Fire Risk Assessment
in Thornbury

Building owners and managers responsible for commercial or residential property need to ensure their premises remain safe and compliant. If you require a fire risk assessment in Thornbury, our service connects you with local professionals who understand the specific challenges of the area. Thornbury is a market town characterised by a historic high street with numerous listed frontages, traditional pubs, and a range of small industrial units situated on the edge of the town. These diverse building types, many within the BS35 postcode district, present unique fire safety considerations due to their age, construction methods, and varied uses.

Whether you manage a retail unit on the high street or an industrial workshop, a professional assessment identifies potential hazards and provides a plan for mitigation. A fire risk assessment in Thornbury typically costs £190 to £630 per assessment. This figure is a general guide and the final cost depends entirely on the size, complexity, and usage of the building. The specific quote for your premises will be provided directly by the local firm we pass your enquiry to, rather than by this service. By using our enquiry platform, you can reach a competent local provider who is familiar with the architectural heritage and modern requirements of the region.

What the assessment covers

The fire risk assessment is a comprehensive physical inspection of the premises designed to identify fire hazards and evaluate the safety of the people inside. The company we put you in touch with will examine several factors that influence both the scope of the work and the final price. The total floor area and the number of storeys are primary considerations, as larger or taller buildings require more time to inspect. The assessor who contacts you will also look at the number and complexity of escape routes; a building with a single staircase requires different scrutiny than one with multiple, interconnected exits.

The way the building is used and the number of people typically present are also central to the process. For instance, premises where people sleep, such as flats or hotels, carry a higher risk profile than a standard office. The age of the building is particularly relevant in Thornbury, where historic timber frames or thick masonry in listed frontages may behave differently in a fire than modern industrial units. The assessor will also check if the building has been altered over time, as structural changes can inadvertently compromise fire compartments or exit paths.

How the enquiry works

Bristol Fire Risk Assessment acts as a bridge between building managers and local service providers. The process follows these four steps:

1. You submit your property details and contact information through our enquiry form.
2. We pass these details to a local fire safety firm that covers the Thornbury area.
3. That firm contacts you directly to discuss your requirements and provide a specific quote.
4. You deal with the firm directly to arrange the site visit and handle payment.

Please be aware that we are an enquiry service and not a firm of assessors. We do not attend your site, and we do not carry out the assessments ourselves.

The legal position

Fire safety in England and Wales is governed primarily by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This legislation places a legal duty on the ‘Responsible Person’—usually the employer, owner, or landlord—to ensure that the premises are safe. In addition to this, section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, which has been in force since 1 October 2023, introduced significant changes to how fire safety information must be managed.

Under these updated regulations, the Responsible Person for almost every non-domestic premises must ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out. Crucially, since section 156 commenced, the Responsible Person must now record the fire risk assessment in full, regardless of the number of people employed or the size of the business. Previously, smaller businesses were exempt from the recording requirement, but this is no longer the case. The assessment must be reviewed regularly and whenever there is a material change to the building’s layout or use.

The work is normally carried out against established industry guidance, specifically BS 9792:2025 for housing and BS 9792:2025 for non-domestic premises. It is a legal requirement that the assessment is carried out by a competent person who has the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience. Failure to comply with these duties can lead to enforcement action. In Thornbury, enforcement is typically managed by the local fire and rescue service or the local authority, depending on the specific type of building. Please note that the information on this page is provided for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice for a specific building or situation.