Protect my business from uncommon fire hazards: this guide explains practical, compliant steps property managers, facilities teams and business owners can take to identify, reduce and manage rare but high‑risk fire hazards so you meet UK legal duties and keep people safe. In this article you will learn how to spot uncommon hazards, how to prioritise control measures, which standards and guidance to follow, and when to call in specialists. See GOV.UK.

Uncommon hazards are the events most organisations fail to prepare for. They include lithium battery storage fires, arson risks, chemical reactions in storage areas, charging incidents with e‑bikes and e‑scooters, and hidden faults in plant rooms. These incidents are less frequent but often escalate quickly and can cause disproportionate damage and serious injuries. Further guidance is available from the NFCC.

Start by mapping where unusual fuels, ignition sources and vulnerable people coincide. Look beyond routine office areas and inspect maintenance workshops, delivery yards, refuse stores, plant rooms and any temporary storage used for seasonal stock. Make a short register of potential uncommon hazards and note who is at risk to focus your next actions and strengthen your fire risk assessment. See GOV.UK fire risk assessment guidance.

To protect your business from uncommon fire hazards you must ensure your fire risk assessment specifically addresses rare risks. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order requires responsible persons to identify hazards, record significant findings and review assessments regularly. A general FRA may miss niche hazards unless it is targeted. See the official collection on fire safety law and guidance.

Practical steps for a targeted FRA

Task a competent assessor with experience of your sector. If you store batteries or hazardous chemicals, ask for evidence of relevant competence; organisations such as BAFE publish competence guidance.

Use a comprehensive checklist that covers lithium batteries, compressed gases, solvent storage, hot works, transient charges (e‑bikes) and arson vulnerabilities.

Inspect adjacent external areas because external fires can breach cladding or enter roof voids.

Record mitigation measures, assign responsibilities and set review dates.

If you would like specialist support, Total Safe fire risk assessment service can carry out a focused survey and produce a clear action plan.

Prioritise measures that reduce both the chance of a fire starting and the ability of a fire to spread. Passive protection and designed engineering controls often make the biggest difference.

Compartmentation and fire stopping: Seal service penetrations and voids to avoid rapid fire spread between floors and compartments. Good fire stopping is essential where batteries or combustible stock are present. Consider a professional survey and remedial works; see Total Safe fire stopping services.

Appropriate suppression: In some areas, water suppression (sprinklers) or specialist suppression systems (for battery stores or server rooms) will reduce risk. Design must follow recognised standards such as BS 9999.

Segregation and storage: Store lithium batteries and flammable liquids in dedicated, ventilated cupboards or storage rooms with limits on quantity and separation from ignition sources. Use metal cabinets for flammables.

Electrical safety and isolation: Ensure plant rooms, EV chargers and battery charging zones have suitable isolation, RCD protection and clearly labelled circuits. Regular testing reduces the odds of electrical ignition; refer to GOV.UK guidance.

These measures require competent design and maintenance. Where a building has higher risk or complex systems, engage an engineer or specialist early and use British Standards for technical detail.

Engineering controls alone are not enough. Combine design measures with robust policies and ongoing training because workers and contractors create and control many routine causes of rare fires.

Charging and use policy: Prohibit charging of personal e‑bikes, e‑scooters and unapproved batteries indoors. Provide designated charging points with clear rules and signage.

Hot works and permits: Require hot works permits for welding, grinding or cutting. Control combustibles nearby and provide fire‑watch arrangements.

Waste and housekeeping: Remove combustible waste promptly. Keep external areas clear of pallets and rubbish, which attract arson and allow fires to spread.

Contractor management: Ensure contractors follow your hot works procedures and confirm competence before work starts.

Training and drills: Train staff and fire marshals on unusual hazards, evacuation from affected areas, and how to use appropriate extinguishers if safe to do so. Test procedures with scenario drills that include a battery or chemical incident. See GOV.UK for related guidance.

Total Safe runs training and can help prepare both fire marshals and senior managers for these scenarios. Consider a session focused on your uncommon hazards: Total Safe training.

Rare fires often begin slowly, with smouldering inside batteries or store racking. Early detection and effective alerting reduce harm. Review detection strategy and emergency plans to reflect uncommon hazards.

Zoned detection: Use detection types suited to the hazard. Photoelectric smoke detectors detect smouldering; aspirating detectors or thermal detectors might be better in dusty or high‑ceiling spaces.

Alarm linkage: Ensure alarms reach a central point and external responders quickly. Test call‑out procedures and signal audibility in different zones.

Emergency planning: Update your emergency plan to include scenarios such as battery thermal runaway or outdoor arson. Include assembly points, isolation procedures and communications steps.

Liaison with the fire and rescue service: Share plans and site access information with local fire and rescue teams. Their local knowledge can inform mitigation and response planning; further guidance is on GOV.UK.

Keep a fire safety logbook that records checks, tests and incidents. A concise log demonstrates your due diligence during inspections or enforcement. See the Total Safe fire safety logbook.

If a hazard falls outside your knowledge, call a specialist. Competent advice is essential for high‑capacity battery systems, complex suppression design, and intrusive fire stopping repair. The NFCC and BAFE stress using competent providers when commissioning fire risk work; see BAFE.

How to check competence: Ask for evidence of qualifications, relevant sector experience and professional memberships. Request examples of similar projects and references. Confirm whether the provider follows recognised standards and can produce certificates for system commissioning and maintenance.

Total Safe’s services cover fire risk assessments, remedial fire stopping, suppression systems and maintenance. If you need a specialist survey, request a clear scope and an action plan with timescales and costs: Total Safe.

Follow a clear, staged approach that is recorded and owned. It need not be complex.

Week 1–2: Run a short site sweep and create a hazards register covering battery storage, chemicals, hot works and external combustible storage. Notify senior managers of findings.

Week 3–4: Commission a targeted fire risk assessment for identified high‑risk areas and prioritise actions that reduce ignition and spread. Refer to GOV.UK.

Month 2: Implement immediate controls such as segregation, improved housekeeping and charging restrictions. Arrange remedial fire stopping where breaches are found; see Total Safe fire stopping.

Month 3: Review detection, suppression and emergency plans. Run a scenario drill and record outcomes in your logbook. Plan longer‑term engineering upgrades if recommended.

Regularly review and update the plan after any incident, near miss or change to operations to demonstrate you act as a responsible person under UK fire safety law; see GOV.UK.

Protect my business from uncommon fire hazards by combining focused risk assessment, engineering controls, clear policies and staff training. Start by making a short hazards register, then commission a targeted FRA for the highest risks. Implement quick wins such as improved storage, charging rules and hot works permits. Document everything in a fire safety logbook and engage competent specialists for complex work. Refer to GOV.UK and the NFCC for legal duties and guidance.

If you want practical support, contact Total Safe to arrange a focused fire risk survey or a remedial plan tailored to the uncommon hazards your premises face.

Q: What are the most common “uncommon” fire hazards businesses overlook?

A: Businesses often overlook lithium battery stores, charging of personal e‑vehicles indoors, improperly stored solvents or aerosols, poorly sealed service penetrations that allow rapid fire spread, and piled external waste or pallets that invite arson. A targeted review will reveal which apply to your site. See NFCC guidance.

Q: Do I need a specialised fire risk assessment for battery storage or EV charging areas?

A: Yes. These areas require specific knowledge of battery failure modes, thermal runaway and suitable suppression or segregation. Ask for an assessor with experience of battery systems and request a written action plan. See GOV.UK guidance on fire risk assessments for detail.

Q: How often should I review controls for uncommon hazards?

A: Review controls whenever operations change, after incidents or near misses, and at least annually as part of your FRA review. High‑risk areas may need more frequent inspection and testing. Keep records in a logbook to show your review cycle; guidance is available from GOV.UK.

Q: Where can I find trusted technical standards for suppression and detection systems?

A: British Standards provide technical requirements; for example, guidance on detection and alarm systems and broader fire safety design is published by BSI. Consult an accredited installer and use standards when commissioning systems such as BS 9999.

Q: Who enforces fire safety duties and what happens if I do nothing?

A: Local fire and rescue authorities, and in some cases the HSE or local authority, enforce fire safety law. Failure to act can lead to enforcement notices, fines or prosecution. Acting promptly, recording decisions and showing you used competent advice reduces enforcement risk. See GOV.UK.