Fire risk assessments in Dartford
Dartford sits 18 miles from central London at the Kent end of the Dartford Crossing. Around 54,000 people live in the town, many of them commuters.
- Fire authority
- Kent Fire and Rescue Service
- Local council
- Dartford Borough Council
- Who attends
- Our own IFSM-member assessors
- Distance
- about 14 miles from our office
- Accreditation
- BAFE SP205, ID 303595
Its old industries of paper, cement and brewing have given way to retail, leisure and logistics. The borough is home to Bluewater, built in a former chalk quarry, while the town centre has the Orchard Theatre and a growing number of apartment blocks near the station.
Being on the edge of London, Dartford sees steady demand for new homes and commercial space. New apartment blocks, refurbished offices and changing retail units all need assessments that reflect how they are actually used today.
We assess retail units, venues, warehouses and residential blocks across the borough.
Who needs a fire risk assessment in Dartford
- Large retail units
- Bluewater and the town centre bring big floorplates, high footfall and shared escape routes. Stockrooms and service corridors are where most issues are found.
- Theatres and leisure venues
- Venues such as the Orchard Theatre have large audiences, staging and backstage areas to plan for. Temporary sets and pyrotechnics need specific controls.
- Warehousing and logistics
- Sites near the Dartford Crossing handle high-volume storage and vehicle movements. Loading areas and battery charging zones add ignition sources.
- Commuter apartment blocks
- New blocks near the station need written assessments of their communal areas. Communal bin stores and cycle stores are common problem areas.
Your local fire authority
Kent Fire and Rescue Service is the enforcing authority for Dartford. If an inspector calls, the first thing they will ask for is a current, written fire risk assessment, and they can serve notices where precautions fall short.
Rules that apply in Dartford
- Blocks of flats over 11 m need quarterly checks of communal fire doors. What this means
- Your fire risk assessment must be recorded in writing, whatever the size of the business. What this means
Dartford fire safety questions
Can you assess units within a large shopping centre?
Yes. We assess your unit and how it ties into the centre's wider evacuation strategy and alarm system.
Do apartment blocks near Dartford station need fire door checks?
If the building is over 11 m, communal fire doors must be checked quarterly and flat entrance doors annually.
Do you cover Greenhithe, Swanscombe and the rest of the borough?
Yes. We cover the whole of Dartford borough.
Our block in Dartford has a new managing agent. Do we need a new assessment?
Usually a review rather than a fresh start, but the new agent becomes responsible for it and should make sure it reflects the building as it is now.
How quickly can you carry out a fire risk assessment in Dartford?
Our Larkfield office is about 14 miles away, so we can usually attend within a few working days. Urgent visits are often possible sooner.
We have used The Fire Network for several years now, and always received excellent service from Gary. Very knowledgeable, excellent communication and detailed reports, TFN helps us keep on top of our assessments and safety, and most importantly, compliant.
Nearby areas we cover
Get a free quote
Tell us about the building in Dartford and we'll come back to you with a free, no-obligation quote.
- Phone07810 861397
- Emailadmin@thefirenetwork.co.uk
- Office36 Laburnum Drive, Larkfield, ME20 6LU