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DSEAR Risk Assessments in Durham

County Durham

If you store or use flammable liquids, gases, LPG, solvents, or generate combustible dust, DSEAR 2002 places a separate legal duty on you — one that a fire risk assessment does not discharge. We produce the written assessment, the hazardous area classification and the basis of safety.

CharteredCMIOSH · TIFSM
AIEMA
CMIOSH & TIFSM led
£5m public liability insured
Reports within 5 working days
We sell no equipment
Local context

DSEAR Risk Assessment in Durham

DSEAR work in the Durham area is concentrated around the light manufacturing and engineering base at Newton Aycliffe and Meadowfield, alongside vehicle workshops, joinery shops and fuel storage across the county's smaller trading estates. These are exactly the businesses that most often fall in scope without realising it.

Where we work around Durham

Durham City, Belmont, Dragonville, Meadowfield, Bowburn, Aykley Heads, Framwellgate Moor, Chester-le-Street and Newton Aycliffe.

Crestfield Safety is based in County Durham, so Durham is genuinely local to us — not a postcode we service from three counties away.

Enforcing authority — County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service
Scope

What your dsear risk assessment covers

  • Identification and inventory of dangerous substances on site
  • Assessment of explosive atmosphere likelihood, extent and persistence
  • Hazardous area classification and zoning — Zones 0, 1, 2 and 20, 21, 22
  • Ignition source identification and equipment category review
  • Basis of safety — prevention, mitigation and control measures
  • Ventilation, containment, bunding and housekeeping review
  • Review of storage arrangements against relevant guidance
  • Written DSEAR risk assessment with prioritised action plan
  • Support with zoning drawings and compliant equipment selection

What you receive

A written report you can hand straight to an enforcing officer, your insurer, your landlord or your client — branded, photographed and dated, with every finding given a priority rating and a realistic timescale.

We talk you through it afterwards. A report you don’t understand is a report you won’t action.

How it works

Four steps, no surprises

1

Enquiry

Tell us the premises type, floor area and number of storeys. We come back with a fixed price, usually the same day.

2

Site survey

A full walkthrough with you or your responsible person. We ask questions on site rather than guessing later.

3

Report

Issued within five working days — branded, photographed, with a prioritised action plan you can work through.

4

Support

We talk you through the findings. Review reminders are included so nothing lapses without you knowing.

Also available in Durham

Other services in Durham

Questions

DSEAR Risk Assessment FAQs

Who actually needs a DSEAR assessment?

Far more businesses than realise it. Anyone storing or using flammable liquids, gases, LPG, solvents, or generating combustible dust falls in scope. That includes vehicle workshops, bakeries, joinery shops, paint sprayers, agricultural stores, breweries and commercial kitchens with bulk LPG — not just chemical plants.

Do you cover the whole of the Durham area?

Yes. We work across Durham City, Belmont, Dragonville, Meadowfield, Bowburn, Aykley Heads, Framwellgate Moor, Chester-le-Street and Newton Aycliffe. Crestfield Safety is based in County Durham, so Durham is genuinely local to us — not a postcode we service from three counties away.

Is DSEAR the same as a fire risk assessment?

No. They are separate legal duties under different regulations and one does not substitute for the other. Many premises need both. A fire risk assessment considers fire risk to occupants; DSEAR considers the risk of an explosive atmosphere forming and igniting.

What is hazardous area classification?

It's the process of dividing your site into zones based on how likely an explosive atmosphere is to be present and for how long. The zone then determines what category of electrical and mechanical equipment can legally be used in that space. Getting it wrong in either direction is expensive — over-zoning means unnecessary ATEX equipment costs, under-zoning means non-compliance.

I'm not sure whether DSEAR applies to us.

Call us. A ten-minute conversation usually settles it. If you're out of scope, we'll tell you and there's no charge for the conversation. We won't sell you an assessment you don't need.

What happens after the assessment?

You receive a written assessment with zoning, the basis of safety, and a prioritised action plan. We'll walk you through it. Where actions involve equipment changes or engineering controls, we'll help you scope the work so you can get sensible quotes.

Free quote

Get a dsear risk assessment quote for your Durham premises

Tell us a little about the building and we’ll come back with a fixed price. No obligation, no sales call, no pressure.

Prefer to talk? Call 07742 043 378 or email info@crestfieldsafety.co.uk.

Serving Durham City, Belmont, Dragonville, Meadowfield, Bowburn, Aykley Heads, Framwellgate Moor, Chester-le-Street and Newton Aycliffe.

No obligation. We’ll come back with a fixed price before we attend — and we’ll tell you honestly if you don’t need what you’ve asked for.