PAS 79 — the fire risk assessment methodology

What PAS 79 is

PAS 79 is a Publicly Available Specification published by BSI that sets out a recognised methodology for carrying out a fire risk assessment under the RRO 2005. It's not a legal requirement to use it, but it's the methodology the Fire & Rescue Service inspectors and most insurers expect to see.

PAS 79-1 vs PAS 79-2

• PAS 79-1:2020 — covers non-domestic premises. Offices, retail, factories, schools, care homes, hotels.
• PAS 79-2:2020 — covers housing and the common parts of residential blocks. Designed specifically to work alongside the RRO 2005 and the Fire Safety Act 2021.

The nine-step methodology

1. Obtain information about the premises and the relevant persons
2. Identify fire hazards
3. Assess the likelihood of fire
4. Determine the fire protection measures in the building
5. Obtain information about fire safety management
6. Make an assessment of the likely consequences to people in the event of fire
7. Make an assessment of the fire risk and decide if it's tolerable
8. Formulate and document an action plan
9. Define the date for review

The report template

PAS 79 also defines a recommended report structure — premises details, occupancy profile, fire safety management, identified hazards, existing fire protection, evaluation of risk, action plan and review date. Following this structure makes the assessment auditable and means any future assessor can pick up where the last one left off.

What "competent person" means

PAS 79 doesn't define competency itself but cross-refers to the relevant industry frameworks — third-party certification schemes (BAFE SP205, IFSM, IFE registration), demonstrable training, ongoing CPD and professional indemnity insurance. The Responsible Person under the RRO 2005 carries the duty to appoint a competent assessor — getting that decision wrong is itself an offence.