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5.4 - Fire Safety and Risk Assessment

Fire safety law applies to salons, rented spaces, and - in some cases - home-based beauty businesses. If you've ever lit a candle in your treatment room, left straighteners on a towel, or stacked aerosols near a radiator, this guide is for you. It covers the law, what a fire risk assessment actually involves, what equipment you need, and the avoidable mistakes that cause most salon fires.

Quick rule of thumb: if you work from commercial premises or a separate unit at home, you need a written fire risk assessment. If you work from a room in your home, you're not legally required to have one - but you'd be a fool not to.

The law: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The RRO (Fire Safety Order) applies in England and Wales to all non-domestic premises. Scotland has the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, which are broadly equivalent.

What counts as "non-domestic premises"?

• A rented salon chair - the salon premises are covered. The salon owner (or landlord) is the "responsible person." But if you bring your own equipment, you share some responsibility for fire safety related to your equipment.
• A rented treatment room - same as above. The building owner or leaseholder is primarily responsible, but you must cooperate and not introduce fire hazards.
• A separate unit at home (a converted garage, garden room, annex with its own entrance) - this is likely classed as commercial premises and the RRO applies. You are the responsible person. You need a fire risk assessment.
• A room in your domestic home used as a salon - the RRO typically does NOT apply because it's part of your domestic dwelling. But the Housing Act 2004 and general duties of care still apply, and your insurance company will expect fire precautions.

If the RRO applies to you, you must:

1. Carry out a fire risk assessment (or have one done for you).
2. Identify the fire hazards.
3. Identify people at risk.
4. Put in place fire precautions (detection, warning, extinguishers, escape routes).
5. Record the assessment if you employ 5+ people (good practice to record it regardless).
6. Review it regularly - at least annually, or when something changes.

Fire risk assessment: what it actually involves

A fire risk assessment isn't a thick document produced by a consultant. For a small salon or treatment room, it's a structured walkthrough of your space. You can do it yourself using the government's free fire safety risk assessment guide for small and medium places of assembly (available from gov.uk).

Tip for new starters: Do a fire risk assessment before your first client walks through the door. It takes 30 minutes and it's free. The government has a template on gov.uk. No excuses.

Step 1: Identify fire hazards

Sources of ignition - things that could start a fire:

• Electrical equipment: hairdryers, straighteners, curling tongs, UV/LED lamps, steamers, wax heaters, hot towel cabinets, microcurrent machines
• Overloaded plug sockets and extension leads
• Candles (the number one avoidable fire risk in salons - more on this below)
• Smoking materials
• Cooking appliances (kettles, toasters, microwaves in a salon kitchen area)

Sources of fuel - things that could burn:

• Towels, couch roll, paper products
• Aerosol cans (hairspray, dry shampoo, mousse) - pressurised and flammable
• Acetone and other flammable solvents (nail polish remover, acrylic monomer)
• Hair (loose hair is surprisingly flammable and burns fast)
• Cotton wool, tissues
• Wooden furniture, curtains, blinds
• Cardboard boxes and packaging (especially in storage areas)

Sources of oxygen - anything that helps a fire spread:

• Open windows and doors (good for ventilation, but feeds a fire)
• Air conditioning systems
• Oxidising chemicals (hydrogen peroxide, benzoyl peroxide)

Step 2: Identify people at risk

• You
• Clients (who may not know the building, may be in a reclined position, may have product on their face/hair that restricts movement)
• Any employees or other chair renters
• Anyone else in the building (in shared premises)
• Vulnerable people: anyone with mobility issues, hearing or visual impairment, children (in a home salon setting)

Step 3: Evaluate, remove, reduce

For each hazard, ask: can I remove it? If not, can I reduce the risk?

Examples:

• Straighteners left on a towel: use a heat-proof mat. Cost: £5-10.
• Extension lead with 6 devices plugged in: get additional sockets installed by an electrician. Don't daisy-chain extension leads.
• Aerosol cans stored near a radiator: move them to a cool, ventilated cupboard.
• Candles in the treatment room: get rid of them. Use a reed diffuser or electric wax melt instead.

Step 4: Record, plan, train

Write down your findings. Even if you're a sole trader and not legally required to record (the threshold is 5 employees), do it anyway. Your insurer will want to see it. Include:

• Date of assessment
• Hazards identified
• Controls in place
• Escape route
• Location of fire extinguisher(s) and smoke detector(s)
• What to do in a fire (your fire action plan)

If you have staff or share premises, make sure everyone knows the escape route and where the extinguisher is.

Step 5: Review

Review annually. Review sooner if:

• You move premises
• You change your layout
• You add new equipment
• You start offering new services (e.g., adding a wax heater or starting keratin treatments)
• After any fire-related incident (even a small one)

Fire equipment: what you need

Smoke detection

• At minimum: a working smoke alarm in the treatment area and in any corridor or escape route. Battery-powered is acceptable for small premises; hard-wired and interconnected is better.
• Test monthly. Replace batteries annually. Replace the unit every 10 years.
• Heat detectors are better for kitchens and areas where steam or fumes could trigger false alarms from smoke detectors.

Fire extinguishers

Not every extinguisher works on every fire. Using the wrong one can make things worse.

For a typical salon or treatment room:

• A CO2 extinguisher for electrical fires (hairdryers, straighteners, UV lamps, electrical faults). This is your primary extinguisher.
• A foam extinguisher for general fires (towels, paper, furniture, some chemical spills).
• If your space is very small (a single treatment room), one 2kg CO2 extinguisher may be sufficient. Check with your fire risk assessment.

Fire blankets: Useful for small fires (e.g., a towel catching fire from straighteners) and for wrapping around a person if their clothing catches fire. Mount in the treatment area or kitchen. Cost: £10-20.

All extinguishers need annual servicing by a qualified fire extinguisher engineer. Cost: £20-40 per extinguisher per year. They'll also check that the extinguisher is still in date and pressurised.

Escape route

• There must be a clear path from the treatment area to the exit. No boxes, trolleys, or furniture blocking it.
• The exit must be usable - not locked, not blocked, not obstructed.
• In a home salon: the route is usually through the house to the front or back door. Make sure that route is clear during appointments.
• Emergency lighting: required in commercial premises where the escape route isn't naturally lit. Not usually required in a domestic home salon.

Tip for new starters: Get a CO2 fire extinguisher and a fire blanket before you open. They cost less than one set of lash extensions combined. Know where they are and how to use them.

Candles in salons - the number one avoidable risk

Let's be direct: candles have no place in a salon or treatment room.

Every year, candles cause fires in beauty premises. An unattended candle near a pile of towels. A candle on a shelf knocked by a client's elbow. A scented candle left burning after the last client leaves.

The alternatives are better in every way:

• Electric wax melts - same scent, no flame. £10-20.
• Reed diffusers - no heat, no flame, no electricity. £5-15.
• Essential oil diffusers (ultrasonic) - mist, not flame. £15-30.

If you currently use candles, stop. Today. Your fire risk assessment should explicitly ban open flames in the treatment area. If a client gives you a candle as a gift, say thank you and take it home.

Electrical safety

Most salon fires start with electrical faults or misuse. Common causes:

• Overloaded sockets. A four-gang extension lead with a hairdryer (1,800W), straighteners (200W), UV lamp (48W), and a wax heater (500W) is pulling 2,548W through one socket. Most domestic sockets are rated for 3,000W - but the extension lead may not be.
• Damaged cables. Frayed, worn, or cracked cables are a fire risk. Check your equipment cables regularly. Replace any that are damaged.
• Leaving equipment switched on. Straighteners, wax heaters, and hot towel cabinets left on overnight. Always switch off and unplug at the end of every day.
• Using equipment near water. Hairdryers and clippers near sinks. Straighteners near wet surfaces.

PAT testing (see the PAT Testing guide) is strongly recommended for all portable electrical equipment used in a salon or treatment room.

Home salon: practical fire safety

Even if the RRO doesn't apply to your room-in-a-house salon, you should still:

1. Have a working smoke alarm in the treatment room and hallway.
2. Have a CO2 fire extinguisher in the treatment room and know how to use it.
3. Have a fire blanket accessible.
4. Keep escape routes clear during appointments.
5. Never lock your front door in a way that prevents emergency exit (deadlock without a thumb turn is a common problem).
6. Tell clients where the exit is at the start of their appointment (especially if they're new).
7. Don't store flammable chemicals (acetone, aerosols) near heat sources.
8. Switch off and unplug all equipment at the end of the day.
9. Never leave a wax heater or hot towel cabinet on overnight.
10. No candles.

What happens if you don't comply

If the RRO applies to you:

• Your local fire authority can inspect your premises at any time.
• If you don't have a fire risk assessment, or your fire precautions are inadequate, they can issue an enforcement notice requiring you to fix things within a set timeframe.
• For serious breaches, they can issue a prohibition notice - shutting you down until the issues are resolved.
• Prosecution can result in fines (unlimited) or imprisonment (up to 2 years) for the most serious offences.

Insurance:

• Your premises insurance or business insurance will almost certainly require fire precautions. If you have a fire and you didn't have a risk assessment, working smoke alarms, or an extinguisher, your claim may be refused.

What to do next

1. Do a fire risk assessment of your workspace. Use the government's free template if you need guidance.
2. Check your smoke alarms work - test them today.
3. Buy a CO2 fire extinguisher and a fire blanket if you don't have them.
4. Remove candles from your treatment area.
5. Check your plug sockets and extension leads - are any overloaded?
6. Make sure your escape route is clear.
7. If you're in rented premises, check with your landlord about fire safety responsibilities.

Who to Contact

• Your local fire and rescue service (Free) - fire safety advice for businesses, and in some areas, free fire risk assessment visits for small businesses
• HSE (Health and Safety Executive): 0300 003 1647 (Free) - workplace fire safety guidance
• Gov.uk: Fire safety risk assessment guides - gov.uk/workplace-fire-safety-your-responsibilities (Free)
• Your insurer: Check your fire safety requirements (Paid)
• A qualified fire risk assessor: If you want a professional assessment, typically £100-300 for a small premises (Paid)
• A registered electrician: For socket upgrades and electrical safety checks (Paid)

Sources

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• Fire (Scotland) Act 2005
• Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006
• Gov.uk fire safety guidance for small businesses
• HSE guidance on workplace fire safety
• London Fire Brigade small business fire safety guidance

Related Guides

• PAT Testing: What You Need to Know
• COSHH for Self-Employed Hairdressers
• COSHH for Mobile and Home-Based Workers
• Sterilisation and Infection Control
• Waste Disposal for Beauty Businesses

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