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Fire Risk Assessments in Durham

County Durham

A written fire risk assessment is a legal duty under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Ours are produced from a full on-site survey to PAS 79 and BS 8674 methodology, with a prioritised action plan you can actually work through.

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

Fire Risk Assessment in Durham

Durham's building stock is unusually varied for a city of its size. A Grade II listed premises on Saddler Street, with fabric you cannot alter and escape routes fixed by the original plan, cannot be assessed against the same assumptions as a steel-portal unit on Belmont Industrial Estate. The city's dense student HMO conversions add a sleeping risk that changes the analysis again. We assess what is actually in front of us rather than applying a single house template across three different building types.

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 fire risk assessment covers

  • Fire hazards — ignition sources, fuel loading and oxygen sources
  • People at risk, including sleeping, vulnerable and lone occupants
  • Means of escape, travel distances, door widths and final exits
  • Fire detection and alarm system — category, coverage and suitability
  • Emergency lighting and fire safety signage
  • Compartmentation, fire doors and protected escape routes
  • Firefighting equipment provision, siting and servicing evidence
  • Management of fire safety — testing regimes, drills, training and records
  • A prioritised action plan with risk ratings and realistic timescales

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

Fire Risk Assessment FAQs

Is a fire risk assessment a legal requirement?

Yes. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to virtually all non-domestic premises and the common parts of residential buildings. If you employ five or more people, hold a licence, or operate an HMO, the significant findings must be recorded in writing. In practice we recommend every responsible person holds a written assessment regardless of headcount — an undocumented assessment is almost impossible to evidence to an inspecting officer.

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.

How often should it be reviewed?

At least annually, and immediately after any material change — a layout alteration, change of use, new or different occupants, a significant near-miss, or a fire. BS 8674 sets out a structured approach to review frequency based on risk, which we apply rather than defaulting to a flat twelve months.

What does it cost?

It depends on floor area, number of storeys and complexity. Small single-storey premises sit at the lower end; multi-storey, sleeping-risk or higher-hazard sites cost more. We give you a fixed price before we attend, so there are no surprises on the invoice.

Who actually carries out the assessment?

Your assessment is delivered under the direct technical oversight of our Managing Director, Phil Brazier — CMIOSH, TIFSM, NEBOSH Fire Certificate and Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety — supported by our network of specialist consultants.

Do you use templates?

No. Every assessment is built from an on-site survey of your actual building. A generic template will not satisfy an enforcing officer, and more importantly it will not tell you anything useful about your own risk.

Do you sell fire alarms or extinguishers?

No, and that is deliberate. Because we have nothing to sell you beyond the assessment itself, our recommendations are proportionate to your risk rather than to our order book. If you don't need something, we'll say so.

Free quote

Get a fire 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.