Fire risk assessments in Bungay

Bungay is a short drive from Steve’s base at Spexhall, and its historic centre brings fire safety questions of its own.

Fire risk assessments in Bungay

Bungay was almost destroyed by a great fire in 1688, and its centre is still a close-knit mix of older buildings, many of them shops with homes or storage above. That mix is exactly where a careful fire risk assessment matters.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person for any business, rented building or community building needs a suitable and sufficient assessment, recorded in full.

Steve Milligan spent 26 years with the fire service, retiring as a Watch Manager in 2021, and is now an NFRAR Advanced Level fire risk assessor. He visits your premises himself, writes the report himself and answers your questions afterwards.

Premises Steve assesses in Bungay

• Shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants many in older buildings with timber floors and narrow stairs
• Flats above shops where the shared stairs and hallways are covered by the Fire Safety Order
• Holiday lets and B&Bs near the River Waveney and the edge of the Broads
• Village and community halls used by clubs, classes and private hire
• Care homes where evacuation plans need to match the residents

In older buildings Steve looks closely at compartmentation: whether walls, floors and ceilings still hold back fire and smoke after years of alterations, and whether there is a protected way out.

Who enforces fire safety in Bungay

Bungay is in East Suffolk, so Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service enforces the Fire Safety Order here. Its fire protection pages point businesses to a fire risk assessment and a log book of safety checks.

The town sits on the Norfolk border. Premises across the river in Norfolk, such as Earsham or Ditchingham, fall to Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service instead. Steve assesses on both sides.

What you get

• A visit by Steve and an electronic written report with an overall risk level
• An action plan graded High, Medium and Low, plus a For Information section of advisory points
• The full findings and the assessor’s details recorded, as the law requires
• Free follow-up advice by phone or email while you work through the actions

Fire risk assessments start at £250, with a fixed quote before you book and nothing to pay until your report is ready. See all services and prices, or read what affects the price.

Training for teams in Bungay

Fire warden training runs at your premises for up to 12 people for £400, with a certificate valid for 3 years. Fire safety awareness training raises your staff’s awareness of how fires start, how to prevent them and what to do if one breaks out, from £120.

Questions from Bungay

My flat is above a shop. Who is responsible?

Usually whoever controls the shared parts, such as the building owner or landlord. The Fire Safety Act 2021 confirmed that the Fire Safety Order also covers flat entrance doors and the building’s structure. See fire safety in flats and HMOs.

Does a listed building change what is needed?

The law is the same, but the solutions may differ. Changes to a listed building can need listed building consent, so recommendations often lean on detection, management and careful upgrades rather than removing original features.

How soon can you visit?

Most visits are booked 3 to 4 weeks ahead. Send the address and type of premises for a fixed quote and dates.

Related reading: Fire safety in flats and HMOs: what landlords must do and The five-step fire door check.