If you’ve been in business long enough, you might remember the days when every premises needed a fire certificate.
A fire officer would come round, inspect your building, issue a certificate, and you’d hang it proudly by the front door.
Job done, right?
Well, not anymore. Fire certificates were officially scrapped in 2006 — replaced by something far more practical (and a lot more personal): the Fire Risk Assessment.
Here’s why that happened, what it means for you in Surrey, and why the change makes more sense than most people think.
Back Then: The Old Fire Certificate System
Before 2006, under the Fire Precautions Act 1971, most workplaces and certain types of residential buildings had to hold a fire certificate issued by the local fire authority.
It worked like this:
A fire officer would inspect your building, tell you what to fix, and — once satisfied — issue a certificate stating your premises met the required standards.
The problem?
Once you had that piece of paper, many businesses assumed they were covered forever. Buildings changed, layouts changed, staff changed — but the fire certificate stayed the same.
It gave a false sense of security.
The Big Change: The Fire Safety Order 2005
In 2005, the government introduced the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, which came into force in October 2006.
This law replaced more than 70 separate pieces of fire safety legislation, including the old fire certificate system.
From that point on, fire safety responsibility shifted from the fire brigade to the building owner, employer, or manager — known in law as the Responsible Person.
So instead of the fire service checking and certifying your premises, you are now required to make sure your building is safe and to prove it through a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA).
No more annual visits.
No more waiting for a certificate.
Just ongoing, proactive management of your fire safety.
Why It’s Better This Way
It might sound like more work, but the new system actually makes a lot more sense.
Every building is different — and what was safe five years ago might not be safe today.
A Fire Risk Assessment is flexible. It adapts to your business as it grows and changes. It forces you (or your assessor) to look at:
- How your building is used
- How people move through it
- What risks exist (from electrics, storage, machinery, etc.)
- How well your safety systems and procedures work
You get a clear, realistic picture of what needs fixing — and it’s based on how the building is used now, not when it was first built.
Fire Certificates Are No Longer Valid
Just to be clear: old fire certificates have no legal status.
Even if you still have one pinned to a noticeboard from 1995, it doesn’t count for anything under today’s law.
If you’re inspected by Surrey Fire & Rescue Service, they’ll want to see your current Fire Risk Assessment — not an outdated certificate.
Failing to have one can lead to enforcement notices, fines, or even prosecution if they believe people are at risk.
Who’s Responsible Now
Under the Fire Safety Order, the Responsible Person is anyone who:
- Owns or manages a business premises
- Controls common areas in flats, HMOs or shared buildings
- Employs staff or has visitors on site
That means if you’re a landlord, business owner, or managing agent in Surrey, the duty to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment — and keep it up to date — falls to you.
You can do it yourself if the risks are simple and you understand the law, or you can hire a qualified assessor.
For more complex premises, Surrey Fire & Rescue strongly recommends using a competent professional (registered with bodies like the Institute of Fire Safety Managers, Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) or Fire Sector Federation).
Why It Matters in Surrey
Surrey Fire & Rescue carries out regular inspections on workplaces, commercial properties, and multi-occupied buildings.
They won’t ask to see a certificate — they’ll ask to see your Fire Risk Assessment and the actions you’ve taken from it.
If you can show that you’ve identified your risks, taken precautions, and documented everything, you’re in a good position.
If you can’t… well, let’s just say ignorance isn’t a defence.
Making the Modern System Work for You
At Fire Risk Assessment Surrey, we help local business owners, landlords, and property managers stay compliant under the Fire Safety Order.
We’ll carry out a professional Fire Risk Assessment, identify areas of concern, and give you a clear action plan — all written in plain English.
No unnecessary jargon. No pointless reports. Just straightforward advice that helps you meet the law and protect your people.
So if your business still has an old fire certificate somewhere, treat it like a museum piece — and replace it with what the law actually requires.
Book your Fire Risk Assessment in Surrey today and make sure you’re compliant, current, and covered.
