bedrooms and resident areas are visited only when staff say it is suitable, and the assessor follows the home's own infection control and visitor rules.
Book a fire risk assessment
Tell us the building type, the postcode and the date of your current assessment. We reply with a fixed price and the first available visit date.