Farm and Agricultural Fire Risk Assessments in Cornwall
Fire on a farm can spread quickly, travel between buildings and threaten people, animals, machinery and the future of the business.
Cornwall Fire Risk Assessments provides professional fire risk assessments for farms, agricultural buildings and rural businesses throughout Cornwall.
We identify the significant hazards, consider the practical realities of the site and provide a clear, prioritised action plan.
Cornwall Fire Risk Assessments is the regional service of JCH Safety, an established independent health and safety consultancy operating from Praa Sands, near Penzance.
Our assessments consider the whole site, including isolated buildings, external storage, livestock areas, access routes, water supplies and the potential for fire to spread between structures.
Fire Safety for Farms and Rural Premises
Agricultural sites often combine combustible materials, fuels, machinery, electrical equipment and isolated buildings.
Working Farms and Farm Estates
Active farms and larger estates containing several buildings, work areas, vehicles and agricultural activities.
Barns and Agricultural Stores
Buildings used for hay, straw, feed, equipment, packaging and other combustible agricultural materials.
Livestock and Poultry Buildings
Animal housing containing bedding, feed, electrical equipment, heating and ventilation systems.
Dairies and Milking Facilities
Milking parlours and dairy buildings containing electrical equipment, machinery, washdown systems and storage.
Grain and Feed Stores
Storage and handling areas where dust, residues, machinery and large quantities of combustible material may be present.
Machinery Workshops
Workshops used for repair, welding, grinding, battery charging and maintenance of agricultural equipment.
Stable and Equestrian Premises
Stables, tack rooms, feed stores, indoor schools and other premises used for horses and equestrian activity.
Packing and Food-Production Buildings
Agricultural packing, preparation and production facilities containing machinery and combustible packaging.
Farm Offices and Staff Facilities
Offices, welfare facilities, kitchens, changing rooms and other areas used by employees and contractors.
Farm Shops and Visitor Areas
Customer-facing retail, cafés, attractions and public areas operating within a farm or rural estate.
Rural Commercial Units
Workshops, stores and commercial premises located within converted agricultural buildings or rural business parks.
Agricultural Contractors and Estates
Contractor yards, machinery depots and estates managing several rural buildings or operational sites.
Do Farms Need Fire Risk Assessments?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to relevant agricultural workplaces and buildings under the control of an employer, operator or other responsible person.
A suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment must be completed, recorded and kept under review.
Government guidance is also available specifically for animal premises and stables.
What Does the Assessment Cover?
The assessment reflects the activities, buildings and materials present on the farm.
- Hay, straw, animal bedding and feed
- Grain dust and combustible residues
- Fuels, oils and LPG
- Fertilisers and oxidising substances
- Machinery, vehicles and battery charging
- Welding, grinding and hot work
- Electrical installations in exposed environments
- Biomass boilers and heating systems
- Solar panels and battery-storage systems
- Workshops, stores and plant rooms
- Waste, tyres and external storage
- Arson and site security
- Escape routes and final exits
- Fire alarms and warning arrangements
- Extinguishers and water supplies
- Fire-service access and emergency information
- Lone working and out-of-hours activities
Where fuels, gases, dusts or flammable substances could create a fire or explosion risk, a separate DSEAR assessment may be required.
Hay, Straw and Combustible Storage
Large quantities of hay, straw and bedding can allow a fire to develop rapidly and produce intense heat and smoke.
Storage arrangements should consider nearby buildings, ignition sources, machinery, electrical equipment and the possibility of fire spreading across the site.
Combustible materials should not be stored around electrical equipment, heaters or escape routes.
- Separation from occupied buildings
- Storage quantities and arrangements
- Ignition sources and machinery
- Moisture and spontaneous-heating risks
- Smoking and hot-work controls
- Electrical equipment and lighting
- Access for inspection and firefighting
- Potential spread between buildings
Rural Emergency Planning
Emergency arrangements must reflect the realities of the site, including access, isolation controls and available water supplies.
- The correct site address and access route
- Alternative entrances for emergency vehicles
- Locked gates and available keys
- Fuel, gas and electricity isolation controls
- Water supplies, hydrants, ponds or tanks
- Hazardous substances
- Solar panels and battery systems
- Livestock locations
- Nearby buildings and residential accommodation
- A safe assembly point
Clear plans and signs can save valuable time when attending firefighters are unfamiliar with the farm or rural estate.
People First, Animals Where Safely Possible
The immediate priority in a fire is the safety of employees, residents, visitors and contractors.
Where animals are present, emergency arrangements should consider how they might be moved or contained without exposing people to unacceptable danger.
The practicality of animal evacuation depends on the type and number of animals, available staffing, gates, routes and the speed at which a fire may develop.
Clear Reports and Practical Priorities
The report is designed to help farm owners, estate managers and employees understand what needs attention and monitor progress.
Site-Specific Scope
A clear description of the farm, buildings, activities, occupancy and assessment scope.
Hazards and Precautions
Identification of significant hazards, people at risk, existing precautions and photographs where helpful.
Prioritised Actions
An overall fire risk rating, clear recommendations and a practical action checklist.
Independent Professional Advice
Our service is led by a Chartered Health and Safety Practitioner and registered fire risk assessor with more than 20 years of professional experience.
We do not sell alarms, extinguishers or remedial work. Recommendations are independent, realistic and proportionate to the farm.
Through JCH Safety, additional support is available for wider agricultural health and safety matters.
Additional Support Through JCH Safety
Farm Fire Risk Assessments Across Cornwall
Supporting farms, agricultural estates and rural businesses throughout West, Central, North and East Cornwall.
Assessments are available throughout Cornwall, including rural, coastal and isolated locations.
Visits can be coordinated for estates and businesses operating several farms, stores or rural premises.
Request a Fixed Quotation
Contact Cornwall Fire Risk Assessments with the location, type of farming activity, number of buildings and details of fuel, livestock or hazardous-material storage.
We will confirm the assessment scope and provide a fixed quotation.