British Standard 9792: 2025 Fire Risk Assessment: What is BS 9792:2025 & Why does BS 9792:2025 matter?
- JTA Fire
- Jan 26
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 17
British Standard BS 9792:2025 is the new UK code of practice for fire risk assessments (FRAs) in housing. It officially replaces the withdrawn PAS 79-2:2020 standard. BS 9792:2025 lays out a structured, risk‐based framework tailored to multi-occupancy HMO residential buildings.
Few Words from Founder & Fire Safety Consultant: Jonathan Tedd: "This means landlords and duty holders (e.g. managing agents, housing associations) now have clear guidance and templates for assessing fire hazards in flats, HMOs, sheltered or student housing, care homes, etc., to protect all occupants. BS 9792:2025 aligns FRA practice with current UK fire safety laws (the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 and Building Safety Act 2022), and importantly, it emphasises inclusive evacuation planning – ensuring people with disabilities or other specific needs are fully considered."
Key Aspects of BS 9792:2025: Fire Risk Assessment
Scope: applies to multi-occupancy housing: houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), purpose-built or converted blocks of flats/maisonettes, specialist supported/sheltered housing, care homes, hotels and student accommodation (including communal access areas of mixed-use buildings). It does not cover single-family homes, short-term lets, care homes or non-domestic buildings.
Structured methodology: defines four FRA types (Type 1–4) that vary from simple visual checks of common areas to full intrusive inspections (including individual flats). Each type is chosen based on the building’s complexity and risk profile.
Inclusive evacuation: strongly focuses on safe evacuation for all residents. The new standard includes updated guidance and an informative annex on planning for people with specific needs (e.g. mobility or cognitive impairments).
Documentation: introduces a standardised pro forma (template) for recording every fire risk assessment. This ensures reports are clear, consistent and easy to understand. Commentaries have been streamlined so they are more concise and reader-friendly.
Integration: BS 9792:2025 is part of a suite of fire safety standards. It works alongside PAS 79-1 (FRAs for non-housing buildings) and PAS 9980 (appraising external wall/cladding risks). A companion standard, BS 8674:2025 (coming soon), will set out competence requirements for assessors. Together these provide a comprehensive framework for residential fire safety.
Why BS 9792:2025 matters?
Adopting BS 9792:2025 brings real benefits for property owners, managing agents and fire safety professionals:
Legal compliance: it ensures your fire risk assessments follow the latest UK regulations. BS 9792:2025 is fully aligned with the Fire Safety Order 2005 and Building Safety Act 2022, helping duty holders meet their legal obligations.
Consistency: establishes a single, nationally recognised method for housing FRAs. All assessors and stakeholders use the same clear criteria and terminology, reducing confusion and making it easier to benchmark safety across different buildings.
Improved resident safety: promotes a risk‐proportionate approach focused on protecting people. The standard’s guidance helps identify the most effective fire prevention and protection measures (from alarms and sprinklers to evacuation lifts and signage) for each building, which in practice reduces fire risk and enhances occupant protection.
Clarity & quality: the new pro forma and plain-English commentary make FRA reports more transparent and easier to follow. Even those without fire expertise (landlords or trustees) will better understand the findings. Higher report quality also reduces liability for owners and managers.
By following BS 9792:2025, duty holders ensure that fire prevention strategies and evacuation plans are robust. In practice, this means fewer incidents and safer evacuations – key to protecting residents and helping firefighters control emergencies. The result is safer outcomes for everyone in the building.
Book a BS 9792:2025 Fire Risk Assessment Today
Jonathan Tedd - founder and lead consultant at JTA Fire - is a qualified fire risk assessor with many years of experience ensuring UK properties meet fire safety laws. He notes that BS 9792:2025 sets a higher standard for housing fire safety, and JTA Fire is ready to guide you through it. Contact JTA Fire Consultancy now to schedule your free BS 9792:2025 FRA consultation. Our experts will assess your site, apply the new standards procedures and templates, and deliver a clear, compliant report that meets the current legislation.
British Standard 9792: 2025 Fire Risk Assessment - FAQs
What is BS 9792:2025?
BS 9792:2025 is the new British Standard (published August 2025) for conducting fire risk assessments in multi-occupancy housing. It provides a formal, risk-based approach and example documentation for evaluating fire safety in HMOs, blocks of flats, student housing and similar residential buildings like care homes.
Does BS 9792:2025 replace PAS 79-2:2020?
Yes. BS 9792:2025 fully supersedes the withdrawn PAS 79-2:2020 (Housing) standard. The new Standard is more comprehensive: it has a clearer structure, updated annexes on evacuation needs, and a standardised report template to improve consistency.
Which premises does BS 9792:2025 cover?
BS 9792:2025 covers Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), purpose-built or converted blocks of flats/maisonettes, specialist housing/care homes (e.g. sheltered or supported living) and student accommodation. It also covers common access areas in mixed-use buildings that serve these residences. It excludes single-family dwellings, care homes, short-term lets and purely commercial buildings.
Why use BS 9792:2025 for my risk assessments?
Following this standard ensures your Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is defensible and aligned with best practice. It brings consistency and clarity to the assessment process, and it explicitly addresses resident safety (especially for vulnerable occupants). This makes it easier to demonstrate that you have taken “suitable and sufficient” fire precautions, as required by law.
Is BS 9792:2025 legally required?
No - the standard itself is voluntary. However, it is strongly recommended because it helps you meet mandatory duties. In practice, using BS 9792:2025 makes it clear that your FRA follows up-to-date UK fire safety legislation and is thorough and well-documented.
How can I get BS 9792:2025 or a template?
The official BS 9792:2025 document (housing code of practice) can be purchased from the British Standards Institution (BSI) Knowledge Centre. It includes the example FRA pro forma (template) for recording assessments. If you work with JTA Fire, our consultants can provide guidance on using the new template in your reports and ensure your FRAs meet the standard.
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