In short: section 53 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 requires every employer to assess the fire risk to their employees, and section 54 extends similar duties to anyone with control of the premises, covering everyone else who uses them. If you employ five or more people or hold a licence, the significant findings must be recorded. Since July 2023, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will not attend automatic fire alarm calls at most workplaces unless a fire is confirmed, so your procedures need to cover what happens when the alarm sounds.
Who has duties in a workplace
Scottish fire law places duties on more than one person. In a typical commercial building they can include:
The employer
Must ensure the fire safety of employees, so far as is reasonably practicable, under section 53.
Anyone with control
The owner, tenant, landlord or managing agent, to the extent of their control, must ensure the safety of other relevant persons under section 54.
Shared buildings
Where premises are shared, duty holders must co-operate and co-ordinate their fire safety measures.
Employees
Must take reasonable care and co-operate with the employer's fire safety arrangements.
The automatic fire alarm change
From 1 July 2023, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service stopped attending automatic fire alarm calls from commercial business and workplace premises, such as factories, offices, shops and leisure facilities, unless a fire has been confirmed. Premises with sleeping accommodation, including hospitals, care homes, hotels, student accommodation and homes, continue to receive an emergency response.
This puts more weight on your own procedures. A good fire risk assessment now checks that you have:
A safe investigation procedure
Who checks the alarm panel, how they do it safely, and how long they have before the building is evacuated.
A clear 999 decision
Who calls the fire service, and when, if there are signs of fire.
Fewer false alarms
Detector types and positions that suit the area, so cooking fumes, steam and dust do not set off the system.
Insurer and alarm receiving centre
Arrangements reviewed with your insurer and your alarm monitoring company in light of the change.
What we assess in commercial premises
Commercial assessments follow PAS 79-1:2020, the British Standards Institution code of practice for fire risk assessment of premises other than housing, and the Scottish Government's Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Existing Non-residential Premises.
| Premises | Particular focus |
|---|---|
| Offices | Escape from upper floors, travel distances, server and plant rooms, kitchenettes, and evacuation of visitors and people with limited mobility. |
| Shops and retail | Stock storage against exits, back-of-house routes, public numbers at peak times, and staff training. |
| Industrial and warehouses | Processes, dangerous substances, battery charging, waste, hot work, high-bay storage and large open floor areas. |
| Pubs, restaurants and cafés | Commercial kitchens, grease in extract ducting, cellars, late-night occupancy and alcohol licensing. |
| Gyms, halls and churches | Variable occupancy, events, volunteers running the building and older buildings with limited protection. |
| Mixed-use buildings | Shops or offices below flats, shared escape routes and co-ordination between different duty holders. |
Records the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service may ask for
Regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 requires arrangements for planning, organising, controlling, monitoring and reviewing fire safety measures, and these must be recorded where you have five or more employees or need a licence. The report lists what you should hold, which usually includes:
Fire alarm log
Weekly tests, servicing and false alarms.
Emergency lighting log
Monthly function tests and annual duration tests.
Equipment servicing
Annual servicing of extinguishers and other firefighting equipment.
Training and drills
Staff fire safety training and regular evacuation drills.
Frequently asked questions
Is a fire risk assessment a legal requirement for a business in Scotland?
Yes. Every employer must assess the fire risk to employees under section 53 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, and anyone with control of non-domestic premises must assess the risk to others under section 54. This applies whatever the size of the business.
I only have two employees. Do I need a written assessment?
You still need an assessment. Recording the significant findings is a legal requirement where you have five or more employees, need a licence or registration, or have an alterations notice requiring it. Below that, a written record is still strongly advisable, because it is how you show an enforcement officer or insurer what you have done.
Will the fire service still come if our alarm goes off?
For most workplaces without sleeping accommodation, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will not attend an automatic fire alarm unless there is a confirmed fire or signs of fire. You must call 999 if you see fire or smoke. Hotels, care homes, hospitals and other premises where people sleep still receive an emergency response.
How much does a commercial fire risk assessment cost?
From £225 + VAT for a small office, shop or unit. Larger, multi-storey or higher-risk premises, such as industrial sites or licensed venues, are quoted individually after we know the floor area and layout.
We lease part of a building. Whose job is the fire risk assessment?
Usually both. As employer and occupier you are responsible for your own area and your staff. The landlord or managing agent is normally responsible for common parts such as shared stairs, entrances and the fire alarm. The duty holders must co-operate, and the lease often sets out who does what.
Sources
- Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, Part 3, legislation.gov.uk
- Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, legislation.gov.uk
- Unwanted fire alarm signals (UFAS), Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
- 100 days until firefighters change response to unwanted fire alarms for workplaces, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
- Practical fire safety guidance for existing non-residential premises, Scottish Government
Written and reviewed by Raj Chall BSc, lead fire risk assessor at Fire Risk Scotland, listed on the Institution of Fire Engineers fire risk assessor register. Last reviewed 12 November 2026. This page is general guidance, not legal advice.