2026-01-01 · HawkSwift Ltd

fire-risk-assessment-for-gyms-and-leisure-centres

--- title: fire risk assessment for Gyms and Leisure Centres reading_time: 6 canonical: "https://www.hawkswift.co.uk/blog/fire-risk-assessment-for-gyms-and-leisure-centres" description: "Running a gym or leisure centre involves managing a unique set of fire risk, which requires you to manage health and safety risks systematically. For complex premises like leisure centres, following recognised guidance such as PAS 79** provides an excellent framework for structuring and documenting your fire risk assessment.

The law requires you to:

Identify fire hazards on the premises.
Identify people at risk, especially vulnerable individuals.
Remove or reduce those hazards as far as reasonably practicable.
Implement general fire precautions to manage residual risks.
Record your findings, provide information to staff, and regularly review the assessment.

Specific Fire Hazards in Gyms and Leisure Facilities

Gyms and leisure centres present hazards that you rarely find in standard office or retail environments. Recognising these specific risks is the first step in making your facility compliant and safe.

Electrical equipment: Gyms rely heavily on treadmills, cross-trainers, and resistance machines that run continuously for hours. Overheating motors, frayed cables, or overloaded power sockets are common ignition sources.

Heat and wellness areas: Saunas, steam rooms, and spa facilities utilise intense heat sources. If not properly maintained, or if combustible materials are placed too close to heaters, these areas can easily ignite.

Chemical storage: Swimming pools require the storage and handling of water treatment chemicals. Certain pool chemicals can be highly reactive or oxidising, presenting a significant fire and explosion risk if stored improperly.

Kitchens and cafes: Many modern leisure centres feature cafes or juice bars. Commercial cooking equipment, extraction ducting, and grease build-up are notorious fire hazards.

Evaluating Risk to Occupants

When assessing your premises, you must consider how people will react in an emergency. Leisure facilities often have high foot traffic, and members may be unfamiliar with the building's layout. Furthermore, individuals using pools, saunas, or treatment rooms might be in a state of undress, which can significantly delay their evacuations-fire risk assessment.

Following a fire incident or a near-miss.
Changes to the number or demographic of staff or members.

How HawkSwift Can Help

Navigating the complexities of fire safety in a leisure environment can be daunting. If you are unsure whether your current provisions meet the requirements of the RRO or relevant British Standards, it is highly recommended to seek professional guidance.

At HawkSwift Ltd, our NEBOSH-qualified assessors provide detailed, practical evaluations tailored to the unique layout of your facility. We deliver comprehensive fire risk assessments from £199 + VAT, with detailed reports delivered within 48 hours to help you address hazards promptly. To get a court-defensible, RRO 2005-aligned assessment, book a fire risk assessment with our team today.

Frequently asked: "Fire Risk Assessment For Leisure Facilities"

This topic is covered in detail in the HawkSwift guide above. For a premises-specific assessment, our NEBOSH-qualified team delivers court-defensible PAS 79 / RRO 2005 reports across England and Wales, starting from £199 + VAT.

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