Fire safety audits to assess strategies and systems in practice

The responsible person should ensure a complete FRA has been undertaken, with all identified actions and priorities recorded. This forms the evidential foundation for any remedial works to follow, ensuring risks are clearly documented before assigning contractors to address them.

Clear responsibility should then be assigned for each action, alongside realistic target dates. Without named accountability and defined timescales for remediation, even well-documented risks can stall, leaving fire safety deficiencies unresolved and exposing the responsible person to regulatory scrutiny.

Arrange surveys or remedial works where further investigation is required to close any identified gaps. This may involve intrusive inspections or specialist testing, ensuring that proposed solutions accurately reflect the building’s current construction and condition.

Retain clear evidence before closing each action, confirming that remedial works have been carried out correctly and to the required standard. This creates a defensible trail to support the golden thread, protecting duty holders should fire compliance, audit activity, or investment decisions ever be challenged.

Audit the building’s ongoing fire safety management to confirm fire safety provisions have been implemented, in line with the FRA, and that they remain effective, properly maintained, and fit for purpose as the building evolves. A fire safety audit report will identify any remaining deficiencies that have not yet been addressed, as well as any issues that have arisen since the FRA was last conducted.

If the audit does identify significant changes or new risk, the FRA should be reassessed to ensure it keeps pace with alterations to the building, its use, or its occupants. It is not a static document, and should never be treated as such. Our fire safety audit software makes this requirement easy to manage, providing a digital dashboard with interactive reporting that turns complex technical data into actionable insights – so the responsible person is always clear on expert recommendations – while maintaining a single source of truth for building estates to support the golden thread of safety information