What is a Fire Risk Assessment in Construction?

Lee Marsden
September 19, 2025
Lee Marsden
September 19, 2025

Fire safety is a legal and practical priority on all construction projects, especially those involving hot works, flammable materials, or temporary structures. A Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is not only required under UK law — it also protects lives, property, and progress.

At Majestic Site Management, we help clients carry out compliant, construction-specific FRAs to meet CDM 2015 and HSE standards.

  • A Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is a systematic, legally required process that identifies fire hazards, evaluates risks, and sets out control measures to prevent fires and protect everyone on a construction site.
  • It includes key elements like identifying ignition sources, planning fire prevention controls, and establishing emergency procedures, helping ensure compliance, reduce fire risks, and safeguard workers and projects.

What is a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA)?

A Fire Risk Assessment is a documented process that identifies fire hazards, evaluates risks, and outlines control measures to prevent and manage fire incidents on site.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all non-domestic premises — including construction sites — must have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.

FRAs are also essential to fulfilling duties under CDM 2015 regulations.

What Does a Construction FRA Include?

  • Identification of ignition sources (e.g. hot works, electrics)
  • Assessment of fuel loads (flammable materials, waste)
  • Location of fire extinguishers and emergency exits
  • Storage and handling protocols for hazardous substances
  • Site layout considerations for fire spread and evacuation
  • Review of existing fire safety procedures and training

We offer full Fire Risk Assessment services tailored to live construction sites, temporary works and site setups.

Why Are FRAs Important on Construction Sites?

  • Legal compliance: HSE and fire authority enforcement can shut down sites without valid FRAs
  • Accident prevention: Sites with high fire risk must have clear plans and controls in place
  • Tender eligibility: Public sector and CHAS-accredited projects require active fire safety policies

We conduct site inspections to ensure your FRA remains relevant throughout each phase of the project.

How Often Should You Update an FRA?

Construction FRAs should be reviewed regularly and updated when:

  • The site layout changes
  • New risks emerge (e.g. additional hot works, storage containers)

We recommend scheduled reviews alongside routine health and safety audits.

Get Help with Your Fire Risk Assessment

If your construction site doesn’t have an up-to-date FRA — or if you’re unsure whether it meets HSE expectations — it’s time to get expert support.

Majestic Site Management carries out compliant FRAs for public and commercial construction projects, ensuring your team, site and contract are protected.

Let’s keep your site safe, legal and operational.