Fire Risk Assessment Course Online
- Work through the 5-step method using realistic workplace scenarios
- Learn how to record findings and a prioritised action plan in writing
- Know exactly when a building is beyond your competence and needs a specialist
Why fire risk assessment is now your job, and why it has to be written down
In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 makes the "responsible person" (usually the employer, owner or person in control of the premises) legally responsible for carrying out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.
- Every responsible person must record the fire risk assessment in full, not just the "significant findings"
- The old exemption for businesses with fewer than five employees no longer applies
- Fire safety arrangements must also be recorded in writing
- Fines for certain fire safety offences are no longer capped
Many supervisors, office managers and small business owners are handed this responsibility with no training. They end up with a downloaded template they can't defend when a fire safety officer asks, "How did you reach this conclusion?" This course teaches you to answer that question.
Changes made by section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022. Scotland (Fire (Scotland) Act 2005) and Northern Ireland (Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010) have their own legislation; the assessment method taught here is the same.
Is this course right for you?
We would rather you choose the right course than the wrong one. Here is an honest comparison.
| This course | NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety | Free government guidance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Independent online course and certificate | Regulated qualification (SCQF Level 6, comparable to RQF Level 3) | HM Government fire safety guides |
| Study time | About 15 hours, self-paced | At least 28 taught hours plus around 20 hours of private study | 1–2 hours of reading |
| Assessment | Online multiple choice | Open-book exam plus a practical fire risk assessment | None |
| Cost | $199.99 | Set by each NEBOSH learning partner; typically much higher | Free |
| Best for | People who need to understand and apply the method quickly for their own workplace | People whose employer or client requires a recognised qualification, or who plan to work as fire risk assessors | A quick overview before deciding on training |
By the end of the course, you will be able to
- Walk through a building and identify sources of ignition, fuel and oxygen, such as overloaded sockets, hot works, waste storage and arson risk
- Identify people especially at risk, including lone workers, visitors, contractors, people with disabilities and anyone sleeping on the premises
- Check whether escape routes, travel distances, fire doors, emergency lighting and signage are adequate
- Decide which evacuation strategy fits your building (simultaneous, phased or stay put) and when a PEEP is needed
- Record findings and a prioritised action plan, with an owner and deadline for each action
- Recognise premises that need a specialist fire risk assessor, and brief one properly
The 5 steps of a fire risk assessment
- Identify fire hazards
Sources of ignition, fuel and oxygen in every area of the premises.
- Identify people at risk
Who is in the building, when, where, and who needs extra help to escape.
- Evaluate, remove, reduce and protect
Remove or reduce hazards, then check detection, warning, escape routes, firefighting equipment and compartmentation.
- Record, plan, inform, instruct and train
Write the findings and action plan, prepare the emergency plan, and train staff.
- Review
Set a review date and the changes that trigger an earlier review, such as refurbishment, change of use or a near miss.
What a good finding looks like
Weak fire risk assessments often say "housekeeping poor" and nothing else. A finding you can defend looks like this:
- Why it matters
- Fuel source on the only escape route from the first floor. A fire here would block the escape route for 14 staff.
- Action
- Remove immediately. Move cardboard to the external locked cage. Add the stair to the weekly checks.
- Owner / by
- Site supervisor, today
- Why it matters
- The door will not hold back smoke and fire from the kitchen, the highest ignition-risk area.
- Action
- Reconnect or replace the closer and check the door fully closes onto its latch.
- Owner / by
- Facilities, within 7 days
Course content
Module 1Fire science and your legal duties
The fire triangle, how fire and smoke spread, the role of the responsible person, and what fire safety inspectors look for.
Module 2Identifying fire hazards
Ignition, fuel and oxygen sources in offices, kitchens, warehouses, workshops and care settings. Electrical risks, hot works, smoking, lithium-ion batteries and arson.
Module 3People at risk and means of escape
Occupancy, travel distances, escape route design, evacuation strategies and Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs).
Module 4Evaluating fire precautions
Fire detection and alarm, emergency lighting, signage, firefighting equipment, compartmentation and fire doors. How to tell adequate from inadequate.
Module 5Recording the assessment and action plan
Writing findings that can be checked, prioritising actions, assigning owners, and meeting the post-2023 recording requirements.
Module 6Emergency plans, training and review
Writing the fire emergency plan, fire drills and staff training, and review triggers. Includes worked case studies.
Assessment: online multiple-choice quiz at the end of each module.
Who this course is for, and who it isn't
- A small business owner or manager who is the "responsible person"
- An office, facilities or site manager
- A supervisor or fire warden moving into a fire safety role
- A health and safety coordinator who wants a structured method
- Need a regulated qualification for a job or tender (choose NEBOSH)
- Want to join a professional fire risk assessor register
- Are assessing high-rise residential, hospitals or other complex premises
Your certificate
When you pass all module assessments, you receive a digital Certificate in Fire Risk Assessment from healthsafetycourses.org, a brand of UK School of Management.
- Unique ID and QR code, so employers can verify it online
- Lists the topics covered and the study hours
- Suitable to record as CPD in your professional development log
This is an independent certificate of completion. It is not a regulated qualification and is not equivalent to a NEBOSH award, degree or diploma.
Frequently asked questions
Can I carry out my own workplace fire risk assessment after this course?
For small, simple, low-risk premises, the responsible person can often carry out the fire risk assessment themselves if they have enough training and experience. This course gives you the method and knowledge to do that. For complex or higher-risk premises, such as high-rise residential buildings, care homes or premises with complex fire engineering, you should use a professional fire risk assessor.
Is this course NEBOSH or accredited?
No. This is an independent course and certificate, not a regulated qualification. If your employer or client requires a regulated fire qualification, the NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety is the better choice.
Does a fire risk assessment have to be written down?
In England and Wales, yes. Since 1 October 2023, changes made by section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 require every responsible person to record the full findings of the fire risk assessment in writing, not only the significant findings and not only where five or more people are employed.
How long does the course take?
About 15 hours in total. Most learners finish in 4 weeks at 3 to 4 hours per week. You have access for up to 6 months.
How is the course assessed?
By online multiple-choice assessments at the end of each module. There is no exam centre and no fixed exam date.
Is this course useful outside the UK?
Yes. The 5-step method and fire science apply everywhere. The legal examples are based on UK law, so learners elsewhere should check their local fire safety legislation.
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