Fire Safety Knowledge Hub

Clear, current and properly referenced fire safety guidance for responsible persons, landlords, managing agents and businesses. Quick answers, plain-English explainers of the law, a glossary and practical checklists.

Browse fire safety topics

Start with a topic and follow the links into deeper guidance.

Fire risk assessments

What they are, who needs one and how the assessment works.

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Fire doors

How a fire door performs as a complete assembly, and what an inspection covers.

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Responsible person duties

Your legal fire safety duties and practical ways to meet them.

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Flats, HMOs & residential

Fire safety for blocks of flats, HMOs and communal areas.

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Fire safety checklists

Free checklists for fire risk assessments, fire doors and landlords.

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Fire Safety Law & Your Duties

Understand the Fire Safety Order, who is the responsible person, what your legal duties are, and what the October 2023 changes mean.

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Guides & articles

Our latest fire safety guides, updated regularly.

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions we are asked most.

Do I legally need a fire risk assessment?
Yes. If you are the responsible person for non-domestic premises, or for the communal areas of a multi-occupied residential building, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.
Who is the responsible person?
Usually the employer, owner, landlord or whoever has control of the premises. In some buildings the duty is shared between more than one person.
Do I have to record my fire risk assessment?
Yes. Since the Building Safety Act 2022 (in force 1 October 2023), all responsible persons must record the fire risk assessment and fire safety arrangements in full, whatever the size of the business.
How often should a fire risk assessment be reviewed?
Regularly, and whenever there are significant changes to the building, its use or occupancy. Many organisations review annually as good practice.
How often must fire doors be checked?
In residential buildings with a storey over 11 metres, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require quarterly checks of communal fire doors and annual checks of flat entrance doors. Other premises should check fire doors regularly as good practice.
What is the difference between a fire hazard and fire risk?
A fire hazard is something that could start or fuel a fire. Fire risk considers both how likely a fire is and how serious the consequences would be, so a low likelihood does not always mean a low risk.
Do you install fire safety equipment?
No. Daedon is a building surveying and fire safety consultancy: we assess, advise, review and report, and can recommend competent contractors. We do not install or maintain equipment.

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Reference library

Deeper reference material to bookmark and come back to.

Fire safety law & standards

The key laws and standards in plain English, with links to the source.

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Fire safety glossary

Plain-English definitions of common fire safety and building safety terms.

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Fire safety checklists

Free, practical checklists for assessments, fire doors and landlords.

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References

  • Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (SI 2005/1541). Available at: legislation.gov.uk (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  • Fire Safety Act 2021, c. 24. Available at: legislation.gov.uk (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  • The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/547). Available at: legislation.gov.uk (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  • Building Safety Act 2022, c. 30. Available at: legislation.gov.uk (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
    • Building Safety Act 2022 and the October 2023 Changes
    On 1 October 2023, the Building Safety Act 2022 made significant changes to fire safety law. All responsible persons must now record their fire risk assessment and fire safety arrangements IN FULL, regardless of business size (the old five-employee threshold is removed). Responsible persons in shared buildings must also cooperate and exchange information. In taller residential buildings, residents must be informed of risks and fire safety measures. Learn more: Fire Safety Law Explained · legislation.gov.uk (Accessed: 23 June 2026).
  • British Standards Institution (2020) PAS 79-1:2020 Fire risk assessment. Premises other than housing. Code of practice. London: BSI. Available at: bsigroup.com (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  • British Standards Institution (2022) PAS 9980:2022 Fire risk appraisal of external wall construction and cladding of existing blocks of flats. Code of practice. London: BSI. Available at: bsigroup.com (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  • British Standards Institution (2025) BS 8674:2025 Built environment. Framework for competence of individual fire risk assessors. Code of practice. London: BSI. Available at: bsigroup.com (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  • British Standards Institution (2025) BS 9792:2025 Fire risk assessment of housing. Code of practice. London: BSI. Available at: bsigroup.com (Accessed: 17 June 2026).