Fire safety by sector / Guide
Fire safety for offices — a compliance overview
Offices are deceptively simple — the real risks tend to be electrical (server rooms, charging stations) and structural (multi-tenant escape routes that fail under shared responsibility).
What the law says
Every office, regardless of size, must have a written fire risk assessment under the Fire Safety Order 2005. Multi-tenanted buildings require co-operation between Responsible Persons — escape routes, common alarm systems and shared firefighting equipment all need a designated owner.
Recommended starter spec
- BS 5839-1 L3 or L4 alarm system depending on occupancy and escape route design.
- Water or foam extinguishers at exits and on each escape route (one per 200 m²).
- CO2 cover within 10 metres of every comms cabinet, server room and major copier.
- Emergency lighting on escape routes, tested monthly.
- Photoluminescent escape signage at all changes of direction.
- Annual evacuation drill, recorded in the logbook.
Common gaps we find on inspection
- No appointed Responsible Person in shared / multi-tenant buildings.
- Server room without CO2 cover; foam extinguisher used as a stop-gap.
- Final exits propped open or obstructed by deliveries.
- PAT testing lapsed for personal kettles and heaters.
- No PEEP for staff with mobility needs.
This guide is for general information. A site-specific fire risk assessment by a competent person is required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.