Care Home Fire Risk Assessment
Need a fire risk assessment for your care home, residential home or assisted living facility? Compare up to three quotes from assessors in the FireRiskQuote network.
Get Up to 3 Free QuotesPage reviewed: September 2026
Care Home Fire Risk Assessment — Quick Facts
- Property: Care homes, residential homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities
- Service: Compare up to 3 quotes
- Indicative price: Small homes (1-2 residents) from £295 • Larger homes from £900
- Key issues: Dependent residents, progressive horizontal evacuation, PEEPs, medical gases
- England & Wales: The Fire Safety Order applies to all care premises
- Scotland: Separate fire safety legislation applies
Do Care Homes Need a Fire Risk Assessment?
Yes. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including care homes, residential homes, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The responsible person must ensure fire safety risks are properly assessed and managed.
The Government guide Fire Safety Risk Assessment: Residential Care Premises provides detailed guidance for care home managers and owners. Since October 2023, the Building Safety Act 2022 (Section 156) requires all fire risk assessments to be recorded in writing, regardless of business size.
Care homes have some of the most complex fire risk profiles of any premises: dependent residents who may not be able to evacuate independently, progressive horizontal evacuation strategies, medical gases including oxygen, and the critical need for business continuity to maintain resident care. A tailored fire risk assessment is essential.
Who Is Responsible for Fire Safety in a Care Home?
The responsible person is typically the care home owner, manager, employer, or person who has control of the premises. They must ensure fire safety duties are met, including the safety of residents who may need assistance to evacuate.
All staff should receive fire safety training, and fire drills should be conducted regularly. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) expects care homes to hold a current fire risk assessment as part of their regulatory compliance.
What Does a Care Home Fire Risk Assessment Cover?
A fire risk assessment for a care home examines the premises, activities, people at risk, and fire precautions — with a focus on resident safety, evacuation strategies, and staff training.
- Means of escape: routes, exits, signage and accessibility (including for residents with mobility needs)
- Fire doors: condition and suitability, especially between resident rooms and corridors
- Compartmentation: walls, floors and fire-resisting construction – sub-compartmentation is often used in care homes
- Detection and warning: fire alarm systems (visual alarms for hearing-impaired residents and staff)
- Emergency lighting: essential for escape routes and resident areas
- Firefighting equipment: extinguishers, fire blankets and their location
- Medical gases: oxygen storage, piped supplies and cylinder management
- Kitchen and catering: cooking equipment, extraction and grease build-up
- Electrical risks: medical equipment, portable appliances, and fixed installations
- Dependent residents: residents with dementia or mobility issues who need close supervision
- PEEPs: Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for residents who need assistance
- Progressive horizontal evacuation: moving residents away from fire, room by room, into safe areas
- Staff training: fire safety training, fire drills, and evacuation procedures
- Management: maintenance schedules, inspection records, and emergency plans
Care Home Fire Risk Assessment Costs
Care home fire risk assessment costs vary depending on the size and number of residents.
Small Home
£295
1-2 residents
Ideal for small residential homes, shared living arrangements or supported living for a small number of residents.
Larger Home
£900
3+ residents
For larger care homes, nursing homes or assisted living facilities with multiple residents, complex layouts and specialist care needs.
Larger or more complex homes may cost more. FireRiskQuote allows you to compare up to three quotes from fire risk assessors, helping you compare both price and what is included.
How to Choose a Care Home Fire Risk Assessor
Experience with care homes and an understanding of the specific risks is essential when choosing an assessor.
Care Home Experience
Choose an assessor who understands care home layouts, resident evacuation, medical gases, and progressive horizontal evacuation strategies.
Qualifications
Look for relevant fire safety qualifications and professional registration (e.g., IFE, IFSM).
Insurance
Ensure appropriate professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Compare Quotes
Look beyond the headline price — compare what each quotation includes.
Information to Give a Care Home Fire Risk Assessor
- Property address and postcode
- Number of storeys and floor area
- Number of residents and staff
- Types of residents (dementia, mobility issues, medical needs)
- Medical gases in use (oxygen, etc.)
- Facilities available (kitchen, communal areas, specialist care rooms)
- Age and construction type where known
- Fire alarm and detection details
- Fire door and compartmentation information
- Previous fire risk assessment
- Enforcement notices or outstanding actions
- Recent alterations, extensions or changes of use
How a Care Home Fire Risk Assessment Works
1. Tell Us About Your Home
Provide location, size, resident numbers and relevant details.
2. Compare Up to 3 Quotes
Receive quotations from assessors in our network.
3. Choose Your Assessor
Consider competence, experience, scope and price.
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Care Home Fire Risk Assessment FAQs
Do care homes need a fire risk assessment?
Yes. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including care homes, residential homes, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The responsible person must ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out. Since October 2023, all fire risk assessments must be recorded in writing.
Who is responsible for fire safety in a care home?
The responsible person is typically the care home owner, manager, employer, or person who has control of the premises. They must ensure fire safety duties are met, including the safety of residents who may need assistance to evacuate.
How much does a care home fire risk assessment cost?
Costs vary depending on the size and number of residents. Small homes with 1-2 residents may start from around £295. Larger homes with more residents may cost around £900 or more depending on complexity.
What does a care home fire risk assessment include?
It covers means of escape, fire doors, compartmentation, detection and warning (including visual alarms), emergency lighting, firefighting equipment, residents' personal evacuation plans (PEEPs), progressive horizontal evacuation strategies, medical gases, kitchen and electrical risks, and staff training.
What is progressive horizontal evacuation?
Progressive horizontal evacuation is the usual methodology for evacuation in care homes. Residents are moved away from the fire horizontally, room by room, into a safe area within the same floor, rather than being evacuated vertically down stairs. This is because many residents cannot be safely evacuated down stairs.
What are PEEPs?
PEEPs (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans) are individual plans for residents who may need assistance to evacuate safely in the event of a fire. They should be developed for anyone with mobility or sensory impairments, or other conditions that may affect their ability to evacuate independently.
Does the Care Quality Commission (CQC) require a fire risk assessment?
Yes. The CQC expects care homes to hold a current fire risk assessment as part of their regulatory compliance. Inspectors will check that fire safety arrangements are in place and that staff are appropriately trained.
Can I compare more than one care home fire risk assessment quote?
Yes. FireRiskQuote helps you submit your requirements and compare up to three quotes from assessors in the network, with no obligation.
Get Up to 3 Care Home Fire Risk Assessment Quotes
Tell us about your care home and compare quotes from assessors in the FireRiskQuote network.
Request Care Home QuotesDisclaimer: This page provides general guidance and is not fire safety, legal or professional advice. Check current legislation and consult a competent fire risk assessor where appropriate. For detailed guidance, refer to Fire safety risk assessment: residential care premises published by the Home Office.