Fire risk assessments in Dover
Dover is home to one of the busiest ferry ports in Europe, facing France across the narrowest part of the English Channel. Around 44,000 people live in the town.
- Fire authority
- Kent Fire and Rescue Service
- Local council
- Dover District Council
- Who attends
- Our own IFSM-member assessors
- Distance
- about 39 miles from our office
- Accreditation
- BAFE SP205, ID 303595
Alongside the port and its logistics businesses, the town centre has been regenerated. The St James' development opened in 2018 with shops, restaurants, a hotel and a cinema. Dover is also home to two boarding schools, Dover College and the Duke of York's Royal Military School.
The port drives demand for hotels, warehousing and services, and the town also has a large stock of older buildings close to the seafront and castle. Many combine ground-floor businesses with flats above, which brings shared responsibilities.
We assess port-related, hospitality, education and retail premises across the town and district.
Who needs a fire risk assessment in Dover
- Port, freight and logistics
- Port operations bring warehousing, vehicle parks and 24-hour working. Drivers and contractors on site need clear fire procedures.
- Hotels and leisure
- Hotels, a cinema and restaurants at St James' mean sleeping risk and large public spaces. Guests are unfamiliar with the building and may be asleep.
- Boarding schools
- Boarding houses are sleeping-risk premises that need robust night-time evacuation plans. Staffing levels at night are a key part of the assessment.
- Town-centre retail
- Shops along the High Street and Biggin Street often have storage or flats above. Rear storage often blocks secondary escape routes.
Your local fire authority
In Dover, the Fire Safety Order is enforced by Kent Fire and Rescue Service. Inspections can be routine or follow a complaint, and a missing or out-of-date assessment is one of the most common reasons for formal action.
Rules that apply in Dover
- Your fire risk assessment must be recorded in writing, whatever the size of the business. What this means
- Residents in any block of two or more flats must be given fire safety information. What this means
Dover fire safety questions
Can you assess boarding houses in Dover?
Yes. We focus on detection, night-time staffing, escape routes and evacuation drills for sleeping pupils.
Do you work with port and logistics businesses?
Yes. We assess warehouses, offices and yards, including 24-hour operations and lone working.
Do you cover Deal and the rest of Dover district?
Yes. We cover the whole Dover district.
Do flats above shops in Dover need a separate assessment?
Yes. The common parts serving the flats need their own written assessment, separate from the shop below.
How often should a fire risk assessment in Dover be reviewed?
The law says it must be reviewed regularly and whenever something significant changes, such as a refit, a change of use or a new tenant. For most premises we recommend a review at least once a year.
Gary who attended was great. He was very professional and advised on some bits we needed to adapt. He helped with questions I had with regards to regulations and explained in detail everything required.
Nearby areas we cover
Get a free quote
Tell us about the building in Dover 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