Residential Care Home Fire Risk Assessment
Compare quotes from qualified fire risk assessors specialising in care homes, nursing homes and residential care premises. Protect your vulnerable residents, staff and business.
Request Free QuoteFire Risk Assessments for Residential Care Homes
If you run a residential care home, nursing home or supported living facility, you have a legal duty to ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Care homes present some of the most complex fire safety challenges due to vulnerable residents, sleeping accommodation, assisted evacuation needs, and regulatory oversight from multiple agencies.
FireRiskQuote helps care home owners, managers and operators connect with experienced fire risk assessors who specialise in care premises and residential settings. Instead of contacting multiple companies individually, you can submit one request and receive quotes from professionals who understand the specific requirements for care homes.
Our service is free to use and there is no obligation to proceed. Simply compare quotes and choose the assessor that best suits your home and requirements.
Why Care Homes Require Specialist Fire Risk Assessments
Care home premises present specific fire safety challenges that general assessors may not fully address. Specialist fire risk assessors will consider:
- Vulnerable residents: Assessing the needs of residents with limited mobility, dementia, hearing impairments, or other conditions affecting evacuation.
- Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs): Ensuring individual plans are in place for residents who need assistance to evacuate.
- Progressive horizontal evacuation: Verifying that the home has a suitable evacuation strategy (often staged evacuation to adjacent fire-resisting compartments).
- Staffing levels: Assessing whether staffing levels are adequate for safe evacuation, particularly at night.
- Staff training: Ensuring all staff are trained in evacuation procedures, including use of evacuation equipment.
- Evacuation equipment: Checking availability and condition of evacuation chairs, sheets, or mats.
- Compartmentation: Ensuring fire separation between bedrooms, lounges, corridors and other areas is adequate.
- Fire doors: Checking bedroom doors, corridor doors, and other fire doors for correct specification, self-closing devices, and condition.
- Means of escape: Assessing escape routes including corridors, stairwells, and final exits.
- Fire detection: Verifying that fire alarm systems are appropriate for care settings (often L1 category covering all areas).
- Emergency lighting: Ensuring escape routes are adequately illuminated.
- Fire-fighting equipment: Checking extinguishers, fire blankets, and any fixed suppression systems.
- Signage: Ensuring fire exit signs and fire action notices are clearly displayed.
- Medical gases: Assessing storage and handling of oxygen and other medical gases.
- Electrical safety: Checking electrical installations and portable appliances.
- Kitchen fire safety: Assessing commercial kitchen risks, extraction systems, and suppression equipment.
- Laundry facilities: Reviewing fire risks from laundry equipment and lint buildup.
- Storage: Assessing storage of flammable materials, cleaning products, and resident belongings.
- Arson risk: Considering vulnerability of premises, particularly with public access.
Fire Safety Regulations for Care Homes
Care homes are subject to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and are also regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Key requirements include:
- Fire risk assessment: A valid, up-to-date fire risk assessment is required.
- Means of escape: Escape routes must be adequate and protected.
- Fire detection: An L1 category fire alarm system (detectors in all areas) is typically required.
- Emergency lighting: Required in all escape routes.
- Fire doors: Bedroom doors and doors on escape routes must be fire-resisting and self-closing (typically FD30s).
- Compartmentation: Adequate fire separation between rooms and compartments.
- Fire extinguishers: Appropriate fire-fighting equipment must be provided.
- Signage: Fire exit signs and fire action notices must be clearly displayed.
- Emergency plan: A clear emergency plan must be in place, including PEEPs for residents.
- Staff training: All staff must receive fire safety training, including evacuation drills.
- Medical gas storage: Oxygen and other medical gases must be stored safely.
- Electrical safety: Regular testing of portable appliances and fixed installations.
- CQC compliance: The CQC expects to see evidence of fire safety management including up-to-date risk assessments.
Properties We Cover
Our network of assessors covers all types of care premises including:
- Residential care homes
- Nursing homes
- Dementia care homes
- Learning disability care homes
- Mental health care homes
- Physical disability care homes
- Elderly care homes
- Care homes with nursing
- Residential homes for children and young people
- Supported living facilities
- Extra care housing schemes
Why Use FireRiskQuote for Your Care Home?
- Free quote comparison: No cost to you, no obligation to proceed.
- Specialist care assessors: Connect with assessors who understand vulnerable resident needs and care home regulations.
- PEEP expertise: Assessors experienced in Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans.
- Compliance focus: Get an assessment that meets fire authority and CQC expectations.
- Fast responses: Receive quotes quickly from professionals in your area.
- Nationwide coverage: Assessors available across the whole UK.
How Our Service Works
- Submit your care home details using our online quote form.
- We send your request to fire risk assessors specialising in care premises.
- Receive quotes from qualified professionals.
- Compare options and choose the assessor that suits your needs.
Request a Care Home Fire Risk Assessment Quote
If you require a fire risk assessment for your residential care home, nursing home or supported living facility, you can request quotes quickly using our online form. Our service is free, confidential and designed to help you connect with experienced fire risk assessors.
Request Free Care Home Fire Risk Assessment QuotesResidential Care Home Fire Risk Assessment ‐ Frequently Asked Questions
Is a fire risk assessment required for my care home?
Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all non-domestic premises including care homes must have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. This is also a requirement for CQC registration.
How much does a care home fire risk assessment cost?
Costs depend on the size and complexity of the home. Smaller care homes (under 10 beds) may cost from around £300-£450, while larger homes or those with complex layouts will cost more. Quotes are always free and no-obligation.
How often should a care home fire risk assessment be reviewed?
Fire risk assessments should be reviewed annually and updated whenever significant changes occur, such as alterations to the building, changes in resident dependency levels, or following a fire incident.
What is progressive horizontal evacuation?
This is the standard evacuation strategy for care homes, where residents are moved from the fire-affected room to an adjacent fire-resisting compartment on the same floor, rather than immediately evacuating the building.
What are PEEPs and do I need them?
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) are individual plans for residents who would need assistance to evacuate. They are essential in care homes and must be regularly reviewed and practiced.
What type of fire alarm system do I need?
Care homes typically require an L1 category fire alarm system, which provides automatic detection in all areas of the building, including bedrooms and communal spaces.
Do I need fire doors on bedrooms?
Yes. Bedroom doors in care homes must be fire-resisting and self-closing, typically FD30s rating (30-minute fire resistance with smoke seals).
What does the CQC expect regarding fire safety?
The CQC expects to see a valid fire risk assessment, evidence that recommendations are implemented, staff training records, fire drill records, and maintenance records for fire safety equipment.
What about oxygen storage and use?
If residents use oxygen, you must have specific precautions including 'No Smoking' signage, safe storage of cylinders, and consideration in PEEPs and emergency planning.
Can I do the fire risk assessment myself?
Care homes are high-risk, complex premises with vulnerable residents. Using a qualified specialist fire risk assessor is strongly recommended to ensure all risks are properly identified and to demonstrate due diligence to the CQC and fire authorities.