Fire Risk Assessment for Churches

Churches and places of worship are subject to the same fire safety law as any other occupied building — and in some respects they present greater challenges than most. Many church buildings are centuries old, constructed of materials that behave unpredictably in a fire, and are regularly used by large numbers of people who may have limited mobility. If your church hires out its hall or meeting rooms, those spaces also fall squarely within the scope of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Why Churches Need a Specialist Assessment

A generic Fire Risk Assessment template is not sufficient for a church building. The specific features and activities that make churches unique also create specific fire risks that a non-specialist assessor may overlook:

• Historic fabric and listed status — traditional timber roofs, box pews, historic organ lofts and listed structures can all affect fire spread and limit the options for fitting standard fire detection or signage
• Congregation age and mobility — churches often serve elderly congregants who may need additional time to evacuate; Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) should be considered for those with mobility impairment
• Multiple uses and hirers — if your hall, meeting room or kitchen is hired out to community groups, playgroups, or other organisations, you retain fire safety responsibilities as the building owner, regardless of the hire agreement
• Events and fundraisers — concerts, fetes, coffee mornings and evening events all bring changing numbers of people into a building and may require a separate event-specific assessment
• Candles and open flames — used regularly in many traditions; the assessment must consider ignition sources specific to religious practice
• Volunteer-run premises — unlike businesses with trained staff, many churches rely on volunteers who may not have received formal fire safety training

What Our Church Fire Risk Assessment Covers

• All potential sources of ignition — candles, electrical installations, kitchen equipment, heating systems
• Means of escape — escape routes, emergency exit widths, signage, and suitability for all likely occupants
• Fire detection and alarm systems — coverage, testing schedules and records
• Fire-fighting equipment — extinguisher types, locations and suitability for the hazards present
• Emergency lighting — adequacy in aisles, stairwells and exits
• Fire doors — condition, self-closing mechanisms, propping hazards
• Evacuation procedures and assembly points
• PEEP considerations for elderly or mobility-impaired regular attendees
• Hired spaces — responsibilities, information sharing with hirers
• Maintenance records and testing logs

Who Accepts Our Report

Our written Fire Risk Assessment reports are accepted by the Church of England, Methodist Church and most other denominations that require compliance evidence. Reports are also accepted by ecclesiastical insurers (including Ecclesiastical Insurance and Ansvar), local Fire and Rescue Services, and landlords of hired premises. See our Fire Risk Assessments page for a full list.

Areas We Cover

We carry out fire risk assessments for churches and places of worship across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, North London and Essex. We travel to your premises — there is no need for you to come to us.