Festival & Large Event Fire Risk Assessment
Need a fire risk assessment for your festival, music event, or large outdoor gathering? Compare up to three quotes from assessors in the FireRiskQuote network.
Get Up to 3 Free QuotesPage reviewed: September 2026
Festival Fire Risk Assessment — Quick Facts
- Property: Music festivals, large outdoor events, major public gatherings, multi-stage events
- Service: Compare up to 3 quotes
- Indicative price: Smaller festivals start from £600
- Key issues: Multiple stages, temporary structures, camping areas, catering, LPG, generators, crowd safety
- England & Wales: All non-domestic premises fall within the Fire Safety Order
- Scotland: Separate fire safety legislation applies
Do Festivals Need a Fire Risk Assessment?
Yes. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including festivals, large outdoor events, music festivals, and major public gatherings. The responsible person must ensure fire safety risks are properly assessed and managed.
The Government guide Fire Safety Risk Assessment: Open Air Events and Venues provides detailed guidance for event organisers and venue managers. Festivals have some of the most complex fire risk profiles of any event, combining multiple stages, temporary structures, camping areas, catering facilities, LPG and fuel storage, large crowds, and often challenging site conditions.
For large festivals, the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) will review the Event Management Plan and fire risk assessment.
Who Is Responsible for Fire Safety at a Festival?
The responsible person is typically the event organiser, festival director, landowner, or person who has control of the site. They must ensure fire safety duties are met.
Individual traders, concessionaires, and stage operators also need to produce their own fire risk assessments. The NFCC has produced fire risk assessment templates specifically for food concessions, traders and temporary structures.
What Does a Festival Fire Risk Assessment Cover?
A fire risk assessment for a festival examines the site, activities, people at risk, and fire precautions — with a focus on large-scale infrastructure and crowd safety.
- Means of escape: routes, exits, signage and accessibility across the site
- Fire detection and warning: alarm systems and communication methods
- Firefighting equipment: extinguishers, fire blankets and their location
- Temporary structures: stages, marquees, tents, and structures – all must be fire-retardant with clear exits
- Camping areas: tent spacing, cooking restrictions, and fire safety provisions
- Catering and cooking facilities: gas safety, extraction and grease build-up
- LPG and fuel storage: cylinder storage, isolation and security
- Electrical installations and generators: portable appliance testing, cable management and overloading
- Flammable materials: staging, decorations, waste and combustible stock
- Smoking areas: designated zones and ash disposal
- Crowd management: capacity calculations, overcrowding and evacuation procedures
- Emergency access: routes for fire service vehicles and water supplies
- Weather contingency: severe weather procedures, high winds and lightning
- People at risk: attendees, artists, staff, contractors and volunteers
- Management: training, communication, event management plan and emergency procedures
Festival Fire Risk Assessment Costs
Festival fire risk assessment costs vary depending on the size, duration, capacity, number of stages, temporary structures, catering facilities, and location of the event.
As a guide, smaller festivals (e.g., one or two stages, up to a few thousand attendees) may start from around £600. Larger multi-stage festivals or multi-day events 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 Festival Fire Risk Assessor
Experience with large outdoor events and temporary venues is essential when choosing an assessor.
Event Experience
Choose an assessor who understands festival layouts, temporary structures, camping areas, and large crowd safety.
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 Festival Fire Risk Assessor
- Event name, location and dates
- Site area and maximum capacity
- Number of attendees expected
- Number of stages and performance areas
- Number and types of temporary structures (marquees, tents, etc.)
- Camping facilities and capacity
- Number of catering units and concessions
- LPG, fuel and generator details
- Emergency access routes for fire services
- Water supply availability
- Weather contingency plans
- Previous fire risk assessment (if applicable)
- Enforcement notices or outstanding actions
How a Festival Fire Risk Assessment Works
1. Tell Us About Your Festival
Provide location, size, facilities 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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Festival Fire Risk Assessment FAQs
Do festivals need a fire risk assessment?
Yes. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including festivals, large outdoor events, music festivals, and major public gatherings. The responsible person must ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out.
Who is responsible for fire safety at a festival?
The responsible person is typically the event organiser, festival director, landowner, or person who has control of the site. They must ensure fire safety duties are met. Individual traders, concessionaires, and stage operators also need to produce their own fire risk assessments.
How much does a festival fire risk assessment cost?
Costs vary depending on the size, duration, capacity, number of stages, temporary structures, and complexity of the event. As a guide, smaller festivals may start from around £600. Larger multi-stage festivals or multi-day events may cost more.
What does a festival fire risk assessment include?
It covers means of escape, fire detection and warning, firefighting equipment, temporary structures and marquees, stages, catering and cooking facilities, LPG and fuel storage, electrical installations and generators, crowd management, emergency access for fire services, camping areas, weather contingency planning, and management arrangements.
Can I compare more than one festival 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 Festival Fire Risk Assessment Quotes
Tell us about your festival or large outdoor event and compare quotes from assessors in the FireRiskQuote network.
Request Festival 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. Event organisers should also refer to Fire safety risk assessment: open-air events and venues for detailed guidance.