- TYPE 1Common partsNon-destructive. The normal starting point.
- TYPE 2Common partsDestructive. Ceilings and risers opened up.
- TYPE 3Common parts and flatsNon-destructive, in a sample of flats.
- TYPE 4Common parts and flatsDestructive in both. The most thorough.
- Inspected without opening anything up
- Opened up: destructive inspection
Need an assessment? Veritas carries out fire risk assessments and destructive compartmentation surveys. Fire Risk Assessment
How do the four types of fire risk assessment compare?
The types come from the Local Government Association guide Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats. They differ in two ways: whether the assessment goes inside the flats, and whether anything is opened up.
| Type | Area | Method | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Common parts | Non-destructive | The normal starting point for most blocks |
| Type 2 | Common parts | Destructive | Doubts about hidden compartmentation in the common parts |
| Type 3 | Common parts and flats | Non-destructive | Concerns about flat layouts, escape routes or detection inside flats |
| Type 4 | Common parts and flats | Destructive | Serious concerns about the building's construction, often after a Type 3 |
What is a Type 1 fire risk assessment?
A Type 1 assessment inspects the common parts, such as entrance halls, corridors, stairs and plant rooms, without opening up the structure. It also looks at flat entrance doors from the common side. The LGA guide says a Type 1 is normally sufficient for most purpose-built blocks.
What is a Type 2 fire risk assessment?
A Type 2 assessment covers the same common parts but includes destructive inspection: lifting ceiling tiles, opening risers and removing samples of fire stopping to confirm compartmentation. In practice the destructive part is a fire compartmentation survey, which inspects compartment walls, floors and fire stopping against their fire test evidence.
What is a Type 3 fire risk assessment?
A Type 3 assessment adds a non-destructive look inside a sample of flats, checking the escape route within each flat, smoke detection and the flat entrance door from inside. It goes beyond what the Fire Safety Order requires and needs residents to give access.
What is a Type 4 fire risk assessment?
A Type 4 assessment is destructive in both the common parts and a sample of flats. It is the most thorough and the most disruptive, and is normally reserved for buildings where a Type 3 or other evidence points to serious construction defects.
Which type of fire risk assessment do you need?
Start with a Type 1 unless there is a reason not to. Move to a Type 2 when there is reason to suspect serious defects in compartmentation that a Type 1 cannot confirm, for example after works that may have breached compartment walls or floors. That matters most where the building relies on a Stay Put Policy. Types 3 and 4 follow specific concerns about the flats themselves. Fire doors raised in any type are assessed in a fire door inspection.
What is PAS 79?
PAS 79 is the British Standards Institution's published method for fire risk assessment. Since 2020 it comes in two parts: PAS 79-1 for non-domestic premises and PAS 79-2 for housing, including blocks of flats. It sets out the steps an assessor follows and what the written record should contain. More on who must arrange the assessment: Who Is Responsible for a Fire Risk Assessment?