Fire safety FAQ
Fire safety questions often start with “Do I need…?”, “Is this still valid?” or “What happens next?”. This page brings together the questions people most often ask about assessments, strategies, DSEAR, surveys and working with ESI.
If your situation does not fit neatly, tell us what has prompted the enquiry. You do not need to know the service name before you contact us.
Important: these answers are general guidance. The right route can depend on the building, how it is used, the information available and what has prompted the question.
Start here
You do not need to read every answer. Start with whichever question sounds closest to what is happening with your building, project or site.
Existing building
For people responsible for a workplace, commercial premises or shared residential areas.
Read the answerWhich document?
Understand the difference between managing risk in an occupied building and defining the fire safety approach.
Compare the twoSpecialist risk
For workplaces using or storing flammable liquids, gases, vapours or combustible dusts.
Read the answerExisting documents
Particularly relevant after changes to layout, use, ownership or planned refurbishment.
Read the answerMissing information
You can still start the conversation. ESI can review what is available and explain what else may be useful.
Read the answerNot sure
Tell us what has prompted the enquiry rather than trying to diagnose the service yourself.
Read the answerUseful if you have a problem, document or responsibility in front of you but are not yet sure which ESI service fits.
Yes. You do not need to diagnose the problem before speaking to us. Tell us about the building or project, what has prompted the enquiry and anything you have already been asked to provide. We can help you identify the most appropriate route and explain the next step.
Tell us what is happeningA fire risk assessment looks at an existing building in use, the fire hazards present, the people who may be at risk and how fire safety is being managed today.
A fire strategy explains the overall fire safety design and approach for a building or project. It is particularly relevant around design, construction, refurbishment, change of use or where an existing building needs a clearer fire safety design basis.
If you are unsure which document applies, start with the situation rather than the terminology.
Start by finding out what information already exists: current fire risk assessments, fire strategies, alarm and emergency lighting records, fire door or compartmentation surveys, evacuation arrangements and any outstanding action plans.
Do not worry if the records are incomplete. ESI can review what is available, help you understand where the gaps are and advise what should be dealt with first.
No. Send or describe what you have. Existing plans, assessments, strategies, surveys and service records can all be useful, but incomplete records do not prevent you from starting the conversation.
Once we understand the question you are trying to answer, we can explain what additional information may be useful.
Possibly, but it depends on what changed. Alterations to layout, occupancy, use, escape routes or fire safety arrangements can affect whether an existing assessment or strategy still reflects the building accurately.
Tell us what has changed and which documents you already have. We can advise whether the sensible next step is a review, an update or a new piece of work.
For responsible persons, owners and managers who need to understand the fire risk in premises that are already in use.
If you are responsible for a non-domestic premises or the common parts of a residential building, you will often have duties under fire safety legislation. A fire risk assessment is one of the main ways those duties are understood and managed.
The exact requirement depends on the premises and how it is used. If you are unsure, tell us what type of building you are responsible for and we can help you identify the appropriate route.
The cost depends on the size and complexity of the building, how it is used, the people who use it, what information is available, the location and the agreed scope. Send us the basic details and we can put together a clear proposal.
This varies with the building. A small, straightforward premises will generally take less time than a larger or more complex building. Once we understand the premises and scope, we can give you a realistic idea of the time involved.
There is no single review interval that suits every premises. It should be reviewed regularly and whenever there is reason to think it may no longer reflect the building or the way it is used, for example after significant changes or where the existing information is no longer reliable.
For some straightforward premises it may be possible if the person carrying it out genuinely has enough knowledge and experience to complete a suitable assessment. Where the necessary competence is not available, appropriate help should be obtained.
If you are unsure whether your premises is straightforward enough, tell us about the building and we can explain what level of support may be appropriate.
Building plans, previous assessments, alarm and emergency lighting records, fire door information, occupancy details and evacuation procedures can all help. Do not worry if you do not have everything. We can work with the information that is available and explain what else may be useful.
That is not unusual. The purpose of the report is to explain what has been found, why it matters and what should happen next. Actions are prioritised so you can distinguish matters needing earlier attention from work that can be planned.
An issue being identified does not automatically mean wholesale replacement or major work is required. The recommendation should be proportionate to what the building actually needs.
For new projects, refurbishments and existing buildings where the design basis needs to be understood, developed or brought up to date.
Fire strategy work commonly comes into play during a new development, refurbishment, extension, change of use or other project where fire safety needs to be coordinated with the design.
It can also be useful for an existing building where no reliable strategy can be found or the existing document no longer reflects the building.
Not automatically. An older strategy reflects the building and assumptions that existed when it was prepared. If the layout, use, occupancy or fire precautions have changed significantly, the document may no longer give a reliable picture.
A review can establish whether the existing strategy still works, needs updating or should be replaced by a retrospective strategy.
It is a fire strategy prepared for a building that already exists, typically because no reliable strategy is available or because the existing strategy no longer reflects the building's current layout, use or fire safety arrangements.
The aim is to establish a clear, current fire safety design basis around the building as it actually stands.
Often, yes. Send us what you have and we will advise what can be used and whether further information is needed. The scope should reflect what can reasonably be established rather than pretending missing historic information exists.
The cost depends on the size and complexity of the project, the stage you are at and how much coordination, drawing work or liaison is required. Send us the basic project information and we will put together a clear proposal.
This depends on the complexity of the building, how developed the design is and the quality of the information available when we start. Once we have reviewed the basic project information, we can give you a realistic timescale.
Yes. Fire strategy work often benefits from coordination with the wider project team. ESI can review the relevant information, explain the fire safety reasoning in plain English and respond to project queries where this is included in the agreed scope.
For sites where flammable liquids, gases, vapours, mists or combustible dusts may create fire or explosion risks.
DSEAR is concerned specifically with risks from dangerous substances and potentially explosive atmospheres. It may be relevant where a workplace stores, uses, handles or produces flammable liquids, gases, vapours, mists or combustible dusts.
If you are unsure whether it applies, tell us what substances and processes are involved and we can advise on the sensible next step.
No. A general fire risk assessment and a DSEAR risk assessment deal with different areas. A DSEAR assessment looks specifically at the risks created by dangerous substances, including the processes, ignition sources and any hazardous areas that need to be considered.
The two assessments can complement each other, but one should not simply be treated as a substitute for the other.
It helps to know the type of site, the activities carried out, the substances involved and any existing assessments or process information. Safety data sheets, plans and information about plant or equipment may also be useful depending on the scope.
You do not need to organise everything perfectly before contacting us. Start with the site and the substances or processes that concern you.
Yes. Car body repair is one of ESI's dedicated sector routes because spray booths, paints, solvents and related processes can create a more specialist dangerous-substances risk picture.
View DSEAR assessments for car body repair shopsThey depend on the site, the substances and activities involved, the complexity of the processes and the scope of assessment required. Once we understand the basics, we can explain the proposed scope, price and realistic timescale.
Useful where concerns have been raised about fire doors, compartment lines, penetrations or existing contractor reports.
A fire door survey focuses on the doors, frames and the condition of the door set. A compartmentation or passive fire protection survey looks more widely at the compartment line, including walls, service penetrations, fire stopping and other elements that help limit fire and smoke spread.
They are related because a fire door only performs as part of the wider construction around it.
No. ESI inspects, surveys, assesses and reports, but does not supply or fit fire doors. Keeping inspection separate from replacement sales helps keep recommendations independent.
No. ESI surveys, assesses and reports but does not carry out remedial fire stopping or compartmentation work. This means the findings are not shaped by a need to sell the remedial work.
A defect does not automatically mean the entire door needs replacing. The report should explain what has been found and what needs attention so you can prioritise the next steps appropriately.
Where an existing survey has already been carried out, ESI can also provide an independent review of the findings.
Yes. ESI is often asked to review existing survey reports, particularly where the client wants an independent view or needs help understanding what the findings actually mean. Because ESI does not sell the remedial works, that review remains separate from any contractor sales process.
Practical information for anyone who is ready to ask about a specific building, project, report or problem.
We review the information you send, come back to you if anything needs clarifying and then explain the proposed scope of work and next steps.
The aim is to agree the right scope before work starts rather than make assumptions from a short enquiry.
ESI works across the South and South East of the UK. For many services, early scoping can also begin remotely.
If you are unsure whether we cover your location, include the property or project postcode with your enquiry and we can confirm.
Yes. Existing assessments, fire strategies, surveys, drawings, photographs and other relevant records can help ESI understand the situation before proposing a scope.
Email relevant background information to office@esifiresafety.co.uk and explain briefly what you would like us to review or advise on.
Yes. ESI can provide one-off consultancy or more structured ongoing support where a client needs continuing access to fire safety advice rather than a single assessment or report.
Tell us what kind of support you need and we can discuss an appropriate scope.
Yes. ESI works with property professionals, project teams, owners, managers and organisations responsible for more than one site. The scope can be shaped around a single project, a portfolio question or a consistent review across several locations.
Explore support for property professionals!
Need a specific answer?
If your answer depends on plans, an existing report, a change of use, a transaction, a particular process or something you have been asked to provide, send us the context and we will help you work out the right route.
Go deeper
The FAQ page gives you the short answer. The service pages explain scope, process, deliverables and the route to a quotation in more detail.
Assessments
Understand the assessment process, what ESI reviews and what the report gives you.
View Fire Risk AssessmentsDesign & projects
For design, refurbishment, change of use and fire safety strategy questions.
View Fire StrategiesSpecialist risk
For dangerous substances, processes and potentially explosive atmospheres.
View DSEARIndependent surveys
Inspection and survey routes for fire doors and passive fire protection.
View inspectionsStill have a question?
You do not need to know the technical terminology or choose the right service first. Give us the building, project or problem and we will help you work out the next step.
