Fire policy development involves creating or updating the written fire safety policy for your organisation. This includes defining roles and responsibilities (the “Responsible Person”, Fire Marshals, etc.), outlining fire prevention measures, staff training requirements, evacuation procedures, maintenance schedules for fire safety equipment, and reporting and review processes. When FireRite undertakes fire policy development, we conduct interviews with management and key staff, review existing documentation (if any), collect information about your premises’ layout, occupancy levels, escape routes, fire detection and suppression systems, and existing emergency procedures. We then draft a fire policy document tailored to your premises’ risks and operational practices, align it with UK legislation (such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Fire Safety Act 2021, and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022), and include schedules for ongoing review and audit. The policy typically covers things like signage, fire safety instruction and training, periodic drills, record‑keeping, periodic audits, and processes for responding to changes (e.g. building modifications, changes in occupancy).
A well‑constructed fire policy is not just a legal checkbox—it’s a core component of a robust fire strategy for businesses. Having a clear fire policy ensures everyone in your organisation understands their responsibilities when it comes to fire safety: who ensures escape routes are kept clear, who organises training, who checks alarms, etc. This clarity reduces risk, lowers the chance of incidents caused by human error, and helps avoid the confusion that can occur in emergencies. From a compliance perspective, a clearly documented policy that is properly implemented and reviewed is strong evidence of due diligence. This can protect businesses against enforcement action or liability in case something goes wrong. Insurance companies often look for solid policies as part of their risk assessments, and those with strong fire safety policies may get better insurance terms. Moreover, a fire policy tailored to your business improves safety, minimises disruption from fire incidents, and promotes a safety culture, which can boost employee confidence and reputation.
A fire policy audit examines your current fire policy (if one exists), its implementation, effectiveness, and consistency with legal requirements and best practices. FireRite’s audit service includes reviewing existing policy documents, interviewing staff to check awareness and understanding, analysing records of past fire drills, training, maintenance, inspections, incident logs, and how the policy has responded to changes in risk (e.g. refurbishments, new equipment, layout changes). We also check whether the policy is kept up to date with the most recent legislation: for example whether responsibilities under the Fire Safety Act 2021 (including external wall safety, flat entrance doors, etc.) are covered. Finally, we provide a report that identifies gaps, weaknesses and non‑compliance, with practical recommendations and a prioritised action plan to remedy them.
Conducting a fire policy audit gives a business a reality check—what is written vs what is actually happening. Often, policies exist in documents but are not fully understood, implemented or reviewed. An audit reveals such gaps before they lead to serious problems. By identifying non‑compliance, you can avoid legal penalties, enforcement notices, or even prosecution. It also helps to reduce risk of fire damage, ensures efficient evacuation and response should a fire occur, and helps minimise disruption. For larger organisations, or multi‑site businesses, audits help ensure consistency across all locations. Furthermore, fire policy audits often lead to cost savings: by identifying inefficient practices or outdated equipment, you can invest more wisely, potentially reduce insurance premiums, and avoid fines or losses.
Integrating fire policy development and regular audits is central to a business’s continuity planning and broader risk management strategy. FireRite works with clients to embed fire policy and audit into business continuity plans. We help businesses assess potential fire‑related interruptions—such as damage to premises, forced evacuation, equipment loss—and ensure that fire policy includes mitigation strategies (backup systems, data protection, temporary relocation etc.). During audit, we consider how policy supports business operations under adverse conditions: how quickly can operations recover after a fire, how staff roles shift under emergency conditions, whether documentation, communication protocols, insurance, and regulatory reporting are clear. The audit also assesses whether the policy includes clear review cycles and responsibilities for change when regulations update, technology improves, or your premises or occupancy change.
Fire incidents can be catastrophic, not only in terms of lives and safety, but also cost, reputation, and ability to operate. A fire safety policy that supports business continuity ensures you're not just protecting from legal risk, but also safeguarding your ability to stay open or recover quickly. You reduce downtime, avoid loss of critical data or assets, protect employees and customers, and preserve your reputation. Businesses that invest in this tend to demonstrate stronger risk awareness, which can have financial benefits: better insurance terms, lower premiums, higher stakeholder trust. Also, in today’s regulatory environment, with frequent updates (e.g. Fire Safety Act, external wall and facade safety, etc.), having a strong policy combined with regular audits shows that you are proactively managing change. This helps avoid surprises in inspections, reduces likelihood of enforcement action, and positions your business as responsible and resilient.
