BS 9792:2025 — the biggest changes to residential fire risk assessments
The introduction of BS 9792:2025 – Fire Risk Assessment: Housing – Code of Practice marks an important update for anyone involved in residential fire safety. Replacing PAS 79-2, the new British Standard provides clearer guidance on how fire risk assessments should be carried out, documented and managed.
While the legal requirement to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment hasn’t changed, BS 9792 establishes the current benchmark for best practice within the housing sector.
The biggest changes
A more structured assessment process
BS 9792 introduces a more structured and evidence-based approach to fire risk assessments. Rather than simply recording observations, assessors are expected to demonstrate how they reached their conclusions, resulting in more consistent, robust and defensible assessments.
Improved documentation
The new standard places greater emphasis on producing clear, easy-to-understand reports. Fire risk assessments should not only identify deficiencies but also clearly communicate the level of risk, priorities and recommended actions, making it easier for Responsible Persons to manage compliance.
Greater focus on residents
BS 9792 recognises that residential buildings are occupied by people with varying needs and vulnerabilities. Assessors are expected to consider factors such as vulnerable residents, evacuation strategies and building management arrangements to ensure fire safety measures are appropriate for those who live in the building.
Clearer fire risk assessment types
The standard provides clearer guidance on the different levels of fire risk assessment, from non-intrusive inspections of common areas through to more detailed, intrusive assessments where concerns exist around compartmentation or hidden construction. This helps ensure the scope of the assessment matches the level of risk.
The role of digital fire risk assessment software
As standards become more detailed, managing fire risk using spreadsheets, Word documents and email chains becomes increasingly difficult.
Modern fire risk assessment software can help organisations by:
- Producing standardised reports aligned with BS 9792.
- Creating prioritised action plans automatically.
- Tracking actions through to completion.
- Storing photographic evidence securely.
- Maintaining a complete audit trail.
- Providing live dashboards across entire property portfolios.
Digital systems also reduce administration time, allowing assessors to spend more time assessing risk and less time producing reports.
Final thoughts
BS 9792 represents a significant step forward in improving the consistency and quality of residential fire risk assessments. By adopting the new guidance, fire risk assessors and Responsible Persons can produce more robust assessments, prioritise actions more effectively and better demonstrate compliance with recognised industry best practice.
As fire safety standards continue to evolve, embracing structured processes and modern digital tools will help organisations stay compliant while improving safety for residents.
This article is general guidance, not legal advice, and does not guarantee compliance. Always refer to the current standard and take advice from a competent professional for your specific building.
