How often should a fire risk assessment be reviewed?
"Every year" is the answer most people give — and an annual review is good practice. But it is not quite what the law says. The Fire Safety Order does not set a fixed expiry date for a fire risk assessment. It requires the responsible person to keep the assessment up to date, reviewing it regularly and revising it whenever it is no longer valid or the premises has significantly changed.
What the law actually requires
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the fire risk assessment to be reviewed by the responsible person regularly so as to keep it up to date, and in particular where there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid or there has been a significant change. There is no clause that says "valid for 12 months and then expired". The duty is continuous: the assessment must reflect the premises as it is now, not as it was when the assessment was written.
What should trigger a review
- •Changes to the building — alterations, extensions, a new layout or partitioning that affects escape routes or compartmentation.
- •Change of use — the premises now does something different, or a different type of occupant uses it.
- •More or different people — higher occupancy, or people at greater risk such as sleeping or less-mobile occupants.
- •New processes or storage — new equipment, hot works, or flammable materials introduced.
- •Changes to fire precautions — alarm, detection, emergency lighting or escape arrangements altered or found not working.
- •A fire or near miss — any actual event is a clear signal to reassess whether the controls are adequate.
- •New information or guidance — changes to the law or to relevant fire safety guidance.
Why an annual review is still sensible
Even though there is no statutory annual expiry, a scheduled review — often yearly — is a practical backstop. It ensures that, at worst, no assessment goes unchecked for too long, and it prompts you to confirm that the recorded precautions are still in place and working. The key is to treat that scheduled date as a minimum, alongside event-driven reviews whenever something changes. This mirrors the approach for general workplace assessments in our guide on how often risk assessments should be reviewed.
A review is a real check, not a date change
Reviewing a fire risk assessment does not mean changing the date on the front page. It means going back through it: are the hazards still accurate? Are the same people at risk? Are the precautions still in place and functioning? Have there been incidents? Is the action plan complete? Then update the assessment and, since 1 October 2023, make sure the significant findings and arrangements remain recorded in full. If the premises has changed significantly, a fresh assessment may be more appropriate than a light-touch review.
Review date vs expiry date
It helps to separate two ideas. A review date is a prompt: a management reminder to check the assessment is still valid. An expiry date implies the assessment is fine until that day and then suddenly is not — which is not how the duty works. A significant change requires review immediately, whatever the calendar says. Recording a clear next-review date is useful; treating it as a licence to ignore the assessment until then is not.
Never lose track of a fire risk assessment review
Complys records a next-review date on each fire risk assessment and shows it alongside your other compliance dates, so a review does not quietly lapse. When the premises changes, generate an updated version — the previous versions are kept, and each assessment can be shared for the responsible person to sign off.
Explore fire risk assessment software →FAQs
Does a fire risk assessment expire after 12 months?
There is no universal statutory rule that a fire risk assessment automatically expires after 12 months. The Fire Safety Order requires the assessment to be reviewed regularly and kept up to date, and revised where it is no longer valid or there has been a significant change.
Should a fire risk assessment be reviewed annually?
An annual review is widely recommended as good practice and a sensible management backstop, but it is not a fixed legal expiry. Some premises need review more often; all need review whenever something significant changes.
What counts as a significant change?
Changes to the building or its layout, a change of use, more people or different people using it, new processes or storage, changes to fire precautions, or a fire or near miss. Any of these can make the existing assessment out of date.
Who is responsible for keeping the assessment up to date?
The responsible person under the Fire Safety Order. They must ensure the assessment is reviewed and kept current, whether they do it themselves or appoint a competent person.
What is the difference between a review date and an expiry date?
A review date is a management prompt to check whether the assessment is still valid. It is not a guarantee that nothing needs attention until then — a significant change requires review straight away, regardless of the date.
Related: what is a fire risk assessment, the five steps, who is the responsible person, and fire risk assessment software. General information, not legal advice.