Introduction

Assess fire risks associated with new technology, and in this guide you will learn a practical, step-by-step process to identify hazards, evaluate risk, apply controls and keep records so your Essex business remains compliant and safe. This article explains legal duties, common hazards from modern equipment, a clear assessment method you can follow, and when to call a specialist.

Why you must assess fire risks associated with new technology

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places the duty on the responsible person to make a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and to keep it up to date. Therefore, when you introduce new technology you must review your assessment and act on the findings. For authoritative details on the law, consult the government guidance on the Fire Safety Order. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 guidance.

Newer technologies often change the hazard profile of a workplace. For example, lithium-ion battery systems, electric vehicle chargers, battery-powered tools and fleets, and energy storage units can introduce thermal runaway and toxic emissions risks that older assessments did not cover. The National Fire Chiefs Council highlights these risks in guidance on energy technologies and calls for risk-based controls and engagement with fire and rescue services. NFCC position on energy technologies.

Scoping the assessment: who, what and where

Begin by defining the scope. Ask who will carry out the assessment, which technology will be included, and where the equipment is or will be installed.

Identify the responsible person and any competent assessor in your team. If you lack internal competence, hire a consultant.

List all new technology introductions such as battery storage, EV chargers, upgraded server rooms, 3D printers or new kitchen equipment.

Note locations and proximity to escape routes, plant rooms, residential areas and high-occupancy spaces.

Record dates when the technology will be installed and any planned future upgrades.

Clear scoping helps the assessor focus on realistic scenarios and ensures the assessment meets the legal requirement to be suitable and sufficient.

Step 1 — identify hazards from your specific technology

To assess fire risks associated with new technology you must first identify how that technology can cause or worsen a fire. Typical hazards include:

Overheating and thermal runaway: from lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes, power tools, or storage systems.

Electrical faults and overloads: from new charging infrastructure or legacy wiring not designed for higher loads.

Heat generation: from server racks and computing clusters, which can create sustained ignition sources.

Chemical or gas release: from hydrogen or other alternative-energy systems.

Combustible waste: produced by new equipment or consumables, such as solvents used with 3D printers.

Use manufacturer data, product safety datasheets and installation guides. Where a technology is novel or bespoke, engage the supplier for failure-mode information and for recommended guarding, ventilation and monitoring measures.

Step 2 — identify people at risk and likely scenarios

Next, determine who could be harmed and how. Consider staff, contractors, visitors, residents in mixed-use buildings and emergency responders.

Consider normal use, misuse, maintenance and foreseeable failures.

Identify high-risk scenarios: such as charging multiple devices in a store room, battery storage in basements, or a server-room aircon failure that allows heat to build.

Account for especially vulnerable groups: like night staff, lone workers or people with mobility needs.

This step helps you prioritise controls for the highest-risk people and places.

Step 3 — evaluate risk and likelihood

Now evaluate the likelihood of a fire occurring and the severity of its consequences. Use a simple risk matrix to rank hazards; this makes decisions transparent.

For each hazard ask: how likely is ignition, how fast will the fire spread, and what will the smoke or gases do?

Consider second-order effects. For example, an EV charger fire may occur inside a van; that fire can quickly affect adjacent stored goods and block escape routes.

Where uncertainty exists, adopt a precautionary approach and treat the risk as higher until you can collect more evidence or testing data.

When energy storage or battery systems are involved, specialist testing, thermal imaging or commissioning data often informs the likelihood and helps justify control measures. The Health and Safety Executive runs battery safety research and testing; their resources can help you understand failure modes. HSE battery safety and energy storage resources.

Step 4 — decide and apply controls

Controls should follow the hierarchy: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate and use PPE. For fire risk from new technology, common and effective measures include design, detection, operational controls, storage and training.

Design and engineering: Provide segregated charging or storage rooms with fire-resistant construction. Fit dedicated circuits, correct earthing and overload protection for new electrical loads. Install active cooling and temperature monitoring in server rooms or battery enclosures.

Detection and suppression: Upgrade fire detection systems to detect smouldering and fast-flaming fires appropriate for the material type; review requirements under BS 5839 and BS 9999 where relevant. Consider early suppression for high-risk installations, such as water-mist or gas suppression for server rooms; for battery storage, follow NFCC guidance on planning and mitigation.

Operational controls: Limit charging to supervised areas and avoid charging near escape routes. Implement permit-to-work and safe isolation procedures for maintenance on power systems. Use manufacturer-recommended chargers and avoid counterfeit or uncertified batteries.

Storage and handling: Store batteries in designated fire-rated cabinets and avoid stacking damaged items. Label storage areas clearly and maintain an inventory of battery types and quantities.

Training and emergency planning: Train staff on safe charging, recognising battery degradation and immediate steps for overheating. Update evacuation plans to reflect new hazards and ensure fire marshals know the location of new high-risk equipment.

Liaison with fire and rescue: Share site plans and emergency procedures with the local Fire and Rescue Service, particularly for large battery installations or new fuel technologies.

Apply multiple independent controls where possible. Redundancy reduces the chance of a single failure causing a major incident.

Step 5 — test, verify and record decisions

Controls only protect if they work. Therefore, verify and record them.

Commission electrical and battery systems with qualified engineers and keep commissioning certificates.

Conduct fire drills that include scenarios for the new technology and review timings.

Use thermal imaging or continuous temperature monitoring for critical installations.

Record significant findings and actions in your fire risk assessment document. The Fire Safety Order requires suitable and sufficient records where you employ five or more people, and the Building Safety Act also emphasises recording assessments for relevant buildings.

Where you need independent assurance, appoint a competent fire safety consultant to carry out a focused assessment or a site-specific strategy. You can arrange a professional review through Total Safe’s fire risk assessment service or by exploring wider fire safety services. Total Safe fire risk assessment service and Total Safe fire safety services provide local support across Essex and the South East.

Step 6 — review, update and monitor

A fire risk assessment is a living document. Review it:

After every significant technical change or new installation.

Following an incident, near-miss or evidence of degraded batteries.

At least annually for higher-risk sites, or more frequently if operations change.

Use monitoring data and maintenance records to spot trends. For example, repeated temperature excursions on a battery rack should trigger an immediate review and remedial action.

Practical examples for Essex businesses

Small retail store with staff charging e-bikes overnight: create a supervised charging area away from escape routes; ban charging in basements; provide smoke detectors and staff training.

Office with new server racks: install improved detection and adequate cooling; ensure servers sit within rated fire compartments; test suppression systems and update emergency plans.

Warehouse adding fork-lift battery charging: provide segregation from stored goods, fit automatic ventilation to remove heat and fumes, and schedule battery maintenance.

Residential block with communal e-bike charging: review building compartmentation and escape routes; engage the building’s responsible person to prohibit charging in corridors and advise residents.

These examples show how the same assessment approach scales to different building types.

When to bring in specialists

Call specialists when risks exceed your in-house competence. This includes large battery energy storage, bespoke alternative-fuel systems, high-density server environments and where fire service engagement is required in planning. A competent fire engineer can advise on detection strategies, suppression options and compliance with relevant British Standards.

If you prefer professional support for a full review, Total Safe can provide site surveys, technical reports and a tailored action plan to manage risks from new technology and help meet your legal obligations.

Conclusion: practical next steps for Essex businesses

Follow a clear cycle: scope, identify hazards, evaluate risk, apply controls, verify performance and keep records. Engage suppliers, consult the HSE and NFCC guidance where technology-specific advice exists, and involve the local Fire and Rescue Service for high-risk installations.

If you need help, commission a competent fire risk assessment and implement the recommended actions promptly. Taking these steps will reduce risk, protect people and help you demonstrate compliance with the Fire Safety Order.

FAQ

Q: How quickly must I update my fire risk assessment after installing new technology?

A: Update as soon as the installation is complete and again once commissioning data is available. Review immediately if you spot faults, overheating or near-misses.

Q: Are lithium-ion batteries the main new risk for businesses?

A: They are a high-profile risk due to thermal runaway, but other technologies such as hydrogen systems, EV chargers and high-density servers also require assessment.

Q: What records should I keep to show I have assessed new technology risks?

A: Keep the updated fire risk assessment, commissioning certificates, maintenance logs, training records, and incident and drill reports.

Q: Who enforces fire safety law if I do not assess new technology properly?

A: Local Fire and Rescue Authorities enforce the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and may take action for non-compliance. For legal detail, consult the government guidance on the Fire Safety Order. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 guidance.

If you would like a practical review tailored to your site, contact a competent consultant to arrange a focused fire risk assessment and mitigation plan.