Fire Risk Assessments The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a "suitable and sufficient" fire risk assessment (FRA) for all non-domestic premises and common parts of residential buildings.
Who Needs an FRA
Building Type Requirement Frequency
Common parts of flats/HMOs Mandatory Annual review, new FRA every 1–3 years
Commercial premises Mandatory Annual review
Mixed-use (shop + flat) Mandatory for common parts Annual review
Single-family lets Not legally required Recommended best practice
Holiday lets Mandatory (as business premises) Annual review
FRA in MaintenanceOS Each property → Fire Safety tab:
• Current FRA: date, assessor, expiry/review date
• Auto-warning: 3 months before review due
• Significant findings tracked as remediation tasks
• Document storage (PDF, photos, floor plans)
Creating an FRA Record 1. Property → Fire Safety → New Assessment
2. Enter:
- Assessor name + company + competency evidence
- Assessment date
- Building description (use, occupancy, layout)
- Significant findings (hazard, risk level, action, deadline)
- Recommendations (priority: Immediate / High / Medium / Low)
3. Upload PDF report
4. System creates remediation tasks from findings
Significant Findings → Tasks Each finding becomes a tracked task:
• Immediate: Safety latch created, 24-hour target
• High: 30-day target, assigned to contractor
• Medium: 90-day target
• Low: 12-month target / next review
Tasks link back to FRA for audit trail.
Common FRA Findings for Residential
Hazard Typical Action Priority
Missing smoke alarms Install Grade D LD2 system Immediate
Fire doors not self-closing Fit closers, intumescent strips High
No fire blanket in kitchen Install BS EN 1869 blanket High
Blocked escape routes Clear, signage, enforcement Immediate
Damaged fire doors Replace (FD30s) High
No emergency lighting (3+ storeys) Install BS 5266 system High
Faulty fire alarm panel Repair/service High
Combustible storage in corridors Remove, policy enforcement Medium
Review vs New Assessment
• Review: Annual desktop check — any changes? (layout, occupancy, legislation)
• New FRA: Required if: major works, change of use, fire incident, 3+ years since last full FRA
MaintenanceOS prompts for review annually, new FRA every 3 years.
Competent Person Assessor must be "competent" — MaintenanceOS checks:
• Professional body membership (IFE, FIA, NEBOSH)
• Relevant experience (building type)
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Sample report quality check (optional)
Multi-Building Portfolios Reports → Fire Safety Portfolio:
• All properties with FRA status
• Filter: Overdue / Due Soon / Current
• Aggregate remediation tasks by priority
• Cost estimates for outstanding works
• Export for insurer / regulator
Golden Thread (Building Safety Act) For higher-risk buildings (18m+ / 7+ storeys):
• FRA part of "golden thread" of information
• Digital record required
• MaintenanceOS export meets structured data requirements
• Links to building safety case report
Next Steps
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Pre-launch documentation. Features and workflows may change before general availability.
WorkSmartOS
MaintenanceOS is the property-maintenance product. Pre-launch — not commercially generally available.
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