How to Ensure Fire Safety in London’s Fast-Paced Delivery Services: Essential Strategies for Compliance and Customer Protection in 2025
Fire safety in London’s fast-paced delivery services is the focus of this guide, and you will learn practical, compliance-led strategies to protect drivers, customers and property. This article explains legal duties, common risks (including lithium battery hazards), sensible controls, and a step-by-step compliance checklist that managers and compliance officers can apply today.
Why fire safety matters for delivery operations
Delivery services operate at speed. That speed increases exposure to specific fire risks, such as electrical faults in vans, cooking-oil fires in food delivery containers and lithium battery failures in e-bikes, e-scooters and portable chargers. A single incident can harm people, disrupt service and lead to enforcement action or insurance claims. Responsible persons must treat fire safety as an operational priority. This approach protects customers, staff and the brand reputation of your business. See guidance on duties at GOV.UK.
Know your legal duties and responsibilities
Anyone who controls non-domestic premises or workplaces in England and Wales must follow the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the practical guidance for those with legal duties. You must carry out and record a suitable fire risk assessment, put in place proportionate fire precautions and keep records up to date. In multi-occupancy or shared buildings, co-operation and information sharing are required to ensure a whole-building approach. Make sure your fire risk assessment reflects delivery activity, vehicle charging and storage arrangements. Refer to official guidance on duties at GOV.UK.
Assess the specific risks for delivery services
Begin with a focused risk assessment that targets how delivery work changes the fire profile of your sites and operations. Each assessment should record people at risk, likely fire sources, and the measures needed to reduce risk to an acceptable level.
Vehicles and on-site charging: vans and trucks can have electrical faults and carry flammable cargo. Ensure vehicle electrics and aftermarket conversions are certified and inspected regularly.
E-bikes, e-scooters and batteries: lithium-ion batteries can fail suddenly and burn intensely. Charging, storage and disposal must be controlled. Safe charging practices and storage guidance are available from NFCC guidance and advice at GOV.UK.
Food and hot-hold equipment: restaurant pickups and cloud kitchens bring grease and cooking oils into frequent use. Grease build-up increases ignition risk and demands rigorous cleaning schedules.
Packaging and waste: high volumes of cardboard, film and polystyrene create fuel loads. Housekeeping and waste removal frequency should match delivery volumes.
Human factors: driver fatigue, poor training and lack of emergency procedures increase the chance of delayed detection and escalation.
Fire safety in London’s fast-paced delivery services: practical controls
Targeted, proportionate controls reduce risk without undermining operational speed.
Safer battery charging and storage — Use manufacturer-approved chargers and avoid third-party or counterfeit units. Charge batteries in ventilated, non-combustible areas that are not on escape routes. Do not charge batteries unattended overnight; both NFCC guidance and GOV.UK advise charging only when staff are present and alert.
Vehicle checks and electrical safety — Include electrical inspections and PAT checks for on-board equipment in scheduled maintenance. Keep fuel systems, wiring looms and installed in-vehicle chargers inspected by qualified technicians. Document results and remedial works to demonstrate diligence to insurers and enforcement officers.
Control of cooking and hot-hold hazards — For food-delivery hubs, install and maintain extraction and suppression systems where deep fat frying or high-heat cooking occurs. Implement strict cleaning routines for extraction ducts and fryers to reduce grease build-up.
Waste and stock management — Store packaging and returned goods in rated storage areas away from ignition sources. Schedule frequent waste removal and avoid temporary storage of combustible waste on escape routes.
Fire detection and alarm systems — Fit detectors appropriate to the environment: smoke detectors for offices, heat detectors for kitchens, and specialised devices for battery storage rooms. Follow the latest best practice and the revised recommendations in BS 5839 (2025) when specifying systems; see details at BSI Group.
Operational measures: training, procedures and drills
Operational controls are low-cost and effective. They include ensuring staff know how to spot battery failure, isolate power and evacuate safely. Keep training records and make them available for audits.
Driver and hub-staff training — Ensure people know the signs of battery failure, how to isolate power and when to evacuate. Regular refreshers keep skills current.
Clear emergency procedures — Publish simple, visible guidance and ensure drivers can report fires quickly using an emergency contact protocol.
Fire marshals and nominated on-site contacts — Appoint trained personnel who can lead evacuations and liaise with emergency services.
Regular drills — Practice realistic scenarios that include vehicle and battery fires so staff and drivers respond safely and quickly. HSE guidance emphasises employers must provide appropriate instruction and training; see HSE guidance.
Technical standards and third-party checks
Technical measures should be evidence-based. Use competent contractors and certified installers for alarms, suppression systems and fire doors. Refer to recognised standards when specifying equipment. The 2025 BSI updates to BS 5839 make clear recommendations on detection types, commissioning and maintenance; follow these when upgrading systems or adding detection for battery stores. Regular third-party inspections reduce failure risk and demonstrate compliance to regulators and insurers. See BSI Group.
Design and site layout for rapid-response operations
Operational layout can reduce fire consequences even when incidents occur. Separate battery charging and storage areas from occupied zones and escape routes. Create vehicle parking that allows rapid access for fire and rescue services. Provide clear signage, escape lighting and unobstructed routes from loading bays and locker areas. In multi-tenant buildings, coordinate with landlords and other Responsible Persons to ensure a coherent evacuation strategy and shared information on storage and charging locations; see whole-building coordination guidance at GOV.UK.
Insurance, incident recording and continuous improvement
Record-keeping matters. Keep maintenance logs, risk assessments, training records and incident reports. Insurers expect evidence that hazards are managed proactively. After any incident, carry out a formal review and update controls. Learn from near-misses and small failures; they often reveal weak points that could lead to more serious events.
For practical support, Total Safe fire safety services offer tailored fire risk assessments and training designed for businesses with delivery operations.
Checklist: achieving compliance for delivery businesses
Complete a delivery-specific fire risk assessment and review it every 12 months or after a significant change.
Identify battery charging locations and move them off escape routes.
Ensure all batteries and chargers are from reputable suppliers and are maintained.
Schedule frequent cleaning for kitchens and extraction systems.
Install suitable detection and alarms referencing BS 5839 recommendations.
Train drivers, hub staff and nominated fire marshals; log training sessions.
Keep incident and maintenance records and share relevant information with landlords or other Responsible Persons.
Arrange third-party inspections for alarms, suppression systems and fire doors.
If you need help implementing any item on this list, Learn more about Total Safe.
Next steps: practical priorities for the next 90 days
Start with quick wins. First, check battery charging areas and remove any charging that takes place on escape routes. Second, run a short training session for drivers about battery warning signs and emergency reporting. Third, update or commission a fire risk assessment that includes delivery activities and vehicle charging. These three actions materially reduce risk and show regulators and insurers that you take safety seriously.
For longer-term projects, plan for technical upgrades such as improved detection, dedicated battery containment and fire suppression in high-risk kitchens.
Conclusion
Managing fire safety in London’s fast-paced delivery services requires a mix of legal understanding, practical controls and ongoing operational discipline. Start with a targeted risk assessment, control lithium-battery charging and storage, maintain vehicles and cooking equipment, and ensure staff training and clear emergency procedures. Follow recognised standards such as BS 5839 when specifying systems, and use trusted advisers for inspections and installations. Taking these steps protects customers and staff, reduces service disruption and improves resilience against enforcement and insurance risk. If you need expert support, Request a consultation with Total Safe.
FAQ
A: The Responsible Person for each part of the building must cooperate and share information. You should identify responsibilities in writing and ensure your fire risk assessment covers delivery activity and any shared charging or storage areas. See guidance for persons with duties at GOV.UK.
Q: How should I manage lithium-ion batteries used by e-bikes and e-scooters?
A: Only use manufacturer-approved chargers, charge in ventilated, non-combustible areas away from escape routes, never leave batteries charging unattended overnight and inspect batteries for damage. Practical charging and storage advice is available from NFCC guidance and GOV.UK.
Q: Do I need different fire detection in a delivery hub compared with a standard office?
A: Yes. Hubs with kitchens, vehicle charging or battery stores often need a mix of detection types—heat detectors in kitchens, suitable detectors in battery stores and appropriately zoned alarm systems aligned with BS 5839 guidance. Engage a competent designer to specify equipment. See BSI Group.
Q: What records should I keep to demonstrate compliance?
A: Keep the fire risk assessment, training logs, maintenance and inspection records for alarms and suppression, vehicle electrical check records, and incident reports. These documents show regulators and insurers that you manage risk responsibly. See employer guidance at HSE and legal duties at GOV.UK.
Q: Where can I get specialist help to implement these measures?
A: For site audits, risk assessments, training and technical installations, consider a reputable fire safety provider. Find out about Total Safe services, which offer sector-specific services for delivery and logistics operations and can prioritise remedial work to match your budget and risk profile.
