What to Do After Your Fire Risk Assessment

A fire risk assessment is not the end of the process. It is the document that helps you understand what risks or issues may need to be managed.

The report may include observations, recommended actions, photographs, risk ratings or suggested timescales. Some items may be simple management actions, while others may require specialist contractors to inspect, repair, install or upgrade fire safety systems.

The important next step is to turn the report into a clear plan.

That usually means:

• Reviewing the recommended actions
• Identifying which items are urgent
• Grouping similar works together
• Deciding which contractors may be needed
• Requesting clear, comparable quotes
• Keeping records of what has been instructed and completed

Start by reading through the action plan or recommendations in your fire risk assessment.

Not every action will have the same level of urgency. Some items may need immediate attention, while others may be suitable for planned maintenance or future improvement works.

Try to separate the actions into clear groups.

Suggested action categories

• Urgent actions — items that may need immediate attention.
• Short-term remedial works — actions that should be planned and quoted soon.
• Longer-term improvements — works that can be scheduled into future maintenance.
• Specialist items — actions that may need a competent fire protection contractor.
• Further investigation — items where more information may be needed before pricing.

The aim is to make the report easier to manage, rather than treating every action as one large task.

Once you have reviewed the actions, decide which items should be dealt with first.

Your report may already include priorities or suggested timescales. Where it does, use these to help structure your next steps.

You may want to consider:

• The level of risk identified
• Whether the issue affects escape routes
• Whether the item relates to life safety systems
• Whether temporary measures are needed
• Whether the work affects residents, tenants, staff or visitors
• Whether the issue needs specialist input before it can be priced

This step helps you avoid delays and makes it easier to decide which works should be quoted first.

Fire risk assessment actions often cover different types of work. Not every item will need the same contractor.

For example, one report may identify issues with fire doors, emergency lighting, fire stopping and fire alarm systems. These may need different specialist companies.

Grouping similar works makes it easier to prepare quote requests and approach the right contractors.

Common fire safety work categories

Grouping works properly helps you avoid sending a vague list of actions to contractors or expecting one company to price work outside their specialism. You can find specialist fire door contractors and fire stopping contractors through Local Tenders.

Contractors can provide better quotes when they receive clear information.

Before requesting quotes, prepare one brief that explains what you need priced. This helps each contractor quote against the same information, making their responses easier to compare.

What to include in your project brief

Include as much useful detail as possible, such as:

• The site address
• The relevant fire risk assessment actions
• Photos of the issue, if available
• Floor plans or drawings, if available
• Access details
• Parking or site restrictions
• Preferred timescales
• Whether a site visit is required
• Whether works are occupied or vacant
• Any specific reporting or certification requirements
• Who contractors should contact with questions
• The deadline for returning quotes

A clear brief reduces back-and-forth and helps avoid quotes based on different assumptions.

Once the works are grouped and the brief is ready, you can start requesting quotes from fire protection contractors.

Where appropriate, it can be useful to request more than one quote. This helps you understand the likely cost of the works and compare how different contractors would approach the job.

The cheapest quote is not always the best option. It is important to compare the full response, not just the final price.

When reviewing contractor quotes, compare:

Comparable quotes help you make a more informed decision and keep a clearer record of how the works were sourced.

Once you have selected a contractor, confirm the agreed scope before work begins.

Make sure both sides understand what has been accepted, what is excluded and what evidence should be provided after completion.

Before instructing works, confirm:

• The agreed scope of works
• The agreed price
• Any exclusions
• Access arrangements
• Start date
• Expected completion date
• Required completion evidence

This helps prevent misunderstandings and gives you a clearer record if questions come up later.

After works are instructed, keep a clear record of what happened.

This is especially useful for property managers, landlords, facilities managers and responsible persons who need to show that fire safety actions are being managed.

Keep records of:

• The original fire risk assessment and action plan
• Quote requests and contractor responses
• The selected contractor and reason for selection
• Dates instructed and completed
• Invoices, photos, certificates or reports
• Any outstanding actions

Good records make it easier to track progress, update stakeholders and demonstrate that actions have been followed up.