Healthcare Facilities Fire Risk Assessment
Compare quotes from qualified fire risk assessors specialising in hospitals, health centres, clinics, and medical premises. Protect patients, staff, and critical healthcare infrastructure.
Request Free QuoteFire Risk Assessments for Healthcare Facilities
If you manage a healthcare 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. Healthcare premises present some of the most complex fire safety challenges due to the presence of vulnerable patients who cannot self-evacuate, complex medical equipment, 24-hour operation, and the need to maintain critical care during emergencies.
FireRiskQuote helps hospital trusts, health centre managers, clinic operators, and healthcare providers connect with experienced fire risk assessors who specialise in healthcare environments. Instead of contacting multiple companies individually, you can submit one request and receive quotes from professionals who understand the specific requirements for healthcare premises.
Our service is free to use and there is no obligation to proceed. Simply compare quotes and choose the assessor that best suits your facility and requirements.
Why Healthcare Facilities Require Specialist Fire Risk Assessments
Healthcare premises present specific fire safety challenges that general assessors may not fully address. Specialist fire risk assessors will consider:
- Patient vulnerability: Assessing the needs of patients who may be unable to self-evacuate due to medical conditions, immobility, dependency on life-support equipment, or post-operative recovery.
- Progressive horizontal evacuation: Implementing evacuation strategies where patients are moved from the fire-affected compartment to an adjacent fire-resisting compartment on the same floor, rather than immediately evacuating the building.
- 24-hour operation: Ensuring fire safety arrangements are robust at all times, including night shifts when staffing levels may be reduced.
- Medical gases: Assessing storage and handling of oxygen, nitrous oxide, medical air, and other gases, including piped systems and cylinder storage.
- Operating theatres and critical care: Protecting patients undergoing surgery or intensive care, where evacuation is extremely challenging.
- Life-support equipment: Ensuring backup power arrangements for critical equipment and considering fire risks from electrical medical devices.
- Imaging and diagnostic equipment: Assessing fire risks from MRI scanners, CT scanners, X-ray equipment, and other diagnostic modalities.
- Laboratories and pathology: Reviewing fire risks from flammable chemicals, biological materials, and specialised equipment.
- Sterile services and decontamination: Assessing fire risks from autoclaves, sterilisers, and associated equipment.
- Pharmacy and medicines storage: Reviewing storage of flammable pharmaceuticals, alcohol-based preparations, and oxygen-dependent treatments.
- Waste management: Assessing risks from clinical waste, sharps, and contaminated materials.
- Kitchens and catering: Evaluating fire risks from hospital kitchens serving patients and staff.
- Laundry and linen services: Reviewing fire risks from laundry equipment and lint accumulation.
- Plant rooms and building services: Assessing fire risks from boilers, HVAC systems, electrical substations, and backup generators.
- Compartmentation: Ensuring fire separation between wards, departments, and critical areas is maintained, particularly where services penetrate walls.
- Fire doors: Checking that fire doors throughout the facility are maintained, self-closing, and not propped open.
- Fire detection and alarm systems: Verifying that sophisticated fire alarm systems are appropriate for healthcare settings, including addressable systems and voice alarms.
- Emergency lighting: Ensuring escape routes are adequately illuminated, particularly in clinical areas where power failure could be critical.
- Sprinkler systems: Checking that sprinkler coverage is adequate for the varied risks across the facility.
- Staff training: Ensuring all clinical and non-clinical staff are trained in fire procedures, including patient evacuation techniques.
- Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs): Developing individual plans for patients who would need assistance to evacuate.
- Fire service liaison: Maintaining close cooperation with local fire and rescue services, including pre-planning for incident response.
- Construction and refurbishment: Managing fire safety during building works within operational healthcare environments.
- Business continuity: Considering the critical importance of healthcare services and the need to maintain patient care during and after any fire incident.
Regulatory Framework for Healthcare Facilities
Healthcare facilities are subject to multiple regulatory regimes including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Building Safety Act 2022, and the Health and Social Care Act 2008. Key requirements include:
- Fire risk assessment: A valid, up-to-date fire risk assessment is required, carried out by a competent person and reviewed regularly. Healthcare premises are considered higher risk and are subject to more frequent inspection by fire and rescue authorities.
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005: The cornerstone of fire safety law in England and Wales for all non-domestic premises.
- Building Safety Act 2022: For higher-risk healthcare buildings, additional requirements apply including registration with the Building Safety Regulator, appointment of Accountable Persons, and maintenance of the golden thread of building information.
- Health Technical Memorandum 05-01: Managing Healthcare Fire Safety: The primary NHS guidance document, updated in February 2026, which sets out recommendations for fire safety management in healthcare buildings. It should be read in conjunction with HTM 05-02 (design guidance) and HTM 05-03 (operational provisions).
- Firecode: The suite of fire safety guidance for the NHS, including design standards, operational provisions, and management guidance.
- Independent Expert Advisor (Authorising Engineer): Under the updated HTM 05-01, healthcare organisations may require an Independent Expert Advisor to audit fire safety management systems, bringing appropriate fire safety expertise.
- Authorised Person (Fire) roles: Formal designation of specialists covering fire risk assessment, fire training, fire projects, and fire safety maintenance.
- Senior Fire Safety Advisor: In complex healthcare organisations, an experienced advisor may co-ordinate teams of fire safety professionals.
- Care Quality Commission (CQC): The CQC expects to see evidence of fire safety compliance as part of its regulatory inspections, including up-to-date fire risk assessments and staff training records.
- Building Regulations Approved Document B: Guidance on means of escape, fire spread prevention, structural fire protection, and access for firefighting.
- Equality Act 2010 and BS 8300: Requirements for safe evacuation of disabled persons.
- Coordination between occupiers: Where healthcare premises share buildings with other occupiers, responsible persons must co-operate and co-ordinate their fire safety arrangements.
- Record keeping: Significant findings must be recorded, including fire safety measures, emergency plans, staff training, and testing and maintenance records.
- Fire safety audits: Fire and rescue services conduct risk-based inspection programmes, with healthcare premises categorised as higher risk and subject to regular audit.
- Enforcement: Local fire and rescue authorities enforce compliance, with powers to issue enforcement notices, prohibition notices, and alterations notices. Failure to comply may result in prosecution.
Properties We Cover
Our network of assessors covers all types of healthcare premises including:
- Hospitals: NHS acute trusts, teaching hospitals, specialist hospitals, mental health hospitals, and private hospitals
- Health centres and GP surgeries – primary care facilities and general practice premises
- Clinics and outpatient facilities – including diagnostic centres, treatment centres, and consultation suites
- Walk-in centres and urgent care centres
- Day surgery units and treatment centres
- Diagnostic and imaging centres – MRI, CT, X-ray, and other diagnostic facilities
- Community health centres
- Mental health facilities – including inpatient units, psychiatric hospitals, and community mental health centres
- Rehabilitation units – where the primary purpose is healthcare provision
- Hospices and palliative care facilities
- Dental hospitals and clinics
- Specialist medical facilities – including fertility clinics, dialysis centres, and cancer treatment centres
- Medical research facilities – where healthcare is provided to patients
- Healthcare premises within multi-use complexes – requiring integrated risk assessment with other occupiers
Note: This guidance applies to premises where the main use is the provision of healthcare. It does not apply to care homes, nursing homes, rehabilitation premises without residential clients, day-care centres without residential clients, sheltered accommodation, or staff accommodation, which are covered by separate guidance.
Why Use FireRiskQuote for Your Healthcare Facility?
- Free quote comparison: No cost to you, no obligation to proceed.
- Specialist healthcare assessors: Connect with assessors who understand the complexity of healthcare environments and the specific needs of patients and clinical staff.
- HTM Firecode expertise: Assessors familiar with Health Technical Memoranda and the Firecode suite of guidance, including the latest February 2026 updates.
- Patient evacuation knowledge: Understanding of progressive horizontal evacuation strategies and PEEPs for non-ambulant patients.
- Medical gas and equipment awareness: Assessors experienced with healthcare-specific risks including medical gases, imaging equipment, and clinical areas.
- Regulatory compliance focus: Get an assessment that meets fire authority, CQC, and NHS requirements.
- Fast responses: Receive quotes quickly from professionals in your area.
- Nationwide coverage: Assessors available across the whole UK.
How Our Service Works
- Submit your healthcare facility details using our online quote form.
- We send your request to fire risk assessors specialising in healthcare premises.
- Receive quotes from qualified professionals.
- Compare options and choose the assessor that suits your needs.
Request a Healthcare Facilities Fire Risk Assessment Quote
If you require a fire risk assessment for your healthcare facility including hospitals, health centres, clinics, or medical premises, 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 Healthcare Facilities Fire Risk Assessment QuotesHealthcare Facilities Fire Risk Assessment ‐ Frequently Asked Questions
Is a fire risk assessment required for my healthcare facility?
Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all non-domestic premises including healthcare facilities must have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. Healthcare premises are considered higher risk and are subject to regular inspection by fire and rescue authorities.
How much does a healthcare facility fire risk assessment cost?
Costs depend on the size and complexity of the facility. Smaller health centres or GP surgeries may cost from around £400-£700, while hospitals, large healthcare complexes, or facilities with specialist departments will cost significantly more. Quotes are always free and no-obligation.
What is HTM 05-01 and why is it important?
Health Technical Memorandum 05-01: Managing Healthcare Fire Safety is the primary NHS guidance document for fire safety management in healthcare buildings. It was updated in February 2026 to reflect legislative changes including the Building Safety Act 2022. The guidance covers fire safety management systems, roles and responsibilities, and should be read alongside HTM 05-02 (design) and HTM 05-03 (operational provisions).
What is progressive horizontal evacuation?
Progressive horizontal evacuation is the standard evacuation strategy for healthcare premises, where patients are moved from the fire-affected compartment to an adjacent fire-resisting compartment on the same floor, rather than immediately evacuating the building. This recognises that many patients cannot be moved down stairs and require protected safe zones.
Who is the Responsible Person for a hospital or health centre?
The Responsible Person is typically the NHS trust, health board, or private healthcare provider with control of the premises. For larger organisations, fire safety duties may be delegated to fire safety managers, estates departments, and individual department heads, but overall responsibility remains with the organisation.
Do healthcare facilities need specialist fire safety roles?
Under the updated HTM 05-01 guidance, complex healthcare organisations may require an Independent Expert Advisor (Authorising Engineer) to audit fire safety management systems. Authorised Person (Fire) roles may also be designated covering fire risk assessment, training, projects, and maintenance. Larger trusts may appoint a Senior Fire Safety Advisor to co-ordinate fire safety professionals.
How do we manage fire safety in operating theatres?
Operating theatres present particular challenges as patients undergoing surgery cannot be evacuated easily. Fire safety measures include strict control of ignition sources, fire-resistant construction, automatic fire suppression, and clear protocols for managing fire incidents while maintaining patient care.
What are the requirements for medical gas storage?
Medical gases including oxygen, nitrous oxide, and medical air must be stored securely, away from ignition sources, with appropriate segregation of different gases. Cylinder storage areas require specific fire resistance, ventilation, and signage. Piped medical gas systems require regular inspection and maintenance.
Do we need Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)?
Yes. Patients who would need assistance to evacuate should have individual PEEPs developed in consultation with clinical staff. These plans should consider the patient's medical condition, mobility, dependency on equipment, and the assistance they would require in an emergency.
How often should a healthcare fire risk assessment be reviewed?
Fire risk assessments should be reviewed annually as a minimum, and updated whenever significant changes occur such as building alterations, changes to patient dependency levels, new clinical areas, or following a fire incident. Higher-risk areas may require more frequent review.
Can I do the fire risk assessment myself?
While the Responsible Person may carry out the assessment, healthcare facilities are highly complex premises with vulnerable patients, specialised equipment, and stringent regulatory requirements under HTM Firecode. Using a qualified specialist with healthcare expertise ensures all risks are properly identified and helps demonstrate due diligence to fire authorities, the CQC, and NHS England.