Type 4 Fire Risk Assessments

The Most Comprehensive Survey for Property Managers and Developers

For property managers and developers, ensuring a building is safe is paramount. While a standard Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is a familiar requirement, certain high-risk situations demand an unparalleled level of scrutiny. This is where a Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment comes in—the most comprehensive, and often the most critical, survey a building can undergo.

This guide will explain what an FRA Type 4 is, why it is essential in specific circumstances, and the key considerations for commissioning this fully intrusive assessment to ensure long-term communal fire safety.

What is a Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment?

A Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment is the most thorough and in-depth survey of a building’s fire safety. Unlike other assessments that rely on visual inspections, an FRA Type 4 is fully intrusive. It involves destructive inspection to physically verify the integrity of hidden fire safety features that cannot be seen from the outside

How It Differs from Other FRA Types:

Type 1 FRA: A non-intrusive, visual survey of the building’s common parts only.
Type 2 FRA: An intrusive survey of the common parts only, where a contractor opens up sections of the structure to check for fire stopping.
Type 3 FRA: A non-intrusive survey of both common parts and a representative sample of individual flats.
Type 4 FRA: Intrusive survey of both common parts and a sample of individual flats/dwellings. It requires a contractor to create openings in walls, ceilings, and other structural elements to directly inspect fire safety measures.

In short, a Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment is a measure of last resort, commissioned when there are serious, widespread concerns about the building’s fire safety that can only be verified through physical investigation.

Why is an FRA Type 4 So Important?

A Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment is essential for buildings where the integrity of hidden fire protection is critical to safety, particularly for flats fire risk survey and apartment blocks. It provides a definitive answer to concerns about:

Compromised Compartmentation: It verifies whether the building is correctly divided into fire-resistant compartments, stopping fire and smoke from spreading between flats and communal areas.
Substandard Firestopping: It checks whether firestopping materials have been correctly installed around pipes, cables, and other service penetrations.
Structural Fire Resistance: It can be used to assess the fire performance of structural elements and materials.

For property managers, this assessment provides the ultimate peace of mind. It allows them to definitively identify and address hidden risks, ensuring the long-term safety of residents and the building itself.

Practical Challenges of a Type 4 FRA

Due to its intrusive nature, a Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment presents significant practical challenges that require careful planning.

Cost: It is the most expensive type of FRA. The cost includes not only the assessor’s time but also the destructive works carried out by a contractor, as well as the reinstatement of all opened-up areas.
Disruption: The survey will be highly disruptive for residents. It requires access to a sample of individual flats and involves noise, dust, and temporary damage to internal finishes.
Careful Planning: The process requires a professional to coordinate the destructive inspection, document findings, and manage the reinstatement process. This requires a clear plan, transparent communication with residents, and a reliable contractor.

When is a Type 4 FRA Commissioned?

A Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment is not a routine check. It is typically commissioned in specific, high-risk scenarios where other assessments have failed to provide the necessary assurance.

Examples include:

Post-Cladding Remediation: After non-compliant external cladding has been removed, a Type 4 FRA can be commissioned to verify that firestopping and cavity barriers have been correctly installed and are working as intended.
Suspected Systematic Defects: If a building has a history of poor workmanship, or if a Type 1 or 3 FRA has found a serious defect in one area, a Type 4 FRA may be needed to confirm if the problem is widespread throughout the building’s common parts and individual flats.
Complex or High-Risk Buildings: In some cases, a high-risk building (e.g., a complex high-rise with a convoluted layout) may require a Type 4 assessment to provide the definitive evidence of compliance that insurers or regulators demand.

The Importance of Accredited Professionals

A Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment must only be conducted by a highly experienced and accredited professional. Given the intrusive nature of the work, the professional must not only be an expert in fire safety but also in building construction and the PAS 79 methodology. They must be able to specify and manage the intrusive works correctly and provide clear, actionable recommendations.

Using an accredited professional provides a robust, legally defensible report and ensures that your long-term fire safety planning is based on solid, verified data.

Conclusion

A Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment is a rare but vital tool for property managers and developers. It provides the definitive answers needed to address serious safety concerns, unearthing hidden risks and informing remediation projects. While it is a significant undertaking, it offers the ultimate assurance that a building is safe and compliant.

If your building has a history of fire safety issues or if previous assessments have raised serious doubts, a professional, intrusive survey may be your only path to true peace of mind.

Get a quote for a Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment Today

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Insurance-Approved EWS1 Reports

This quick, easy form takes just a few minutes to complete. We’ll ask for your building’s key details along with any existing plans, Fire Risk Assessments (Types 1–4), or other fire-related reports. The more information you provide, the faster our accredited fire engineers can prepare an accurate, fixed-scope Fire Strategy Report quote.

Step 1 of 4

Building Details

Building Name/Number(Required)

Building Postcode(Required)

Building Type

Building Height / Number of Floors(Required)

Year of Construction (if known)

Only Accredited FRA Experts. No Exceptions.

We only work with competent, insured fire risk assessors accredited under recognised third-party schemes. Every FRA, from Type 1 through to Type 4, is carried out in strict compliance with PAS 79 methodology.

Our assessors hold industry-recognised accreditations such as the IFE Fire Risk Assessors Register, BAFE SP205, and IFSM. Each professional is fully vetted, with memberships, qualifications, and insurance verified. All reports are PAS 79–compliant, clearly risk-rated, and written to meet the requirements of lenders, insurers, and regulators.

Whether you need a straightforward Type 1 common-parts inspection or a comprehensive Type 4 intrusive survey, we provide the right qualified assessor and take care of access, permits, and logistics from start to finish.

Type 4 Fire Risk Assessments

What is a Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment?

How It Differs from Other FRA Types:

Why is an FRA Type 4 So Important?

Practical Challenges of a Type 4 FRA

When is a Type 4 FRA Commissioned?

The Importance of Accredited Professionals

Conclusion

Start Your FRA Type 1-4 Quote

Accredited Fire Engineers — Nationwide Coverage

Fully Compliant with the Building Safety Act

Trusted by Property Managers Across the UK

Fast Turnaround — No Hidden Costs

Insurance-Approved EWS1 Reports

Accredited Fire Engineers — Nationwide Coverage

Fully Compliant with the Building Safety Act

Trusted by Property Managers Across the UK

Fast Turnaround — No Hidden Costs

Insurance-Approved EWS1 Reports

Building Details

Floor Plans, Fire Reports & Other Documents

Only Accredited FRA Experts. No Exceptions.

Compliance Assured

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