Independent fire risk assessments for commercial premises, managed residential buildings and landlords across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. Every visit is carried out by Kevin Bonnar or Jon Sheaf in person.
Most buildings already have a fire risk assessment. The real test comes later, when an insurer asks for evidence, a managing agent needs answers or a fire officer wants to see what has been done and why.
That is when the quality of the assessment matters. A generic template with no photographs and no reasoning creates doubt at the moment you need certainty.
ClearFire assessments are carried out by the two owners, both Level 4 qualified fire risk assessors and Level 3 qualified fire door inspectors. We do not sell alarms, extinguishers or remedial works, so the report has nothing to promote except what the building needs.
In England and Wales the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person for almost all non-domestic premises, and for the shared parts of buildings containing two or more homes, to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of fire risk. Since 1 October 2023, changes made by section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 mean the assessment must be recorded in full whatever the size of the business, along with the name of the person who carried it out. The old exemption for employers with fewer than five staff no longer applies.
Non-domestic premises are assessed using the methodology in PAS 79-1:2020. Housing is assessed using BS 9792:2025, which replaced PAS 79-2. Findings are compared with the government guidance for the building type, and where we depart from guidance we explain why. For blocks of flats we recommend the least intrusive of the four recognised assessment types that answers the question, starting with Type 1.
Kevin spent thirty years working with fire-rated windows and doors, curtain walling and facades. Jon brings forty years in facades, fire-rated systems and building envelopes. Many of the failings that undermine an assessment are construction details, such as a fire door that has been trimmed, a riser that was never fire-stopped or a ceiling void that links two escape routes. We know what they should look like because we used to build them.
The legal duty is the same everywhere. What changes is where the risk sits and which guidance applies. Choose the page closest to your building.
Single and multi-tenanted offices, assessed for how the space is used today.
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Common parts, flat entrance doors and external walls, assessed to BS 9792:2025.
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Storage, racking, charging areas, processes and long travel distances.
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One report format and the same two assessors across every building you manage.
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Holiday lets and short stays, assessed against government guidance for paying guests.
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Multi-let and landlord-controlled commercial buildings, including common parts and vacant units.
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Shop floors, stockrooms and shared escape routes, including flats above.
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Shared houses and bedsits, assessed against licensing conditions and LACORS guidance.
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Converted houses, flats over shops and small portfolios, with clear advice on what the law requires.
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Kitchens, extraction, cellars and staff or guest accommodation above.
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Proportionate assessments for small premises, recorded in full as the law now requires.
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Progressive evacuation, night staffing and the protection that vulnerable residents rely on.
View serviceTell us how the building is used, who occupies it and any concerns you already have. We confirm scope and availability within one working hour.
Kevin or Jon carries out the inspection personally, covering means of escape, fire doors, compartmentation, detection and management arrangements.
You receive photographic evidence, risk-rated findings and a prioritised action plan as a signed PDF within 24 hours of invoice payment.
Every report includes a recommended review date and the reasoning behind it, so you know when the assessment needs looking at again.
Kevin was superb in responding quickly when asked to step in and replace an inadequate fire risk assessment delivered by another firm.
We confirm scope and availability within one working hour. Jon or Kevin on site, signed report within 24 hours of invoice payment.
Whether you need a new assessment, a review of an existing report or clarity about your responsibilities, Kevin and Jon are happy to give straightforward advice before you book.
Yes, for almost all non-domestic premises and for the common parts of buildings with two or more homes in England and Wales. The duty comes from article 9 of the Fire Safety Order. Since 1 October 2023 it must be recorded in full regardless of how many people are employed.
The employer where the premises are a workplace under their control. Otherwise it is the person who has control of the premises, or the owner. In a multi-occupied building there is often more than one responsible person, and the law requires them to co-operate.
The law allows it, and for a very small, simple premises government guidance is written to help you. For sleeping accommodation, shared escape routes, complex layouts or vulnerable occupants, guidance recommends a competent assessor. You remain responsible for choosing someone competent.
The types apply to blocks of flats. Type 1 is a non-destructive assessment of the common parts. Type 2 adds opening up in the common parts. Type 3 extends into a sample of flats. Type 4 combines both and is rarely needed.
There is no fixed period in law. We recommend a review date in every report. Many commercial premises review annually, and any alteration, change of use or occupancy, near miss or fire should trigger an earlier review.
Fire and rescue authorities can give informal advice or issue enforcement and prohibition notices, and serious breaches can be prosecuted. Fines are unlimited and the most serious offences carry up to two years in prison. Insurers also commonly ask for the assessment after a loss.
Always an owner. Every site visit is carried out and signed off by Kevin Bonnar or Jon Sheaf personally. We do not use juniors or subcontractors.
We respond within one working hour, can usually offer a same-week visit across our six counties and deliver the signed report within 24 hours of invoice payment.
Tell us about your site. We'll respond within one working hour during business hours.
