Free Risk Assessment Guide
Fire Safety in Hospitals
In high-pressure healthcare environments, patient safety is everything. That includes robust and reliable fire safety systems that protect both life and property. From emergency rooms and wards to operating theatres and outpatient clinics, every part of a hospital must be prepared to prevent, detect, and contain fire.
At Asco, we understand the complexities of fire safety in hospitals. That’s why our experienced team works with healthcare providers across Scotland to deliver tailored solutions that meet strict regulatory standards and support the safe operation of your facility. Whether you’re managing a private clinic or an NHS trust, we’re here to help with fire safety in healthcare settings.
Why is fire safety in a hospital so important?
Hospitals present some of the most challenging environments for fire protection. Many patients are immobile or vulnerable, which makes evacuation more difficult. In addition, medical equipment, oxygen lines, and specialist materials increase fire risk and complexity.
Effective fire safety in hospitals isn’t just about installing alarms and extinguishers; it’s about integrating active and passive fire protection into the building’s structure and daily operations. From clearly signed escape routes to compartmentation zones, every element must work together to protect patients, staff, and visitors.
What are the legal responsibilities?
Fire safety in hospitals and healthcare premises is governed by a range of legislation in Scotland, including the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006. These laws place a duty of care on hospital management and facilities teams to prevent fire and reduce harm in the event of an incident.
The designated “responsible person” must ensure that:
- A suitable fire risk assessment is carried out and reviewed regularly.
- Fire detection and alarm systems are installed and maintained.
- Hospital fire doors are in place, functioning correctly, and routinely checked.
- Staff are trained in fire safety procedures, including horizontal evacuation.
- Fire extinguishers are accessible, appropriate, and inspected regularly.
At Asco, we support hospitals in meeting these requirements through expert consultancy, scheduled maintenance, and on-site servicing.
Our fire safety services for hospitals
Fire risk assessment for hospitals
A fire safety risk assessment is the foundation of any hospital’s fire protection strategy. It identifies areas of concern, people at risk, and actions needed to reduce fire hazards. We carry out fire risk assessments for hospitals in accordance with PAS 79 and current Scottish legislation.
Our assessments are detailed and practical, including photographic evidence, prioritised action plans, and clear recommendations tailored to your environment. Whether you manage a single building or a healthcare campus, we’ll help you maintain compliance and improve safety for every person on site.
Hospital fire alarm systems
Reliable early detection is critical in healthcare environments, which is why we design, install, and maintain hospital fire alarm systems that are compliant, resilient, and easy to manage.
Our solutions range from addressable fire alarm systems for large, complex layouts to wireless alarms where disruption needs to be minimised. All systems are installed to BS 5839 standards and supported by bi-annual maintenance to ensure consistent performance.
Hospital fire doors
Fire doors in hospitals play a vital role in compartmentation, slowing the spread of fire and smoke while supporting phased evacuation procedures. But their performance relies on correct installation and routine maintenance.
We inspect, repair, and replace hospital fire doors in line with industry standards, ensuring all seals, closers, signage, and certification are intact. Whether you need a fire door survey or urgent repair, our team ensures your fire doors remain compliant and fully functional.
Healthcare fire extinguishers
Hospital fire extinguishers must be suitable for clinical and administrative areas, and always ready to use. We can supply, install, and service fire extinguishers for hospitals and healthcare environments throughout Scotland.
Our engineers ensure the correct extinguisher types are placed in the right locations, in line with BS 5306-8. We also provide scheduled inspections and annual servicing to keep your equipment compliant and operational at all times.
Emergency lighting for hospitals
Emergency lighting plays a critical role in hospital fire safety, helping guide patients, staff, and visitors to safety when normal lighting systems fail. In high-risk environments like hospitals, where rapid evacuation isn’t always possible and corridors are long and complex, reliable emergency and exit lights are essential to protecting life during a fire or power outage.
At Asco, we provide a full range of emergency lighting services for hospitals and healthcare premises across Scotland, including:
- The design and installation of emergency lighting signs, exit sign and emergency lighting combinations, and emergency LED lights
- Planned maintenance programmes and compliance checks for existing systems
- Fault diagnostics, repairs, and upgrades for non-compliant or outdated setups
Our engineers are experienced in working within live clinical environments, meaning we’ll install or maintain your emergency light installations with minimal disruption. Whether you operate a single GP clinic or a full hospital campus, we’ll ensure your emergency light and exit sign systems support safe evacuation at all times.
Why choose Asco for hospital fire safety?
We understand the critical nature of hospital operations and the importance of minimising disruption. Our engineers are trained to work in sensitive healthcare environments and will carry out all assessments and maintenance with discretion and professionalism.
As part of the LS Fire Group, we deliver scalable fire protection solutions across Scotland and the UK, supported by trusted partner brands and accredited services. From individual risk assessments to full hospital fire protection strategies, we’re ready to help you protect lives and meet your legal duties.
Speak to our fire safety healthcare team
Fire safety in the hospital environment is not optional; it’s essential. Let us support your hospital or healthcare facility with compliant, reliable fire protection services tailored to your needs. Get in touch today to discuss fire safety in your hospital and discover how we can support you.
Fire safety is a responsibility that never rests and we’re here to implement complete fire protection for your business. Get in touch with our industry-leading experts to learn how we prevent fires, protect lives, and ensure compliance for you.
01414734821
Fire safety in hospitals FAQs
- What makes fire safety in hospitals different from other buildings?
- Fire safety in hospitals is far more complex than in most commercial settings. Hospitals contain vulnerable patients who may be unconscious, immobile, or reliant on life‑support equipment. This means traditional evacuation is often not possible. Instead, hospitals rely on horizontal evacuation, compartmentation, and stringent fire safety procedures to protect patients and staff. In addition, hospitals house oxygen systems, specialist gases, electrical equipment, and high‑risk clinical areas, all of which increase fire risk. We work closely with healthcare teams to design and maintain systems that support these unique clinical and operational demands.
- What fire safety legislation applies to hospitals in Scotland?
- Hospitals must comply with the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, which require duty holders to prevent fire and protect building occupants. As with all healthcare premises, hospitals must ensure they have a suitable fire risk assessment, maintain fire alarm systems, service fire extinguishers, and ensure hospital fire doors and compartmentation remain effective. Because healthcare settings carry elevated life‑risk, fire authorities expect higher standards of documentation, maintenance, and staff training.
- What is a fire risk assessment for hospitals, and why is it essential?
- A fire risk assessment for hospitals evaluates the entire building, identifying hazards, people at risk (including patients who cannot self‑evacuate), and the measures required to protect them. These assessments consider the hospital’s layout, treatment areas, fire doors, ward occupancy, alarm systems, electrical systems, oxygen supplies, and evacuation procedures. Our fire risk assessments follow PAS 79 methodology and include photographic evidence, prioritised actions, and clear recommendations tailored to the healthcare environment. Without a valid risk assessment, hospitals risk non‑compliance, enforcement action, and increased danger to life.
- How often does a hospital need to review its fire risk assessment?
- Hospitals should review their assessment at least annually, though more frequent reviews may be required depending on the size of the estate, changes in clinical use, refurbishment works, or concerns raised through audits. Because hospital environments change frequently due to new equipment, temporary clinical setups, or ward reconfigurations, regular reassessment is essential. At Asco, we provide ongoing review services to ensure hospitals remain compliant throughout the year.
- What role do fire doors play in hospital fire safety?
- Hospital fire doors are central to compartmentation and horizontal evacuation. They help prevent fire and smoke from spreading between wards, treatment areas, and corridors, buying vital time for staff to relocate patients safely. These doors must close properly, meet the correct fire rating, be free from damage, and be maintained according to manufacturer and legislative requirements. We provide inspection, repair, and replacement services to ensure hospital fire doors remain fully compliant and functional.
- What type of fire alarm system is suitable for hospitals?
- Hospitals typically require addressable fire alarm systems because they provide precise information on the exact zone or detector activated. This is critical in large or complex healthcare buildings where early identification can save lives. We design, install, and maintain hospital fire alarm systems in line with BS 5839, ensuring they support evacuation procedures, integrate with other hospital systems where needed, and deliver fast, reliable detection.
- Do hospitals need specific fire extinguishers?
- Yes, because hospitals contain labs, electrical equipment, flammable chemicals, and medical gases, the selection and placement of extinguishers must be carefully considered. We supply and service hospital fire extinguishers that are appropriate for clinical and non‑clinical areas, ensuring compliance with BS 5306. We carry out routine inspections, annual servicing, and replacements, ensuring extinguishers are always ready to use.
- Can Asco support large hospital estates or multi‑building healthcare sites?
- As part of the LS Fire Group, we can support single-site hospitals, multi‑building campuses, private healthcare facilities, and regional NHS estates. We provide scalable services, from fire risk assessments and hospital fire alarms to nationwide fire door inspection programmes, ensuring consistency and compliance across every building.
- How can Asco help improve fire safety in my hospital?
- We provide end-to-end fire safety support for healthcare environments, including fire risk assessments, hospital fire doors inspections, fire alarm installation and maintenance, emergency lighting, and hospital fire extinguishers. Our engineers understand the sensitivities of clinical settings and work with minimal disruption to staff and patients. Whether you need a full fire protection strategy or support with a single building, we’re here to help safeguard your hospital.
