Fire risk assessments in Rickmansworth

What is the building stock in Rickmansworth?

Rickmansworth is where the Colne, Chess and Gade meet, and the Grand Union Canal runs alongside. It is a London-fringe town on the Metropolitan line, so a lot of its buildings are shaped by commuting: offices, restaurants, pubs and shops in the centre, newer blocks of flats near the station and the waterways, and streets of inter-war and Victorian houses around them.

WD3 reaches out to Chorleywood, Croxley Green, Loudwater, Mill End, Maple Cross and Sarratt.

How tall is your building, and why does it matter?

Many of the blocks of flats built in and around the town are several storeys tall. Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, the duties on a responsible person grow with the height of a residential building, from resident information at any height to regular door checks and further measures in taller ones. Check the government's guidance on the 2022 Regulations for the thresholds and tell the assessor how tall your block is.

The structure, external walls and flat entrance doors of such buildings also fall under the Fire Safety Act 2021.

What about offices and business parks?

Offices rarely look risky, but a fire risk assessment still has a lot to cover: server and comms rooms, kitchenettes, storage in corridors, open-plan layouts that have outgrown their escape routes and multi-tenant floors where nobody is quite sure who is in charge of the stairs. Business units at places such as Maple Cross tend to add stock, racking and charging equipment to the picture. If several firms share a floor, agree in writing which of you tests the alarm, keeps the escape routes clear and briefs visitors, and keep a copy with each assessment.

Do restaurants and pubs need a different approach?

Yes. Cooking, extraction and late opening hours change the risk, and customers who do not know the building need clear signs and short routes out. Like every other premises, they must keep the full assessment in writing, and a licensed venue can expect it to be checked. Staff who work late should know how to raise the alarm and check the toilets and back rooms before they leave.

Who handles shared houses and licences here?

Three Rivers District Council is the local housing authority for Rickmansworth. A landlord of a shared house should ask it about licensing, while the shared areas are covered by the Fire Safety Order.

How does an enquiry from Rickmansworth work?

You complete a single form.