Fire risk assessments for
commercial & mixed-use.

Fire risk assessments for commercial units, mixed-use buildings and multi-tenant premises, where the hardest question is often who is responsible for what. Kevin or Jon on-site, never a junior or subcontractor.

What we find

In a multi-tenant building, the gaps between duties are where fires hide.

Commercial and mixed-use buildings rarely have a single occupier. A unit here, an office there, flats above, shared stairs, shared services, and a different person legally responsible for each part. The most common failure is not a missing extinguisher; it is a gap where every party assumed someone else held the assessment.

Add a change of use, a unit converted, residential added above, a mezzanine put in, and a previously valid assessment can quietly stop reflecting the building.

Clear Fire assesses commercial and mixed-use premises on-site under the Fire Safety Order (and the Fire Safety Act 2021 where there are dwellings above), maps the demarcation clearly, and writes a report that closes the gaps rather than papering over them.

What we find in commercial & mixed-use buildings.

Drawn from Kevin and Jon's combined assessment experience. The recurring issues are about boundaries, shared services and changes that were never reassessed.

Unclear multi-tenant demarcation

No clear split between the common-parts assessment (landlord) and each tenant's demised space, so parts of the building are covered by nobody.

Change of use not reassessed

A unit re-let to a higher-risk use, or residential added above, without the fire strategy or assessment being revisited.

Common-parts compartmentation

Breached fire separation around shared stairs, risers and ceiling voids that run between tenancies.

Shared services & risers

Service penetrations and meter cupboards in common areas left unsealed, providing a path for fire and smoke between units.

Residential above commercial

Flats over shops or offices with inadequate separation from the commercial risk below, or an escape route shared with the business.

Escape from upper floors

Upper-floor offices or units relying on a single stair, or on a route that passes a higher-risk tenancy.

Electrical & shared plant

Communal plant, intake rooms and electrical installations without clear maintenance ownership or in-date inspection.

Signage & wayfinding

Inconsistent or missing exit signage across a building where occupants and visitors move between tenancies.

Risk-rated findings. Costed action plan. Insurer-ready.

Your assessment arrives as a signed PDF with a one-page management summary at the front, photographic evidence stitched to every finding, and a separately downloadable evidence appendix.

Findings are prioritised against the PAS 79-1 likelihood-and-consequence matrix into four bands, each with an indicative remediation window.

P1

Immediate

Within 14 days · risk to life
P2

Short-term

Within 3 months · serious
P3

Medium-term

Within 12 months · moderate
P4

Improvement

Best-practice · advisory
Clear Fire · FRA
Conclusions
Sample Report
Clear Fire · FRA
Fire Risk Assessment
Commercial Properties · Type 1
Significant findings
P1P2P3P4
Risk profile
SAMPLE
Client voice

Kevin was superb in responding quickly when asked to step in and replace an inadequate fire risk assessment delivered by another firm.

Charlie Parkes
Verified Google review
★★★★★ · Bonnar FRA

Multi-tenant headache or change of use? We can help.

Tell us about the building and the tenancies, and we'll confirm scope within one working hour. Kevin or Jon on-site, signed report within 24 hours of invoice paid.

Request a same-week visit

Everything you need to know about fire risk assessments for commercial & mixed-use buildings.

Still have questions?

Kevin and Jon are happy to give you a straight answer before you book, no sales pitch, just plain advice.

Speak to an owner →
Yes. Any non-domestic premises is covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and so are the common parts of any building containing two or more dwellings. In a multi-tenant or mixed-use building that usually means several assessments, one for the common parts and one for each demised area, which must be compatible with each other.
Whoever controls each part. The landlord or managing agent is normally responsible for the common parts, shared stairs, lobbies, plant and services, and each tenant for their own demised unit. Where control is shared, the Fire Safety Order requires the responsible persons to co-operate and co-ordinate their assessments, which is exactly where buildings tend to fall down.
Mixed-use buildings with dwellings above commercial space are squarely in scope. The common parts and structure are covered by the Fire Safety Order, and the Fire Safety Act 2021 confirmed the responsible person's duties extend to the structure, external walls and flat entrance doors. The separation between the commercial risk below and the homes above is a critical part of the assessment.
Yes, it is one of the clearest triggers for review. Re-letting a unit to a higher-risk use, adding residential accommodation, installing a mezzanine, or sub-dividing a tenancy can all invalidate the previous assessment. The duty is to keep the assessment current, not just to have done one once.
The responsible person for the common parts, usually the landlord or managing agent. Tenants should confirm that a current common-parts assessment exists, because their own escape route almost always runs through it. We frequently assess the common parts for the landlord and individual units for the tenants, keeping the two aligned.
We map the building first, who controls what, then assess the common parts and each demised area against that, so there are no gaps and no overlaps. The result is a set of compatible assessments and a clear picture of who owns each action.
At least annually, and immediately after any change of tenant, change of use, refit or alteration to the shared services or structure. Multi-tenant buildings change more often than single-occupier ones, so reviews tend to be more frequent.

We assess every type of building.

Our fire risk assessment programme covers 11 other property types, each with its own dedicated page, assessor knowledge and report format.

Offices & Commercial Premises

Type 1–2 assessments for single and multi-tenanted offices. Covers means of escape, compartmentation, alarm systems and responsible person obligations.

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Blocks of Flats

Type 1–4 assessments aligned with PAS 9980. Common parts, cladding, external wall systems, compartmentation and fire door registers.

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Warehouses & Light Industrial

Storage classifications, racking risk, sprinkler interaction, shift-work occupancy and insurers' specific requirements for industrial premises.

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Managing Agents

Multi-site programmes for portfolio managers. Consistent reporting format, shared document portal and annual review schedules across all properties.

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Airbnb & Serviced Accommodation

Short-let and serviced apartment assessments for hosts and operators. Platform compliance, guest safety documentation and local authority requirements.

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Retail

Shop and retail unit assessments covering public-facing occupancy, stock storage risk, emergency lighting and staff training evidence.

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HMOs

Houses in multiple occupation. Licensing-compliant assessments covering protected routes, interlinked detection, fire doors and local authority requirements.

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Landlords

Private landlord obligations under the Fire Safety Order and the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations. Residential and mixed-use portfolios.

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Pubs & Restaurants

High public footfall, kitchen fire risk, late-night occupancy and licensing implications. Assessments written for hospitality operators and their insurers.

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Small Business

Straightforward, proportionate assessments for small employers. Meets your legal duty without unnecessary complexity or cost.

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Care Homes

Vulnerable occupancy risk profiles, protected escape routes, staff procedures and CQC-aligned documentation for registered care providers.

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Book your assessment

Talk to the assessor, not a call centre.

Tell us about your building and we'll come back to you within one working hour.