Match the person to the premises
Relevant experience matters. Explain your building and ask about similar work the proposed assessor has completed. A straightforward shop and a complex building with sleeping occupants raise different questions. Do not assume that a general claim about fire safety experience answers every question about suitability.
Verify the evidence you are given
Ask for details of professional registration, qualifications or third-party certification where claimed. Check the current listing with the issuing organisation and make sure the scope relates to the service you are buying. A logo on a quotation is a starting point for verification.
Agree the work in writing
Clarify the areas to be inspected, the information needed beforehand and how limitations will be recorded. Ask who will undertake the visit and who will answer questions afterwards. If parts of the building require separate investigation, understand that boundary before commissioning.
Ask about the report
Request an anonymised example if one is available. Look for clear locations, understandable findings and a usable action plan. You should be able to see what a recommendation addresses without needing to guess which room or door the author means.
Use official help
The National Fire Chiefs Council provides guidance on finding an assessor. Your fire and rescue authority can be a useful source of advice, but it does not carry out the assessment for you. Keep responsibility for commissioning suitable help and following up the findings clear within your organisation.
Source links checked: 16 October 2026. Practical examples and commissioning questions are editorial explanations.