“The latest fire prevention and protection statistics released by the UK government for the year ending March 2025 reveal some promising shifts in fire safety across England. It was found that eight out of the 10 most frequently breached provisions saw decreases in occurrence, compared to the previous year.
While this a significant move in the right direction, it also highlights the diligence needed to return to pre-pandemic levels and ensure fire risk is removed as far as is reasonably practicable in non-domestic premises. All 10 of the most frequently breached provisions saw increases of occurrence ranging from 16% to 95% compared to the year ending March 2020.
‘Emergency routes and exits’, ‘maintenance’, and ‘risk assessments’ were found to be the three most frequently breached areas of compliance. It is critical that allocated responsible persons ensure fire detection and firefighting equipment is adequately installed, fit for purpose, and regularly serviced according to regulations. It is also essential to engage in ongoing risk assessments and develop a clear emergency plan that can be easily followed in the event of a fire. This means identifying hazards, evaluating risks, taking steps to remove or reduce them, recording findings, and providing adequate emergency exits for all premises. It is important for these steps to be considered to help the country to return safety standards back to pre-pandemic levels.
At CheckFire, we are committed to leveraging data-driven insights, such as these statistics, to continue to improve fire safety innovation and provide support for comprehensive risk management strategies. By doing so, as well as encouraging collaboration across the sector, we can continue to take steps to improve fire safety for communities in England and across the UK.”
Bruce Robins – director, CheckFire
About the Author
CheckFire
With 50 years of experience in the fire industry, CheckFire delivers innovative products and trusted expertise in fire safety and protection. From our early days in a family garage in 1975 to becoming a leading UK fire trade supplier, we’ve celebrated many milestones and continue to grow and innovate.
