Case Study
Commercial Warehouse & Office Fire Risk Assessment
Fire risk assessment for a small commercial warehouse, workshop and office premises with external yard, storage and mixed staff access arrangements.
Summary
Fire Check Scotland completed a fire risk assessment for a commercial premises used by a grounds-maintenance / gardening business. The building included office accommodation, reception, welfare areas, a warehouse / workshop space, external yard areas and a separate fuel / storage area requiring further assessment.
The client needed a clear assessment that separated low-risk office matters from higher-priority warehouse, escape-route, storage, extinguisher and management issues.
The Premises
- Single-storey commercial warehouse and office building.
- Reception, offices, conference room, tea room / kitchen and toilets.
- Warehouse / workshop area with tools, equipment, oils and machinery-related storage.
- External yard / car park and secure perimeter.
- Separate fuel / storage area requiring further review.
- No sleeping accommodation.
- Low office occupancy, with occasional visitors and one independent temporary office user / keyholder.
Why This Project Was More Complex
The premises was not a high-occupancy public building, but it had a mixed risk profile. Office accommodation had short travel distances and low fire loading, while the warehouse had equipment, oils, workshop activity, external storage, visual alarm considerations, extinguisher gaps and escape arrangements dependent on front-yard / gate management.
The assessment therefore had to look beyond the office area and test whether the warehouse, external yard, storage and keyholder arrangements were being managed safely in practice.
Key Technical Themes
- Confirming that escape through the external yard and front gate was available without delay during occupation.
- Reviewing lockable final exits and out-of-hours escape arrangements for authorised users.
- Fire alarm testing, maintenance evidence and visual warning arrangements in the warehouse.
- Fire action notices, emergency information and layout information for staff, visitors and attending firefighters.
- Lack of observed fire extinguishers in office and warehouse areas.
- Need for suitable extinguishers near electrical and workshop risks.
- Oil, equipment and combustible storage management within the warehouse.
- Separate fuel / storage area requiring assessment.
- External combustible storage control.
- Temporary office user / keyholder briefing.
- Emergency lighting and electrical inspection evidence.
- Nominated fire safety responsibility, weekly testing and routine records.
Fire Check Scotland Approach
The assessment treated the premises as a working commercial operation rather than a generic office. It recorded positive features where present, including short office travel distances, visible detection, maintained routes and generally good housekeeping, while still identifying evidence gaps and practical controls requiring action.
The action plan helped the client prioritise escape-route and gate confirmation; extinguisher provision; warehouse and fuel-storage review; alarm and emergency lighting records; emergency information and fire action notices; warehouse visual warning confirmation; keyholder / temporary occupier briefing; and routine fire safety management and testing records.
Outcome
The client received a practical fire risk assessment and action plan for a mixed-use commercial premises. The output clarified which points were immediate life-safety matters, which were evidence gaps, and which were ongoing management controls.
The value for the client was a proportionate route to compliance: not overcomplicating a small premises, but still addressing the real risks created by workshop activity, storage, extinguishers, escape-gate control and management records.
Relevance to Similar Clients
This experience is relevant to small warehouses, trade units, workshop / office premises, light-industrial businesses, grounds-maintenance operators and commercial units with external yards or mixed staff access arrangements.