How Much Does a fire risk assessment Cost in 2026?

If you are budgeting for compliance Order 2005.

The Three Pricing Tiers in 2026

fire risk assessment pricing in 2026 is best understood as three clear tiers, and knowing which tier your premises fall into tells you immediately what to budget.

The Micro tier starts at £199 plus VAT. This covers small, single-occupancy, low-risk premises — a small shops-evacuation, a single office, a low-risk workshop — where one assessor can complete the walkthrough and report in a single visit. It is the entry point for most small businesses and is usually sufficient where the headcount and hazards are modest.

The Standard tier sits in the middle, covering larger or moderately complex premises such as multi-room offices, small guesthouses, or retail units with storage and staff areas. Pricing here scales with floor area and the number of separate risk zones the assessor must document.

The Enhanced tier begins at £849 plus VAT and is where high-risk and complex buildings land. care homes, houses in multiple occupation, schools, and industrial premises with significant fire loads fall here because the assessment demands more time, more detailed evacuation planning, and often specialist judgement. High-risk premises are not a place to cut corners, and the Enhanced tier reflects the work involved.

What Drives the Cost Up or Down

Several factors move the fire risk assessment cost in either direction, and understanding them helps you brief a supplier accurately so you get a firm quote rather than a range.

Size and floor area are the obvious drivers. More square metres means more to walk, more to document, and a longer report. The number of separate occupancies or risk zones matters too — a building split between retail, office and storage takes longer than a single open plan floor.

The use of the building is the biggest swing factor. A care home or HMO Order 2005, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. It is not formal legal advice — for a definitive view on your premises, book a HawkSwift fire risk assessment.*

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Your duties under the RRO 2005

• Carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and keep it current (Art. 9, RRO 2005).
• Identify people at risk, including those who need assistance to evacuate.
• Put general fire precautions in place — detection, warning, escape routes, fighting equipment (Art. 11).
• Maintain those measures in efficient working order (Art. 17).
• Provide staff with fire-safety instruction and training (Art. 21).

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a written fire risk assessment? Yes, if you employ 5+ people, are a licensable or higher-risk premises, or the building is not a private home (Art. 9). How often should I review it? At least annually and immediately after any significant change. Can I do my own? Only if you are competent; many use a qualified NEBOSH-assessed assessor for a court-defensible report. Where do I start? Book a HawkSwift assessment — general guidance, not formal legal advice.

*General guidance, not formal legal advice — book a HawkSwift assessment for your premises.*