Fire Risk Assessment for Care Homes

A compliant assessment must consider the specific human element of the building. Unlike a standard office, a care home requires a person-centred approach.

1. Resident Vulnerability and Autonomy Each resident has different needs. Your assessment must account for mobility limitations and conditions such as dementia. A significant challenge involves residents who value their independence but become anxious or disoriented during alarms. In these cases, staff must balance respecting autonomy with providing calm, discreet physical guidance. This ensures a safe evacuation without causing unnecessary distress.
2. Staffing Levels and Night-Shift Realities Staff are critical in an emergency. However, the greatest difficulty in a Progressive Horizontal Evacuation (PHE) is often the lack of available personnel, particularly at night. The assessment must evaluate whether your current staffing levels can realistically move mobile but mentally impaired residents to safety during a crisis.
3. Hidden Fire Risks in Bedrooms While kitchens and laundries are obvious hazards, “invisible” risks often exist in private rooms. A common issue we find is residents using their own old, non-PAT tested heaters. These devices are frequently brought in from home and can pose a severe fire risk if they are faulty or placed near bedding.