Summary
- Fire risk assessments do not expire. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 sets no fixed expiry date or maximum lifespan.
- Regular review is a legal requirement. The responsible person must review the assessment “regularly” to keep it up to date.
- Significant changes trigger immediate review. Building alterations, new equipment, or occupancy changes require an update before the change takes effect.
- Annual review is best practice. Most fire safety professionals recommend reviewing at least every 12 months, even if no changes have occurred.
- Outdated assessments carry serious consequences. Enforcement action, unlimited fines, invalidated insurance, and prosecution are all possible.
A fire risk assessment is not a certificate that sits in a drawer until next year. It is a living document that must reflect your premises as they exist today.
Yet many UK businesses treat their assessment like an MOT. Once it is done, they forget about it. This is a dangerous and potentially illegal mistake.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must review their fire risk assessment regularly. But what does regularly mean in practice? And how long does a fire risk assessment actually last?
This guide answers those questions with clarity, using the latest legislative framework and industry guidance for 2026.
How Long Does a Fire Risk Assessment Last in the UK?
There is no fixed expiry date.
A fire risk assessment does not run out after 12 months. It does not have a legally prescribed lifespan. The law focuses on validity, not duration.
An assessment remains valid as long as it accurately reflects the current risks in your premises. The moment it no longer reflects reality, it becomes outdated, regardless of when it was written.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does a fire risk assessment expire? | No. There is no statutory expiry date. |
| Is there a legal maximum duration? | No. The law specifies no timeframe. |
| When must it be reviewed? | Regularly, and whenever significant changes occur. |
| What is best practice? | Annual review, or sooner if changes occur. |
Article 9(3) of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 sets out that the assessment must be reviewed regularly so as to keep it up to date, and in particular if there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid, or if there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates.
When Must a Fire Risk Assessment Be Reviewed?
The law identifies two mandatory triggers for review:
1. Reason to Suspect the Assessment Is No Longer Valid
This is a broad category. It includes:
- A fire or near-miss incident
- Discovery of new hazards
- Failure of fire safety equipment
- Changes in legislation
- A change in the legal status of the business (in some cases)
2. Significant Changes to the Premises or Organisation
Article 9(3)(b) specifies that review is required when the premises, special, technical and organisational measures, or organisation of the work undergo significant changes, extensions, or conversions.
This includes:
- Building alterations or extensions
- Changes in occupancy type or numbers
- New equipment or processes
- Changes to hazardous substance storage
- New work activities involving dangerous substances
- Employing a young person (under 18) for the first time
What Changes Require a Fire Risk Assessment Review?
Not every change requires a full reassessment. But many do. The table below outlines common triggers.
| Change | Trigger Review? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Structural alterations | Yes | Changes escape routes, compartmentation, and fire spread risk |
| Change in occupancy | Yes | Alters evacuation needs and risk profile |
| Introduction of dangerous substances | Yes | New ignition sources and fire loading |
| Significant increase in staff or visitors | Yes | Affects evacuation capacity and assembly points |
| New equipment or machinery | Yes | Potential new ignition sources |
| Failure of fire safety systems | Yes | Invalidates existing control measures |
| A fire or near miss | Yes | Reveals gaps in existing assessment |
| Change of use | Yes | Fundamental change in risk profile |
| New young workers | Yes | Requires specific risk consideration before employment begins |
| Starting to sell fireworks | Yes | New work activity involving dangerous substances |
Key point: The review must happen before the change takes effect, not after.
How Often Should a Fire Risk Assessment Be Reviewed?
There is no single legal frequency. But best practice guidance is consistent.
| Source | Recommended Frequency |
|---|---|
| Government guidance | Regularly, with updates for significant changes |
| Fire Protection Association | Not less than 12 months, risk based |
| Fire and rescue services | Annually, or sooner if changes occur |
| Industry best practice | Annually for most premises |
| High risk premises | More frequently, for example every 6 months |
| Low risk simple premises | Every 2 to 3 years may be acceptable |
The Fire Protection Association advises that review frequency as a matter of course would not be recommended to be less than a period of 12 months, although this depends on multiple factors specific to the premises.
The golden rule: if you are unsure, review annually. It is safer and demonstrates due diligence. For a practical starting point, see our fire safety risk assessment checklist.
The 5-Step Review Process
The UK government fire risk assessment checklist identifies five key steps, with review as the final stage.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identify fire hazards |
| 2 | Identify people at risk |
| 3 | Evaluate, remove, reduce, and protect from risk |
| 4 | Record, plan, inform, instruct, and train |
| 5 | Review |
The review step asks specific questions:
- Have you made any changes to the building since the last assessment?
- Have you had a fire or a near miss?
- Have stock levels changed significantly?
- Have you started to store chemicals or dangerous substances?
You must keep a record that you have reviewed your assessment, and the date you did so. Our guide to health and safety inspections in the workplace covers this kind of record keeping in more depth.
Who Is Responsible for Reviewing a Fire Risk Assessment?
The responsible person is legally accountable.
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Employer | Overall legal responsibility for employees and premises |
| Building owner | Responsibility for common areas in multi occupied buildings |
| Occupier | Responsibility for the areas they control |
| Facilities manager | Often delegated day to day responsibility |
| External assessor | Can conduct reviews, but legal duty remains with responsible person |
Even if you employ a specialist to carry out the assessment, you remain legally accountable.
What Happens If a Fire Risk Assessment Is Out of Date?
An outdated fire risk assessment is a legal liability.
| Consequence | Details |
|---|---|
| Enforcement action | Fire and rescue services can issue improvement or prohibition notices |
| Fines | Unlimited fines for serious breaches, in both the magistrates court and the Crown Court |
| Imprisonment | Up to 2 years at the Crown Court for serious breaches |
| Invalidated insurance | Insurers may refuse claims if fire safety duties were neglected |
| Prosecution | Responsible persons can face criminal charges |
Under current GOV.UK enforcement guidance, the maximum penalty for a serious breach of the Fire Safety Order is an unlimited fine in the magistrates court, or, at the Crown Court, an unlimited fine and or a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years.
The previously cited fixed penalty cap of 5,000 pounds no longer applies, since the cap on magistrates court fines for offences of this kind was removed some years ago, meaning even magistrates can now impose unlimited fines for serious fire safety breaches.
How Long Does a Fire Risk Assessment Take?
The duration depends on the complexity of the premises.
| Premises Type | Typical Duration | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small office or retail unit | Half day to one day | 300 to 500 pounds |
| Medium commercial property | One full day | 600 to 900 pounds |
| Large multi floor building or hotel | One to two days | 1,200 to 2,000 pounds |
| High risk or complex site | Two or more days | 2,000 pounds or more |
For schools, assessors typically spend 3 to 4 hours on site depending on size. The assessment involves a physical inspection, document review, and interviews with staff.
Fire Risk Assessment Validity: Summary Table
| Aspect | Answer |
|---|---|
| Legal expiry date | None |
| Mandatory review trigger | Significant changes or reason to believe invalid |
| Best practice frequency | Annually |
| Legal basis | Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Article 9 |
| Who reviews | Responsible person (can delegate) |
| Consequence of outdated FRA | Enforcement, unlimited fines, imprisonment, invalidated insurance |
| Record keeping | Must record the review and the date |
Conclusion
A fire risk assessment does not expire. It does not have a fixed lifespan. It remains valid only as long as it accurately reflects the risks in your premises.
Your compliance checklist:
- Conduct a fire risk assessment
- Review it annually (best practice)
- Review immediately after significant changes
- Review after any fire or near miss
- Record the review date and findings
- Keep records available for inspection
The law requires regular review. Best practice demands annual attention. And common sense tells you that a document gathering dust in a drawer will not protect anyone when fire breaks out.
How Smart Workforce Supports Fire Safety Compliance
Managing fire safety across multiple sites and shift teams is complex. Smart Workforce provides a centralised platform for:
- Incident reporting: log fire incidents, near misses, and hazards
- Compliance tracking: monitor fire risk assessment review dates
- Staff training records: track fire safety training completion
- Audit trails: maintain records for fire and rescue service inspections
Discover how Smart Workforce supports fire safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a fire risk assessment last in the UK?
There is no fixed expiry date. It remains valid as long as it reflects current risks. Best practice is an annual review, plus an immediate review after significant changes.
Does a fire risk assessment expire?
No. The law does not specify an expiry date. However, it must be reviewed regularly and kept up to date.
When does a fire risk assessment need to be updated?
When there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid, or after significant changes to the premises, processes, or occupancy.
What changes require a new fire risk assessment?
Building alterations, changes in occupancy, new hazardous substances, new equipment, failure of fire safety systems, or any fire incident.
Who is responsible for reviewing a fire risk assessment?
The responsible person (employer, building owner, or occupier) holds legal responsibility. This duty can be delegated but not transferred.
Is an annual fire risk assessment legally required in the UK?
Not strictly. The law requires “regular” review. Annual review is best practice and widely recommended.
What happens if a fire risk assessment is out of date?
You risk enforcement action, unlimited fines, up to 2 years imprisonment, and invalidated insurance.
Can I review my own fire risk assessment?
Yes, if you are competent to do so. For complex premises, a professional assessor is recommended. Legal responsibility remains with you.
Do landlords need to carry out regular fire risk assessments?
Yes. Landlords of non-domestic premises and certain residential buildings have legal duties to assess and review fire risks.
Is a fire risk assessment a legal requirement for all UK businesses?
Yes. Every non-domestic premises in England and Wales must have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This applies to all businesses, regardless of size.
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