2026-07-24 · HawkSwift Ltd

[fire safety](https://www.hawkswift.co.uk/blog/competent-person-duties-under-article-18-of-the-rro-2005) for Community Centres and Village Halls

Community centres and village halls are the heart of local gatherings, hosting everything from toddler groups and fitness classes to large private celebrations. However, because these buildings are used by a wide variety of groups and often rely on volunteer management committees, ensuring compliance ensures your assessment is structured, comprehensive, and robust.

Managing Multiple Hirers and Events

One of the greatest fire safety challenges for community halls is handing over the premises to third-party hirers. As the responsible person, you remain legally accountable for the overall safety of the building, even when a community group is renting the space.

To protect both your visitors and your committee, it is vital to provide clear fire safety instructions to all hirers. This should include a brief written guide on what to do in an emergency, where the fire exits are located, and strict rules regarding the use of naked flames, fireworks, or hazardous equipment. Hirers must also be instructed never to prop open internal fire doors or block exit routes with their equipment.

Essential fire safety Equipment and Maintenance

Having the right equipment in place is only effective if it works when needed. You must implement a regular maintenance schedule for all fire safety provisions.

Key maintenance requirements include:

Fire alarms and detection systems: These must be tested weekly by a designated person and serviced annually by a competent contractor.
emergency lighting: If your hall relies on emergency lighting to illuminate escape routes in a power cut, it must be regularly tested and maintained.
Fire extinguishers: Extinguishers must be visually inspected monthly and undergo an annual service by a qualified engineer.
fire doors: Regularly check that self-closing mechanisms work correctly, seals are intact, and that doors are not wedged open.

evacuations-evacuation may be necessary for regular users with specific mobility, sensory, or cognitive impairments. For large public events, you should ensure a general evacuation plan is clearly displayed in the main hall and that all exit signs are highly visible and illuminated.

How HawkSwift Can Help

Managing a community centre or village hall is demanding, and fire safety can easily become a complex burden for volunteer committees. If you are unsure whether your current fire safety measures meet the requirements of the RRO, it is wise to seek professional guidance.

At HawkSwift Ltd, our NEBOSH-qualified assessors provide thorough, practical evaluations tailored to multi-use community buildings. We deliver detailed fire risk assessments from £199 + VAT, with comprehensive 48-hour reports to help you implement necessary safety measures quickly. To ensure your premises are safe for every event, book a [fire risk assessment](/book) with our team today.

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