Fire risk assessments in Rochester
Rochester sits at the lowest bridging point of the River Medway and has one of the best-known historic high streets in Kent. Charles Dickens lived nearby and set many of his stories here.
- Fire authority
- Kent Fire and Rescue Service
- Local council
- Medway Council
- Who attends
- Our own IFSM-member assessors
- Distance
- about 6 miles from our office
- Accreditation
- BAFE SP205, ID 303595
Around 67,000 people live in the town, and tourism is a growing part of its economy. Shops, cafés and restaurants trade from historic buildings, and major events such as the Sweeps Festival draw large crowds.
Many historic premises combine a business on the ground floor with flats or offices above, often reached by a shared stair. Getting separation and escape right in these mixed-use buildings is a large part of our work in the town.
We assess retail, hospitality, event and educational premises across Rochester and the wider Medway area.
Who needs a fire risk assessment in Rochester
- Historic high-street shops and cafés
- Older buildings with flats or storage above, narrow stairs and limited escape routes. Timber construction and later alterations can create hidden fire routes.
- Events and festivals
- Large outdoor events need crowd management and temporary-structure fire planning. Temporary structures, generators and catering stalls need planning.
- Schools and colleges
- Rochester has several long-established schools with a mix of historic and modern buildings. Historic and modern buildings often sit side by side on one site.
- Restaurants and pubs
- Commercial kitchens in older buildings need careful attention to fire separation. Extraction ducts in older buildings need regular cleaning.
Your local fire authority
Business fire safety in Rochester falls under Kent Fire and Rescue Service, the authority for Kent and Medway. Its fire safety officers can inspect, advise and, where needed, issue alteration, enforcement or prohibition notices.
Rules that apply in Rochester
- Medway's 2026 Article 4 Direction for HMOs covers parts of Chatham, Gillingham and Strood but not Rochester itself.
- Your fire risk assessment must be recorded in writing, whatever the size of the business. What this means
- Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties with 5 or more people forming 2 or more households. What this means
Rochester fire safety questions
Can you assess a shop in Rochester's historic high street?
Yes. We focus on escape routes, separation from any accommodation above and practical measures that suit older buildings.
Do outdoor events need a fire risk assessment?
Yes. Organisers are responsible persons under the Fire Safety Order and need a written assessment for the event.
Is Rochester covered by Medway's HMO Article 4 Direction?
No. It covers parts of Chatham, Gillingham and Strood. HMOs in Rochester still need a fire risk assessment for their common parts.
Do you assess premises in Strood as well?
Yes. We cover Strood and the rest of Medway. Note that parts of Strood fall within Medway's 2026 HMO Article 4 Direction.
How quickly can you carry out a fire risk assessment in Rochester?
Our Larkfield office is about 6 miles away, so we can usually attend within a few working days. Urgent visits are often possible sooner.
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 Rochester 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