Free Healthcare Fire Risk Assessment Template
Download a practical fire risk assessment template developed specifically for healthcare premises in England. It provides a structured framework for identifying fire hazards, considering people at risk, recording existing controls and producing a prioritised action plan.
Important: This template must be adapted to the individual premises and completed or reviewed by someone with suitable fire safety competence. It is not a completed fire risk assessment or a substitute for competent professional advice.
Developed by a former CQC inspector
Healthcare-specific framework
Word and PDF formats included
Designed with healthcare regulation, fire safety legislation and recognised national guidance in mind.
A Fire Risk Assessment Designed for Healthcare Premises
Healthcare premises present particular fire safety considerations. Patients may have limited mobility, sensory impairments, cognitive difficulties or clinical needs that affect how they respond during an emergency. Some services may also use oxygen, medical gases, hazardous substances, specialist equipment or complex evacuation arrangements.
This template helps the Responsible Person take a structured approach to assessing those risks and recording the significant findings.
Who is the template for?
• GP practices
• Dental practices
• Outpatient services
• Health centres
• Community healthcare premises
• Private clinics
• Diagnostic and treatment facilities
• Other healthcare settings
Larger hospitals, inpatient services, residential settings and premises using progressive horizontal evacuation are likely to require specialist fire safety input.
What Is Included?
Premises and Assessment Details
Record the premises, Responsible Person, assessor, assessment date and review arrangements.
People at Risk
Consider patients, staff, contractors, visitors, lone workers and anyone who may need assistance.
Fire Hazards and Controls
Assess ignition sources, combustible materials, oxygen, medical gases, hazardous substances and electrical equipment.
Fire Protection Measures
Review detection, alarms, escape routes, fire doors, emergency lighting, signage and firefighting equipment.
Healthcare Evacuation
Consider patient dependency, personal emergency evacuation arrangements, staff assistance and evacuation strategy.
Staff Training
Record induction, refresher training, fire drills, fire warden training and role-specific instruction.
Risk Rating
Use a structured likelihood and consequence matrix based on the approach described in HTM 05-03 Part K.
Action Plan
Record required improvements, priorities, responsible persons, target dates and completion evidence.
Review Record
Document periodic reviews and changes affecting the assessment.
Fire Safety Training for Healthcare Staff
Fire safety arrangements are only effective when staff understand their responsibilities and can respond appropriately. Training should reflect the premises, the people using the service and each employee’s role.
- Fire safety instruction during staff induction
- Action to take on discovering a fire
- How to raise the alarm and contact the fire and rescue service
- Understanding local escape routes and assembly points
- Assisting patients and visitors during an evacuation
- Use of evacuation aids, where applicable
- The risks associated with oxygen and medical gases
- Fire door awareness
- Fire warden or fire marshal responsibilities
- Personal emergency evacuation arrangements
- Regular refresher training
- Practical fire drills and documented learning
- Additional training following significant changes or identified weaknesses
Training frequency and content must be determined by the findings of the fire risk assessment. Attendance, competency and fire drill outcomes should be recorded.
Legislation and Guidance Considered
The template has been structured with reference to relevant legislation and national guidance, including:
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as amended
The Fire Safety Act 2021, where applicable
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, where applicable
The Building Safety Act 2022 fire safety amendments
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
The Equality Act 2010
CQC Regulations 12, 15, 17 and 18
The HSE risk assessment framework supports the general approach to identifying hazards, assessing risk, implementing controls, recording findings and reviewing arrangements. Fire-specific decisions should also take account of the Fire Safety Order, the Home Office healthcare premises guide and relevant Firecode guidance. The legislation and guidance applicable to an individual service will depend on its activities, building, occupancy, fire strategy and contractual arrangements.
When Should You Seek Specialist Fire Safety Advice?
Professional advice should be considered where the following apply:
- The premises provide inpatient, residential or overnight care
- Patients may be unable to evacuate independently
- Progressive horizontal evacuation is used
- The building has several floors, complex escape routes or unusual construction
- There is sleeping accommodation
- Oxygen, medical gases or significant quantities of hazardous substances are stored
- The building contains engineered fire safety systems
- Fire doors, compartmentation or evacuation arrangements are uncertain
- Major refurbishment or a change of use is planned
- Previous assessments have identified serious or unresolved concerns
- The Responsible Person is unsure whether they have the necessary competence
If there is doubt about the adequacy of the assessment, obtain competent specialist advice.
Download the Free Healthcare Fire Risk Assessment Template
Choose the editable Word version to complete the assessment electronically, or download the PDF version for reference and printing.
Please read the competence and responsibility notice before using the template. The document must be adapted to the individual premises and completed by a person with suitable fire safety competence.
Related Fire Safety and Compliance Resources
Need Help With Healthcare Compliance?
CQC Consultancy provides practical compliance support informed by more than 12 years of regulatory experience, including experience as a CQC inspector. We help healthcare providers strengthen governance, identify gaps and prepare clear improvement plans. We do not present the downloadable template as a substitute for a competent professional fire risk assessment.
Important: Competence and Responsibility
This document is a template and does not constitute a completed fire risk assessment, legal advice or certification that any premises are safe or compliant.
The Responsible Person remains legally accountable for ensuring that a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is completed, implemented, maintained and reviewed.
The person completing or reviewing the assessment must be competent and appropriately trained, with sufficient knowledge, experience and understanding of fire safety, the premises, its occupants and the healthcare activities undertaken.
Where the premises, evacuation arrangements, building construction, patient dependency or fire safety systems are complex, advice should be obtained from a suitably competent fire risk assessor or fire safety professional.
Downloading or completing this template does not transfer the Responsible Person’s legal duties to CQC Consultancy.