Fire Safety

Concerned about fire safety? Whether you are a buyer, tenant/occupier, or a building manager, getting a survey will help you make a more informed decision on whether to purchase a property, whether to ask the right questions about how the property is managed, what issues there might be, and whether you should take further advice.

Many RICS members and companies specialise in providing a level of service best suited to the circumstances of a property. For fire safety, this is a specialist area and normally only offered by certain types of surveyor who are competent in understanding fire science, passive and active fire measures, and all the building regulations and legislation that may apply.

If you are intending to buy a residential property, you have a choice of services as explained in the RICS Consumer Guide: Home Surveys. You should make sure you fully understand the different options, and if not you can ask your lender, broker, legal adviser, or a surveyor. This will enable you to be absolutely clear what level of service will best suit you, especially if you are concerned about fire safety, and put you in a position to agree an instruction at the right time.

Feel free to ask your surveyor for their professional advice about what kind of survey you need. They may ask you for some basic information about the property, such as location, age, documentation etc. You can also start by asking your surveyor the following questions:

1. What kind of surveys does the surveyor offer? Not all surveyors offer every survey, so you should make sure you choose someone who offers the survey you need. For example, Fire Risk Assessments are required for most properties, including existing blocks of flats. The main exception is single domestic houses.
2. Has the surveyor got the experience, local and technical knowledge to deliver the service to you as recommended? If not can they recommend another one that can help, especially if the property has unusual features.
3. Will the surveyor give you a quote for the service recommended and an outline of what it will or won’t include in terms of pre-inspection research, inspection, report format and delivery? Remember the cheapest quote is not always the best. Ensure as much as possible that you get value for your money. 
4. How much notice will the surveyor need in order to proceed with the survey? Many surveyors are very busy and may find it difficult to proceed with an instruction at short notice, especially in relation to fire safety when pre-visit research of the building documentation may be required. It's best if you have some dates in mind for when you would like to commence the work.
5. Will the surveyor discuss their findings during or post inspection, or after delivery of the report? Some surveyors will help you to interpret their findings and better understand the report, and guide you if further specialists reports are required, such as sprinkler or fire alarm engineers.