High Rise Fire Risk Assessments

Tall buildings come with real challenges. A fire in one floor can put hundreds of lives at risk, damage property, and cause major legal and financial trouble. We provide expert high-rise fire risk assessments that help you stay compliant, act on risk, and keep your residents and building protected.

We work with freeholders, landlords, housing providers, agents, and on-site safety managers across the UK. Our approach is straightforward—clear reporting, smart plans, and risk guidance that fits your building size, layout, and budget.

• Led by professionals with ex-fire service and military backgrounds
• Certified assessors with IFE, IFSM, and Engineering Council recognition
• Experience in residential towers, mixed-use blocks, and commercial buildings
• Focused reports with clear next steps—no confusing paperwork

Call us on 01256 672681 or email info@embershield.uk to get started. For high-risk or urgent sites, we’re ready to respond quickly.

Why High-Rise Fire Risk Assessments Matter

Fires in tower blocks are very different from smaller premises. Higher floors mean more time to escape, and more ways for smoke and fire to spread. The design of a high-rise can increase risk fast if problems go unchecked.

Our assessments help manage serious risks like:

Long escape routes that rely on working stairwells
Fire doors and compartment walls that prevent rapid spread
Hidden voids like risers, lift shafts, or service ducts
Buildings where people live, sleep, or need help evacuating
Shops or offices located beneath residential floors
Basement car parks or internal plant rooms

If these risks aren’t handled properly, consequences range from fire-related deaths to fines, prosecution, and property loss. Our team applies real fire behavior experience and helps you take action before those risks become a crisis.

We Work with All Types of High-Rise Buildings

Each building has its own shape, use, and people. We adjust every high-rise fire risk assessment to suit your property’s real needs.

We support clients in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Newcastle, and everywhere in between. Our services cover:

Apartment towers and tall residential blocks
Buildings over the legal threshold for higher-risk residential status
Mixed-use developments with commercial areas beneath flats
Student towers and halls of residence
Hotels and serviced apartment buildings
Retirement housing and supported living schemes in tall units
Housing associations and local authority properties
Property managers, asset managers, and facilities teams

We work directly with the people who hold legal responsibility—those managing building safety from end to end.

What We Look At in Your High-Rise

We follow a structured approach that looks at both the building and how it’s managed. We assess what’s there, how it’s used, and whether people inside are protected.

Layout and Fire Compartments

We identify how the building is split into safe parts:

Floor plans, exit routes, and core stairwells
How fire and smoke are blocked between dwellings and shared spaces
Riser locations and fire-stopping checks around services
External wall materials and cladding, where relevant and under current scope

Escape Routes and Evacuation Plans

We inspect your escape setup and test how it holds up:

Stair core width, route length, and protective features
Emergency signage and lighting at key points
Lift use during fire and any safety measures in place
The building’s evacuation method—stay-put or full evacuation

Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

Working systems save lives. We check all fire alerts:

Location and type of alarms in common zones and, where needed, flats
Whether alarm zones match real layouts and risks
Any links to smoke vents, plant switches, and door systems

Fire Doors and Smoke Management

Doors and vents keep escape paths open:

Spot tests on flat doors and shared area doors
Frame gaps, seals, hinges, and closers
Smoke fans or vents in lobbies, stairwells, and exits
Operation of systems that control smoke during fire

Firefighting Support Areas

We check readiness for incoming fire crews:

Access to dry risers, wet risers, hydrants, and fire valves
Firefighting shafts and safe lobbies
Vehicle access to perimeter, entrance routes, or staging zones

Records, Maintenance, and People

Good fire plans come from smart management:

Policies, logs, inspection reports, and system certificates
Weekly and monthly testing routines for alarms and safety features
Fire notices, resident information, and contact paths
Staff drills and training—especially for wardens, security, or concierge
Personal escape plans for those needing help (PEEPs and GEEPs)

You receive a final report that lays out issues in plain language. We group actions by risk and give you a plan that you can work through with confidence.

Our Fire Risk Assessment Process

We keep things clear from first contact to final report.

1) Consultation and Scope

We gather the key facts—plans, duties, concerns, and previous reports. We confirm who’s accountable and what parts of the site are in scope.

2) Site Visit and Inspection

We walk every part that matters—shared areas, stairwells, basements, and, when agreed, sample dwellings. Everything is written up with photos.

3) Risk Review and Ranking

We check every finding against UK guidance, fire law, and current expectations for tall buildings. We rank the problems so you know what’s urgent.

4) Findings Report and Action Planning

We send a report with key highlights, risks, item-by-item fixes, and guidance. If bigger checks are needed—like hidden fire-stopping—we explain that clearly.

5) Feedback, Help, and Future Support

We talk through the report with you. If you book reviews or need help tracking actions, we stay involved. The fire risk assessment becomes a tool you can use—not a once-a-year box tick.

How We Support Legal Compliance on Tall Buildings

Fire law has shifted. Tall buildings trigger more duties, records, and actions.

We help you meet:

The Fire Safety Order for shared areas
Fire Safety Act rules for walls, doors, and penetration points
Fire Safety (England) Regulations, which add door checks, signs, and service notices
The Building Safety Act, which puts stricter rules on high-risk buildings

We match our fire risk assessment to the law, and explain what actions matter most. We don’t flood you with long legal quotes—we show what your site needs now.

Why Work With Embershield?

High-rises need more than a clipboard check. They need real know-how and people who’ve worked with fire and lived with risk.

Here’s what we bring:

Backgrounds in fire service and military leadership
16+ years of fire safety survey experience
Credentials that meet IFE, IFSM, and Engineering Council standards
Clear reports and risk steps based on your real layout, budget, and needs
Support for your long-term safety goals, from first survey through to policy checks
Connected services, like fire door audits or stop-gap risk fixes

FAQs About High-Rise Fire Risk Assessments

How often should fire risk assessments be reviewed?

At least once a year. Review sooner if layouts change, an incident occurs, or law changes.

Who is responsible in a high-rise?

Usually, it’s the landlord, freeholder, managing agent, or housing provider. For higher-risk buildings, legal duties fall on principal accountable persons.

How long does the assessment take?

It depends on size and use. We give time estimates when we scope the work.

Do you need access to residents’ flats?

Only where agreed. We plan this with the managing agent to keep disruption low.

Can you help after the survey?

Yes. We support follow-up actions such as fire door works, design advice, and progress checks.

Let’s Talk About Your High-Rise Safety—Before Risk Turns Into Reality

You don’t need to wait for a notice or a near miss. We help you get ahead of the risk with solid fire risk assessments specific to high-rise buildings. Don’t leave decisions until problems grow—set up your next step now. Use this link to book reliable help with your high-rise fire risk assessment. You can also call 01256 672681 or email info@embershield.uk. The sooner we talk, the stronger your building’s safety plan becomes.

Experienced, Certified Assessors providing Tailored Solutions

With Embershield, you get more than just a fire risk assessment — you get a partner who understands the nuances of fire safety in your premises. We evaluate current safeguards, identify gaps, and deliver bespoke action plans to keep your building compliant, your people safe, and your liability protected.

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