Fire Risk Assessment Template Free Download

• Purpose: Document fire hazards, ignition sources, fuel sources, occupants at risk, existing controls, and corrective actions.
• Core standards: Align the assessment with 29 CFR 1910.38, 29 CFR 1910.39, NFPA 1, NFPA 10, NFPA 25, NFPA 72, NFPA 101, and IBC Chapter 10.
• Evidence: Capture risk rating, photo references, responsible person, target date, and verification status for each finding.
• Best use: Treat the template as a site record, not a substitute for a fire marshal inspection, code consultant review, or authority having jurisdiction decision.

What a Fire Risk Assessment Template Should Include

A fire risk assessment template should help a competent assessor identify likely fire scenarios and the controls already in place. It should also produce an action log that managers can track after the walkthrough.

SERP gap statement: Many competing pages provide generic forms with no link between each section and enforceable fire-safety standards. This version connects the template fields to OSHA, NFPA, IBC, and inspection evidence so the report is easier to audit.

Regulatory References for the Template

Assessment section	Standard	What to record
Emergency action plan	29 CFR 1910.38	Alarm method, evacuation procedures, employee roles, and accounting method.
Fire prevention plan	29 CFR 1910.39	Major fire hazards, fuel controls, ignition controls, and responsible staff.
Exit route maintenance	29 CFR 1910.37	Exit access, exit discharge, lighting, signage, and obstruction status.
Portable fire extinguishers	29 CFR 1910.157 and NFPA 10	Type, location, inspection tag, access, pressure, and mounting height.
Sprinkler systems	29 CFR 1910.159 and NFPA 25	Valve status, inspection date, impairment status, and storage clearance.
Fire alarm systems	NFPA 72	Panel condition, trouble signals, test date, devices, and notification coverage.
Life safety and egress	NFPA 101	Occupant load, exit capacity, travel distance, and door hardware.
Fire code baseline	NFPA 1	Housekeeping, storage, hot work, ignition sources, and permits.
Building code egress	IBC Chapter 10	Means of egress width, number of exits, exit signs, and panic hardware.
Flammable liquids	29 CFR 1910.106 and NFPA 30	Cabinet use, container type, quantity, bonding, grounding, and separation.

Statistics That Support Fire Risk Assessment

NFPA reported that U.S. fire departments responded to 1,388,500 fires in 2023 and 42,412,500 total calls. USFA, using NFIRS and NFPA sources, reports 3,670 fire deaths, 13,350 fire injuries, and $23.2 billion in fire dollar loss in 2023.

USFA also reports that fires made up 3.9% of U.S. fire department responses in 2023, while false alarms made up 7.8%. A good assessment should therefore address both fire prevention and the reliability of alarms, detection, notification, and response procedures.

Template Fields to Use During the Walkthrough

1. Site and Occupancy Details

Record building name, address, occupancy type, normal occupant count, high-risk occupants, assessment date, assessor, and areas inspected. Include omitted areas, locked rooms, roof spaces, tenant spaces, or equipment rooms that could not be accessed.

2. Fire Hazards and Ignition Sources

List heat-producing equipment, electrical rooms, kitchen equipment, hot work areas, charging stations, combustible dust areas, and smoking locations. Map each hazard to a control, such as separation, maintenance, permit systems, ventilation, or housekeeping.

3. People at Risk

Identify employees, contractors, visitors, lone workers, sleeping occupants, disabled occupants, children, patients, and members of the public. The action plan should state how these groups receive warnings and reach a place of safety.

4. Existing Fire Protection Controls

Document extinguishers, sprinklers, fire alarms, smoke control, fire doors, emergency lighting, exit signage, fire blankets, fire watches, and suppression systems. For each system, include last service date, visible defects, impairment status, and photo ID.

5. Risk Rating and Action Plan

Use a simple Likelihood x Severity rating so managers can rank work. Each corrective action should include owner, due date, temporary control, final control, and verification signature.

Example Risk Assessment Table

Hazard	Existing control	Risk rating	Required action	Standard reference
Storage in exit corridor	Exit signs present, route partly blocked	High	Remove storage and mark route as no-storage	29 CFR 1910.37, NFPA 101
Extinguisher blocked by pallets	Annual tag current	Medium	Clear access and add floor marking	29 CFR 1910.157, NFPA 10
Sprinkler valve not supervised	Monthly visual checks only	High	Verify valve position and impairment process	NFPA 25, 29 CFR 1910.159
Flammable liquids on open shelf	Small quantities used daily	Medium	Move to approved cabinet and label contents	29 CFR 1910.106, NFPA 30
Fire alarm panel in trouble	Staff aware of audible chirp	High	Call service provider and start fire watch if required	NFPA 72

How InspectionReport.app Fits the Documentation Workflow

InspectionReport.app supports AI-assisted photo-to-report creation. Upload inspection photos, add site details and finding notes, let AI draft a structured report, review it, then export to PDF or Word.

For fire risk work, use photos to connect each hazard to a precise location. Keep the final approval with the assessor and any authority having jurisdiction requirements.

FAQ

What is the difference between a fire risk assessment and a fire safety audit?

A fire risk assessment identifies hazards, people at risk, controls, and corrective actions. A fire safety audit usually checks a site against a defined legal, insurer, or corporate standard and may be more formal.

Which standards should be listed in a fire risk assessment template?

Common references include 29 CFR 1910.38, 29 CFR 1910.39, 29 CFR 1910.37, 29 CFR 1910.157, NFPA 1, NFPA 10, NFPA 25, NFPA 72, NFPA 101, NFPA 30, and IBC Chapter 10.

How should risk ratings be documented?

Use a consistent scale for likelihood and severity. Record the reason for the rating, the temporary control, the final corrective action, the owner, and the closeout evidence.

Does a template prove compliance?

No. A template helps organize evidence and actions, but compliance depends on the applicable jurisdiction, building use, adopted code edition, system condition, and authority having jurisdiction.