Fire Risk Assessment for Communal Areas & Blocks of Flats
Professional Fire Risk Assessments for Communal Areas and Blocks of Flats Across South Wales
Helping Freeholders, Managing Agents and Residents’ Management Companies Stay Compliant, Legal & Protected
Fire Risk Assessments for Communal Areas in South Wales
FireBugged provides professional fire risk assessments for the communal areas of blocks of flats and converted residential buildings across South Wales. If you are the freeholder, managing agent or a residents’ management company responsible for a building containing two or more flats, you have a legal duty to make sure the shared parts of that building are covered by a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.
Led by Paul Williams, a Level 4 qualified Fire Risk Assessor with over 26 years’ experience, we work with freeholders, managing agents and property management companies across Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Bridgend, Pontypridd and the wider South Wales region to keep their buildings compliant, properly assessed and safe for residents. Every assessment is carried out personally by Paul, with a full written report issued within 48 hours.
Are Fire Risk Assessments a Legal Requirement for Blocks of Flats?
Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person for a building containing two or more sets of domestic premises must ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out for the common parts. The individual flats themselves are not covered by the Order, but the shared areas are: entrance halls, staircases, landings, corridors, plant rooms, bin stores and other communal spaces.
The Fire Safety Act 2021 confirmed that the structure of the building, its external walls (including cladding, balconies and windows) and the flat entrance doors that open onto common parts all fall within the scope of the assessment. Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 went further, requiring responsible persons to record their fire risk assessment in full, share fire safety information with residents, and cooperate with any other responsible persons for the same building.
In Wales, these duties are enforced by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, which inspects residential buildings on a risk basis and can issue enforcement or prohibition notices where fire safety is not being properly managed. A newer regime, introduced by the Building Safety (Wales) Act 2026, is now being phased in for larger residential buildings of at least 11 metres or five storeys. Most blocks of flats and their communal areas continue to fall under the Fire Safety Order, and a current, competent assessment remains the clearest way to demonstrate compliance to your insurer, your residents and the fire service.
What Does a Communal Area Fire Risk Assessment Cover?
A FireBugged communal area assessment focuses on the shared parts of the building and the fire safety arrangements that protect every resident. It will cover:
- Escape routes: communal hallways, staircases, landings and final exits checked for obstructions, condition and suitability
- Fire doors: flat entrance doors and communal fire doors checked for correct installation, self-closing, intact seals and condition
- Compartmentation: assessing whether fire and smoke can spread between flats, floors and communal areas
- Fire detection and alarm systems: assessing the type, coverage and condition of detection serving the communal areas
- Emergency lighting: checking that escape routes stay lit in the event of a power failure
- Fire safety signage: exit signs, fire action notices and the building’s stated evacuation strategy
- External walls, cladding and balconies: reviewed in line with the Fire Safety Act 2021
- Evacuation strategy: reviewing whether a “stay put” or simultaneous evacuation approach remains appropriate for the building
- Storage and ignition hazards: identifying combustible items, mobility scooters, bin stores and electrical risks in communal areas
- Photographic evidence of all findings
- A written report with prioritised recommendations and clear timescales for remedial action
What Type of Residential Buildings Do We Assess?
We carry out communal area fire risk assessments for all types of residential building across South Wales, including:
- Purpose-built blocks of flats
- Houses and larger properties converted into flats
- Mixed-use buildings with flats above commercial units
- Sheltered and retirement housing communal areas
- Small blocks with only two or three flats
- Managed residential estates with shared facilities
Who Is Responsible for the Fire Risk Assessment?
For a block of flats, the responsible person is usually the freeholder, the managing agent acting on their behalf, or the residents’ management company or right-to-manage company that controls the common parts. Where more than one party has control of different parts of the building, the law requires them to cooperate and share fire safety information. If you are not sure whether the duty falls to you, Paul can help you establish your responsibilities before the assessment begins.
How Often Should a Communal Area Fire Risk Assessment Be Reviewed?
Communal area fire risk assessments should be reviewed regularly, as a minimum annually, and sooner whenever something changes that could affect the fire risk. This includes:
- Refurbishment, redecoration or building works to communal areas
- Changes to the external walls, cladding or balconies
- Replacement of fire doors, alarms or emergency lighting
- A change of managing agent or responsible person
- Any fire, near-miss or complaint raised by residents or the fire service
Areas We Cover
We provide communal area and block of flats fire risk assessments across South Wales, including:
- Cardiff
- Newport
- Swansea
- Bridgend
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Pontypridd
- The South Wales Valleys and surrounding areas
Need a fire risk assessment for your block of flats or communal areas? Get in touch today for a fast, professional response and no-obligation quote.
FireBugged provides communal area and block of flats fire risk assessments across South Wales. Get in touch to discuss your requirements or request a quote.