Fire Risk Assessments in Oxford
Chilman Fire & Security provides fully compliant fire risk assessments for businesses, landlords and property managers across Oxford and Oxfordshire. Our BAFE-accredited assessors deliver PAS 79-compliant fire risk assessment reports for commercial premises, Houses in Multiple Occupation, student accommodation and residential blocks, including the Type 1 through Type 4 assessments required by Oxford City Council’s updated Additional Licensing Scheme.
We are based in Kidlington, just off the A4260, which means rapid local site attendance, plain-English written reports, and ongoing review support across the city and the surrounding science parks.
Accredited Fire Risk Assessment Specialists in Oxford
Providing Fire and Security Services Throughout the South of England
Oxford Address
Oxford Office: Unit 7, Glenmore Business Park, Langford Locks, Kidlington, OX5 1GL
Phone: 01869 252 600
Bristol Address
Bristol Office: Westway Farm, Bishop Sutton, Bristol. BS39 5XP
Phone: 01275 333 336
London Address
London Office: 3.17 Chester House, 1-3 Brixton Rd, London, SW9 6DE
Phone: 020 8057 8611
Accredited Fire Risk Assessment Specialists in Oxfordshire
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, every non-domestic premises in England, and the common parts of every HMO, must have a current, suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.
Where five or more people are employed, that assessment must be recorded in writing. Chilman’s fire risk assessors are BAFE-registered, with backgrounds in fire engineering, building control and operational fire and rescue.
The reports we produce are accepted by insurers, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Oxford City Council’s Private Sector Housing team, and, in the event of any enforcement action, the courts.
Case Studies
Fire and Security Fit Out
A fire and security office fit out including fire alarm installation, CCTV, access control and disabled refuge modifications.
Historic Site Fire and PAVA Servicing
Fire alarm and PAVA servicing at the Imperial War Museum, Churchill War Rooms and HMS Belfast. Open protocol equipment was installed and we interlinked the fire alarm and PAVA system.
Contact Us to Talk to a Fire Risk Assessment Specialist
The Fire Risk Assessment Process for Oxfordshire
Site Survey & Walkthrough
A qualified assessor attends the property and walks the full premises with the duty holder, capturing the building’s construction, use class, occupancy patterns and existing fire safety provisions. We photograph and document everything that informs the report.
Hazard Identification
We catalogue all credible ignition sources, combustible materials, and any work activities or storage arrangements that could increase fire risk. For Oxford HMOs this includes shared kitchens, escape route obstructions, bedroom door integrity and gas safety adjacencies.
Risk Evaluation
We evaluate the likelihood and consequence of fire for the people in and around the premises, staff, visitors, tenants, and any vulnerable occupants and compare existing controls against current standards and codes of practice.
Written Report & Plan
You receive a written fire risk assessment report typically within 7 working days, structured for use by your insurer, the local fire authority, and Oxford City Council. Each remedial action is prioritised by severity (Trivial, Tolerable, Moderate, Substantial, Intolerable) and has a recommended timeframe for completion.
Review & Compliance
Fire risk assessments are required to be reviewed regularly and after any significant change — a change of use, alteration, refit, or incident. We offer scheduled annual or biennial review visits and rapid revisit support when premises, occupancy or layout changes occur.
Our Fire Risk Assessment Service for Oxford Properties
Fire Risk Assessment Specialists
A fire risk assessment is more than a tick-box document. Done properly it identifies the realistic ignition sources, the people at risk, and the structural and procedural controls already in place — then sets out a prioritised plan of remedial actions. We deliver fire risk assessment services tailored to the building type and the duty holder’s legal responsibilities.
PAS 79-Compliant Assessments
PAS 79 is the publicly available specification that defines best practice for fire risk assessment methodology in commercial premises. Every Chilman fire risk assessment in Oxford follows the PAS 79 framework; characterisation of the premises, identification of hazards and people at risk, evaluation of existing controls, decision on additional measures, and a documented action plan with review dates. PAS 79 compliance is what most insurers and the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service look for when reviewing an assessment.
Type 1 to Type 4 Assessments Explained
For purpose-built flats, HMOs and residential blocks, fire risk assessments are categorised by scope:
Type 1: Non-destructive inspection of common parts only. The most common baseline for Oxford HMOs and residential blocks.
Type 2: Type 1 plus limited destructive sampling to check fire compartmentation where concerns exist.
Type 3: Common parts plus a sample of individual flats or HMO rooms, non-destructive.
Type 4: Common parts plus dwellings, with destructive inspection. Typically commissioned after a serious incident or where prior compartmentation cannot be evidenced.
Most Oxford HMO landlords require a Type 1 or Type 3 assessment. We will advise on the right scope during your initial enquiry, based on your building, occupancy and licence requirements.
Action Plans and Remediation Support
Every Chilman fire risk assessment ends with a prioritised action plan, scored by severity. Where remediation is required, fire alarm upgrades, emergency lighting, fire door repairs, compartmentation works, we coordinate the works through our in-house BAFE-accredited installation teams or supervise third-party contractors on your behalf. The result is a single, traceable trail from risk identification to compliant completion, which is exactly what insurers and the local fire authority expect to see.
Why Oxford Businesses and Landlords Choose Chilman
Our position as a BAFE-accredited, locally-based fire and security contractor means our fire risk assessments translate directly into compliant remedial works, we are accountable for both the inspection and the fix, which removes the disconnect that often arises when an independent assessor and an installation contractor are working in isolation.
Key reasons Oxford clients choose us:
BAFE-registered fire risk assessors with operational fire service background
Detailed local knowledge of Oxford City Council’s Additional Licensing Scheme requirement
Single accountable supplier for assessment, remediation and ongoing maintenance
Same-day site attendance available for urgent compliance situations
Transparent fixed-fee assessments with no hidden remediation upsell pressure
Oxford HMO Fire Risk Assessments: June 2026 Additional Licensing Scheme
Oxford City Council’s Additional Licensing Scheme for HMOs was updated in June 2026 to expand the licensing net. Houses occupied by three or more people in two or more separate households are now caught by the scheme, in addition to the larger HMOs covered by mandatory licensing. To obtain or renew an Additional Licence, the duty holder must demonstrate that a written fire risk assessment is in place and that the property’s fire detection complies with BS 5839-6.
Chilman has assessed and certified hundreds of HMOs across the OX1, OX2, OX3 and OX4 postcodes since the scheme was first introduced and is one of the most experienced fire risk assessment companies in Oxford for HMO-specific work. We produce reports that align directly with the documentation Oxford City Council requests at licence application and renewal, including evidence of remediation closeout where corrective works have been required.
Book a Fire Risk Assessment for Your Oxford Property
To arrange a fire risk assessment for an Oxford commercial premises, HMO or residential block, contact our local Kidlington team directly. We respond to assessment enquiries within 4 business hours and can typically attend site within 3–7 working days.
Chilman Fire & Security — Oxford Office
Unit 7, Glenmore Business Park
Langford Locks
Kidlington, OX5 1GL
Tel: 01869 252 600
Fire Risk Assessments in Oxford: Frequently Asked Questions
Is a fire risk assessment a legal requirement in Oxford?
Yes. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 makes a written fire risk assessment a legal requirement for every non-domestic premises in England, including offices, retail, hospitality, industrial sites, and the common parts of all HMOs and residential blocks. Where five or more people are employed at the premises, the assessment must be recorded in writing. Failure to hold a current, suitable and sufficient assessment can result in enforcement action from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, unlimited fines, and in severe cases, custodial sentences for duty holders.
What is the Oxford June 2026 Additional Licensing Scheme?
Oxford City Council’s Additional Licensing Scheme is a local licensing regime for HMOs that sits alongside the national mandatory HMO licensing requirement. The June 2026 update widened the scheme so that HMOs occupied by three or more people from two or more households now require an Additional Licence — not just the five-plus-occupant properties covered by the mandatory scheme. To obtain or renew an Additional Licence, the landlord must provide a current fire risk assessment and demonstrate that fire detection complies with BS 5839-6. Chilman produces fire risk assessments and BS 5839-6 fire detection certification specifically aligned with what the Council requests at application and renewal.
How long does a fire risk assessment take?
The on-site survey typically takes between 1.5 and 4 hours, depending on the size and complexity of the premises. For a standard small Oxford HMO or single-tenancy office the survey is usually under 2 hours. Following the survey we deliver the written report within 7 working days. Expedited turnaround (48 hours) is available for urgent compliance situations — e.g. a licence renewal deadline.
What is the difference between Type 1, 2, 3 and 4 fire risk assessments?
Types describe the scope of inspection for residential and HMO assessments. Type 1 is non-destructive and covers common parts only, the most common starting point for HMOs and blocks. Type 2 adds limited destructive sampling. Type 3 covers common parts plus a sample of individual flats or rooms, non-destructive. Type 4 is the most thorough: common parts plus dwellings, with destructive inspection, typically commissioned after a serious incident or where compartmentation cannot otherwise be evidenced. Our assessor will recommend the right Type during your enquiry based on your building and any compliance triggers.
How often should I update my fire risk assessment?
There is no fixed legal interval, but best practice and most insurer policies require an annual review at minimum. You must also review the assessment after any significant change, a layout alteration, refit, change of use, change in occupancy, near-miss or incident. Chilman offers scheduled annual or biennial review visits to keep your documentation current without you having to track the date.
Do you assess Oxford university student accommodation and HMOs?
Yes. Student accommodation and HMOs are a substantial part of our Oxford fire risk assessment workload. We work with private student landlords, university-affiliated lettings agencies, and purpose-built student accommodation operators. We are familiar with the specific risk profile of multi-occupancy student housing, shared kitchens, escape route management, fire door integrity, and seasonal occupancy variation and our reports are structured to align with both Oxford City Council’s Additional Licensing Scheme and any relevant university accommodation standards.
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