Revision of PAS 79 published to reduce fire risk & improve safety

08 December 2020

BSI, in its role as the UK National Standards Body, has published PAS 79, Fire Risk Assessment. Guidance and a recommended methodology. The newly revised standard aims to help reduce fire risk and improve the safety of non-domestic buildings and housing premises. It is published in two parts:

PAS 79-1, Fire risk assessment – Part 1: Premises other than housing – Code of practice

PAS 79-1 gives recommendations and corresponding examples of documentation for undertaking, and recording the significant findings of, fire risk assessments in non‑domestic premises and parts of non-domestic premises for which fire risk assessments are required by legislation.

It is applicable to peer-to-peer rented accommodation to the extent that such accommodation falls within the scope of the relevant fire safety legislation and to premises used solely for short-term letting of flats (with letting periods ranging from one day to six months).

PAS 79-2, Fire risk assessment – Part 2: Housing – Code of practice

PAS 79-2 gives recommendations and corresponding examples of documentation for undertaking, and recording the significant findings of, fire risk assessments in housing premises and parts of housing premises for which fire risk assessments are required by legislation. Recommendations are also provided for fire risk assessments that are outside the scope of fire safety legislation but are designed to protect residents of blocks of flats, sheltered housing and extra care housing in the event of a fire in their own flat.

BSI brought together a wide range of experts in fire safety, fire risk assessment and the housing sector to reach a consensus on the guidance and recommendations.

It is intended to be used by those who carry out fire risk assessments as a voluntary code of practice. It should not be quoted as if it were a specification.

The standard is available for download here: PAS 79-1.