In this edition:

– Christmas & New Year office closures
– Fire Industry News – NEW FIRE RISK ASSESSOR COMPETENCY STANDARD PUBLISHED
– Maintenance Spotlight – Dual Engineer Servicing Benefits
– Case Study – Metal Doorsets
– Collaboration with Galeco Security Systems
– Changes at RES – Johnny Adey, Managing Director
– Employee Spotlight – Matthew Woodward

In this edition:

• Fire Safety News – What is the new “BS 9792:2025 – Fire risk assessment” about?
• Fire Safety News – BS 5839- 1: 2025 Technical Bulletin – Fire detection and fire alarm zone plans – Does your premises conform ?
• Case Study – SEND School Fire Door Installation
• FIRE DOOR SAFETY WEEK
• WHAT IS OUR BM-TRADA CERTIFICATION?
• Employee Spotlight – James Hill DipFD MIFSM – Passive Supervisor

BS 9792:2025 is a totally new British Standard that provides recommendations and example documentation for conducting and recording fire risk assessments (FRAs) in housing premises. It offers a structured and risk-proportionate methodology for assessing fire risks in residential settings, aiming to determine the necessary fire prevention and protection measures to safeguard occupants and those in the immediate vicinity.

This standard represents a full revision and formal conversion of the previously withdrawn PAS 79-2:2020, marking a major step in aligning fire risk assessment practices with current legislation and industry needs.

Who is BS 9792:2025 – Fire risk assessment for? 

This standard is aimed at:

• Competent persons conducting fire risk assessments (i.e., individuals with suitable fire safety knowledge and training).
• Fire risk assessment companies.
• Freeholders, managing agents, and management companies responsible for housing premises.
• Housing providers needing to meet obligations under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005and/or the Building Safety Act 2022.

What does BS 9792:2025 – Fire risk assessment cover? 

It applies to fire risk assessments in the following types of residential premises:

• Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
• Blocks of flats or maisonettes (purpose-built or converted).
• Specialized housing (as defined in the standard).
• Student accommodation in any of the above forms.
• Access areas to residential spaces in mixed-use buildings.

However, it does not cover:

• Single-family private dwellings.
• Short-term letting units (e.g., Airbnb-type).
• Non-domestic premises.
• Residential care homes.
Construction-phase premises (before occupation).

It does include vacant housing premises, and while it addresses external wall risks, it excludes specialist external wall assessments (handled via PAS 9980).

Importantly, this standard is not intended to address:

• Firefighter safety.
• Protection of property or business continuity.
• Environmental protection.

Why should you use BS 9792:2025 – Fire risk assessment?

The benefits of adopting this standard include:

• Consistency: Establishes a unified and consistent approach to carrying out and documenting FRAs in housing.
• Legislative compliance: Supports responsible parties in fulfilling legal obligations under current UK fire safety legislation.
• Improved fire safety: Aims to reduce fire risk for residents and enhance occupant protection.
• Terminology and clarity: Promotes common understanding among assessors and stakeholders.
• Holistic, proportionate approach: Encourages a pragmatic view of risk, tailored to the specific building and occupancy type.
• Documentation quality: Provides clear templates and formats to record assessments thoroughly.
• Education and guidance: Helps housing providers, even those without fire expertise, better understand and manage fire safety.

What are the changes introduced in BS 9792:2025?

BS 9792:2025 is a new British Standard. It replaces PAS 79-2:2020 which was withdrawn. BS 9792:2025 introduces significant changes compared to PAS 79-2:2020, including:

• Restructured content: Clause 15 is subdivided; various FRA types are aligned with the principles and scope section.
• Copyright cleanup: Removal of third-party copyrighted material.
• New pro forma: A streamlined, standardized format for assessment documentation.
• Clearer commentary: Less verbose, more direct language throughout.
• Expanded evacuation guidance: Enhanced focus on people with specific evacuation needs, with a new informative annex.
• Updated references: Incorporates the latest industry guidance and other British Standards issued since December 2020.
• Legal alignment: Updates reflect new legislation affecting fire safety introduced post-2020

As a property manager or facilities manager you should be aware of the requirements necessary to ensure fire safety compliance is achieved across your properties.

We recommend fire risk assessments are carried out by an independent and suitably qualified assessor / company that is not associated to the company responsible for providing the premises fire safety service and maintenance services to avoid any potential conflict of interests. RES do not undertake fire risk assessments for this reason.

The premises fire risk assessment should be kept up to date, detailing the fire safety measures in place with the assessor making recommendations to ensure they are compliant.

Residential properties may have, for example, fire detection and alarm system, emergency lighting, fire doors, dry risers, smoke control systems and portable fire equipment

Fire alarm systems must be serviced every six months as required by British Standard 5839

Various grades of system are appropriate for residential properties, from Grade A, providing the highest level of fire detection and alarm system, to a Grade D1 system.

Various fire alarm equipment is available and more information on these can be found on our fire alarm service page

RES are BAFE SP203-1 certificated for Fire Detection and Alarm Systems: Third-party certificated by BSI, giving you assurance and peace of mind.

Emergency lighting is a requirement in HMOs under British Standard 5266-1 and an engineer should attend site twice a year to complete a full service across all devices.

There are various types of emergency lights which are outlined in our emergency light service page

RES have BAFE SP203-4 Emergency Lighting: Third-party certificated by BSI, giving you assurance and peace of mind.

Effective fire-resisting doors are vital to ensure occupants are able to evacuate to a safe place.

As per the “Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022”, routine fire door checks should be undertaken by the responsible person.

Any damage or defects are reported and remedied in a timely manner by the responsible person.

RES are BM-Trada Q Mark registered for fire door maintenance and installation.

A Dry Riser is a system of pipes and valves installed in tall buildings or building with restricted access that enables the fire brigade to pump water to specific predetermined points within the building.

The buildings “Responsible Person” (RP) is required to maintain the system to BS 9990 – Code of practice for non-automatic fire fighting systems in buildings, and ensure maintenance frequency and procedures are in accordance with BS 9999 – Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings, or as specified  by the buildings Fire Risk Assessment (FRA).

BS 9990 requires the system to undergo an annual static pressure test and inspection and a six monthly visual inspection, by a competent person. Thus ensuring the Dry riser system is maintained and functioning correctly for the fire brigade at all times.

Smoke control and ventilation systems vent smoke out of a building in the event of a fire and are used in residential, commercial, healthcare or educational premises.

Smoke Vent Systems should be serviced a minimum of once a year as per the RRO (The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, article 17) and  BS 7346-8:2013 and relevant parts of BS EN 12101 for Smoke and heat control systems.

RES can provide a comprehensive Smoke Control and Ventilation service.

The annual servicing of fire extinguishers is a requirement of British Standard 5306

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) should have fire extinguishers installed. The quantity and placement of these would be outlined in the fire risk assessment.

There are various types of fire extinguisher as outlined on our fire extinguishers service page

RES provide a comprehensive fire extinguisher service and are BAFE (SP101) registered, giving you assurance and peace of mind.

RES use the leading fire and security maintenance platform Uptick, which provides us and our customers with a clear picture of the service schedules, any defects and invoices. Each customer can be provided client portal access which gives accurate and up-to-date information on all their managed properties in once place.

Whether you are managing one, or a portfolio of properties, our service and maintenance services will help to ensure your premises are fire safety compliant.