FIRE SAFETY & DISASTER RECOVERY


FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT REVIEW FREQUENCY IN 2026


Fire risk assessments remain a legal requirement for almost all commercial premises in the UK. In 2026, one of the most common compliance questions from business owners and FMs is: how often should a fire risk assessment be reviewed? Here, Sygma outlines some of the things to consider when answering this question.


Is a fire risk assessment still a legal


requirement in 2026? Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, every responsible person must ensure that a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is in place and kept up to date. This applies to offices, shops, warehouses, industrial sites, HMOs, care premises and most commercial buildings.


Recent changes introduced through the Fire Safety Act and Building Safety Act have increased scrutiny around documentation, competence and ongoing review, particularly where multiple occupancies or sleeping risk are present.


How often should a fire risk


assessment be reviewed? UK fire safety legislation does not define a specific review period. Instead, it requires assessments to be reviewed regularly and updated whenever they are no longer valid.


In practical terms, the following review frequencies are widely accepted by enforcing authorities, insurers and competent assessors.


34 | TOMORROW’S FM


For most low to medium risk commercial premises, an annual review is considered best practice and the minimum defensible position in 2026.


Higher-risk environments, including care homes, HMOs and buildings with sleeping accommodation, should typically be reviewed every six months.


Premises with frequent operational, staffing or layout changes may require ongoing or rolling reviews.


Situations that require an


immediate review A fire risk assessment must be reviewed straight away if any of the following occur:


• Building alterations, refurbishments or layout changes.


• A change in how the building is used. • Increased occupancy levels or vulnerable occupants. • New equipment, processes or ignition sources. • Significant staff changes or new fire wardens. • A fire, near miss or fire authority enforcement action.


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