Type 1 Fire Risk Assessment
Common parts, non-destructive
A type 1 Fire Risk Assessment is the most basic assessment required under the Fire Safety Order. It covers common areas of the building, not individual flats, or offices. Following the Grenfell Tower fire, amendments to the act in 2021 require that a type 1 Fire Risk Assessment include individual entrance doors and fire doors, as well as internal and external walls. Flat entrance doors and fire doors should be assessed for 30-minute fire and smoke resistance, while internal and external walls should be assessed for risk of fire smoke spreading.
Read more about Internal Fire Safety checks and Fire Risk Appraisals of external walls
Type 2 Fire Risk Assessment
Common parts, destructive
A type 2 Fire Risk Assessment may be recommended if the type 1 Assessment suggests structural flaws within a building that might increase the risk of fire spreading. It involves destructive sampling such as opening up parts of the building and is usually done when the property is vacant.
Type 3 Fire Risk Assessment
Common parts and flats, non-destructive
A type 3 Fire Risk Assessment is similar to a type 1 assessment but includes; interiors of individual flats, means of escape, fire resistance of internal doors, fire alarms, fire detection and warning systems, as well as compartmentation between flats.
Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment
Common parts and flats, destructive
A type 4 Fire Risk Assessment is one of the most comprehensive Fire Risk Assessment types. It may involve creating openings for inspections to be carried out at certain fire stopping points within the premises. Due to the destructive nature of these types of Fire Risk Assessment, they are usually only suggested where serious defects are detected in common parts of a building and individual dwellings.