Fire Safety Audit Checklist Guidance Note

Introduction
The purpose of this note is to explain the use of the attached Fire Safety Audit Checklist (see Appendix
A). The checklist is a useful toolkit for the Inspecting Officer when conducting a Fire Safety Audit in a
structured and systematic way. The purpose of the Audit is to ensure an employers (or other responsible
persons) compliance with fire precautions legislation. Therefore the checklist has been compiled with
questions that are aligned to Regulations 4, 5 & 6 of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997
(as amended), and Regulations 1 5, 7-12 & 13(2) and 13(3) of the Management of Health & Safety at
Work Regulations 1999. As an Auditor, it is better to think of yourself as someone who can help the
employer, rather than someone who is looking for faults!
Preparation
It is recommended that time is taken to prepare for the Audit. If the workplace is known, then careful
research of the premises file should be undertaken. Contact should also be made with a responsible
person by telephone to explain the scope of the audit and what assistance will be required at the time of
inspection. The checklist is designed to be used in whatever order the Inspecting Officer wishes to
conduct the Audit. For example, records and other documents may be scrutinised before verification of the
workplaces risk critical areas, or vice versa.
Conducting the Audit
Each Inspecting Officer will adopt their own style when carrying out the Audit. The checklist contains only
closed questions (i.e. can only be answered yes or no). These questions are simply prompts for the
Inspector and should not be asked directly to the person(s) being audited. For example, in the section
dealing with Firefighting & Detection (Reg 4 WPR), there is a question, Is adequate training given? If you
ask that question you will probably receive a reply in the affirmative! You will then be forced to ask
supplementary questions. It is better to ask the responsible person(s) questions like, What type of
extinguisher training do your employees receive, how often, and by whom? They will then be steered into
giving you a more comprehensive response. This can then be verified by examining training records and
questioning employees, etc.
There are 3 columns on the checklist Compliance, Non-compliance and Observations. The observations
column should be used when the Inspector has verified minimum compliance, and wishes to highlight
means for improvement. An example of a completed form is shown in Appendix B.
After the Audit
Once the Audit is complete, it is advisable to hold a closing meeting with the responsible person(s) where
possible. The areas of non-compliance should be highlighted, but just as important, encouragement
should also be given for compliance. If appropriate, observations should also be made to encourage the
process of continuous improvement.

Appendix A
Fire Safety Audit Checklist
Date of Audit:
Audited by:
Scope of Audit:
Address of Workplace:
Responsible Person(s) contacted:
Workplace Regulations
Firefighting &
Compliance
Detection
Is appropriate
firefighting
equipment provided?
Is FFE easily
accessible, simple to
use and indicated by
signs?
Is there a suitable
means for giving
warning/detection of
fire?
Have employees
been nominated for
firefighting duties?
Is adequate training
given?
Are training records
available?
Have contacts been
arranged with
emergency services?

Non-compliance

Observations

Emergency Routes
& Exits
Are emergency
routes & exits kept
clear?
Do they lead directly
to a place of safety?
Can employees
evacuate quickly &
safely? (Evacuation
Drill records)
Is the means of
escape sufficient for
numbers of people
present?
Do emergency doors
open in direction of
escape (where
appropriate)?
Are sliding/revolving
doors not used as
emergency exits?
Are exit doors easily
& immediately
openable?
Are exits indicated by
signs?
Are emergency
routes and exits
adequately lit?

Compliance

Non-compliance

Observations

Maintenance
Is all fire safety
equipment in good
working order?
Is there a suitable
system of
maintenance?
Are suitable records
available?

Compliance

Management Regulations
Fire Risk
Compliance
Assessment (FRA)
Has a FRA been
carried out?
Has an Emergency
Plan been prepared?
Is there an effective
system for planning?
Is there an effective
system for
organisation?
(Communication &
consultation)
Is there an effective
system for control?
Is there an effective
system of
monitoring?
Is there a planned
review?
Have competent
persons been
appointed?
Are there appropriate
procedures for
serious & imminent
danger?
Are employees
provided with
relevant information?
Is there adequate cooperation & coordination between
employers?
Are host workers
given adequate
information?
Is appropriate
training given to all
employees?
Is responsibility
clearly defined?

Non-compliance

Observations

Non-compliance

Observations

Appendix B

Fire Safety Audit Checklist

Date of Audit: April 9, 2001
Audited by: Mr Bloggs
Scope of Audit: Full Workplace (Multi-occupied Premises)
Address of Workplace: 123 Borough Avenue, London SE1
Responsible Person(s) contacted: Mr. J. Smith (for Managing Agent)
Workplace Regulations
Firefighting &
Compliance
Detection
Is appropriate
Occupiers 2, & 4
firefighting
verified
equipment provided?
Is FFE easily
accessible, simple to
use and indicated by
signs?
Is there a suitable
means for giving
warning/detection of
fire?
Have employees
been nominated for
firefighting duties?
Is adequate training
given?
Are training records
available?
Have contacts been
arranged with
emergency services?

Non-compliance

Observations

Occupier 1
requires FFE for
electrical
equipment (office
area)

Some FFE does not

comply with BS EN3 colour coding.
Recommend
standardisation

Yes all occupiers

Yes

Analogue
addressable
system
recommended to
reduce false
alarms

Occupier 1 records
not showing
competent person
giving training

Emergency Routes
& Exits
Are emergency
routes & exits kept
clear?

Compliance

Non-compliance

Observations

Occupier 1 rear
door of storeroom
obstructed by
boxes

Do they lead directly

to a place of safety?
Can employees
evacuate quickly &
safely? (Evacuation
Drill records)
Is the means of
escape sufficient for
numbers of people
present?
Do emergency doors
open in direction of
escape (where
appropriate)?
Are sliding/revolving
doors not used as
emergency exits?
Are exit doors easily
& immediately
openable?
Are exits indicated by
signs?
Are emergency
routes and exits
adequately lit?

Maintenance
Is all fire safety
equipment in good
working order?
Is there a suitable
system of
maintenance?
Are suitable records
available?

Compliance

Non-compliance

Observations

Several false
alarms in recent
weeks. System
could be
modernised

Management Regulations
Fire Risk
Compliance
Assessment (FRA)
Has a FRA been
carried out?
Has an Emergency
Plan been prepared?
Is there an effective
system for planning?
Is there an effective
system for
organisation?
(Communication &
consultation)
Is there an effective
system for control?
Is there an effective
system of
monitoring?
Is there a planned
review?
Have competent
persons been
appointed?
Are there appropriate
procedures for
serious & imminent
danger?
Are employees
provided with
relevant information?
Is there adequate cooperation & coordination between
employers?
Are host workers
given adequate
information?
Is appropriate
training given to all
employees?
Is responsibility
clearly defined?

Non-compliance

Occupier 1 has no
emergency plan

All occupiers have

yet to schedule
regular meetings
No arrangements
identified for
contractors

Observations