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Summer Workplace Fire Safety: The Risks to Check Before the Heat Arrives

When we think about seasonal fire risks in the workplace, winter usually gets all the attention because of portable heaters, overloaded circuits and festive decorations for example. But summer brings its own unique set of fire hazards, and because they’re less obvious, they’re often the ones that can catch a business out.

The risk is very real. According to the latest Home Office fire statistics, Fire and Rescue Services attended 6,665 fires in non-residential buildings in 2024/25, and electrical faults remain the leading identifiable cause – responsible for around 18% of all workplace fires. The impact of these incidents can be devastating:

• The average major fire costs a UK business over £650,000
• Around 25% of businesses never re-open following a serious fire
• UK businesses make fire insurance claims of approximately £940 million every year

Many of these fires are entirely preventable, and that’s exactly what a Fire Risk Assessment is for. Warmer months change how buildings are used, which equipment is relied on, and even how many people are on site, therefore, the start of summer is the ideal time to review yours.

This summer, here is what every workplace should be checking:

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Check fans and air conditioning units before use

Fans and AC units that have been sitting in a cupboard since last summer should not simply be plugged in and switched on. Months in storage can mean dust build-up on motors, frayed cables, damaged plugs and blocked vents – all of which create a fire risk the moment they are powered up.

Before any seasonal equipment goes back into service:

• Give each unit a visual inspection– check cables, plugs and casings for damage
• Clean dust and debris from vents, grilles and filters (dust on a hot motor is a potential ignition source)
• Make sure portable appliances have an in-date PAT test, and arrange PAT testing if they do not
• Have air conditioning systems serviced in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations

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Overloaded sockets and extension leads are a leading fire risk

With extra fans, chargers and cooling equipment in use, sockets and extension leads can quickly become overloaded. “Daisy-chaining” extension leads or running multiple high-usage appliances from a single socket generates heat, and according to statistics, electrical faults are already the number one cause of workplace fires in the UK.

Stick to one extension lead per socket, never plug one extension lead into another, and always check the maximum load rating before adding another appliance. If your team is constantly short of sockets, this is a sign that you need additional fixed outlets installed by a qualified electrician, not more adaptors.

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Bin storage and arson prevention

Warm, dry weather significantly increases the risk of fires outside, both accidental and deliberate. Arson remains one of the most common causes of commercial fires in the UK, and overflowing bins stored against a building are potentially an open invitation.

To reduce the risk of a bin or waste fire spreading to your premises:

• Keep wheelie bins, skips and waste storage well away from the building – ideally in a secured compound, far from walls, windows and leaves
• Be cautious about what goes in them. Aerosols, batteries (especially lithium-ion), oily rags and smouldering smoking materials can all ignite waste long after they’ve been thrown away
• Empty bins regularly during summer because heat speeds up decomposition, and dry waste catches fire far more easily
• Provide designated smoking areas with metal stubbing bins, also well away from waste storage

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Do not prop open fire doors in hot weather

A wedged-open fire door cannot do its job of holding back smoke and flames, and it compromises your entire fire strategy (and your compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005).

Summer also sometimes brings more deliveries, seasonal stock and outdoor furniture, all of which have a high likelihood of ending up in corridors and doorways. Therefore, walk your escape routes regularly and make sure every fire exit is clear, unlocked and easy to open from the inside.

Remember that good ventilation matters for your staff as well as your premises. Stuffy, overheated workspaces lead to fatigue and poor concentration – which makes fires more likely to be started and slower to be spotted.

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Reduced staff numbers carries a hidden fire risk

Many workplaces in different industries go quiet over summer, and skeleton crews bring fire risks that can be easy to miss. With fewer eyes on the premises, small issues like a smouldering bin, a faulty appliance, or a blocked fire exit can go unnoticed for longer. Gaps appear in trained personnel, and quiet periods often mean more staff working alone or in isolated parts of the building.

Therefore, make sure lone working procedures, regular check-ins and emergency contact arrangements are in place, and review your Fire Risk Assessment against your actual summer staff levels – not just the levels you have for the rest of the year.

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Is your fire safety training up to date?

Summer is peak season for annual leave, which means your usual fire wardens and first aiders may not be on site when you need them most. Therefore, before the holiday season is in full swing:

• Check your training records – are fire safety training, fire warden training and evacuation training all in date?
• Arrange cover so a trained fire warden is present on every shift, even at reduced staffing levels
• Run a fire drill with your summer staffing pattern, not just your full team, because an evacuation plan that works with 50 people may fall apart with only 15
• Properly induct any seasonal or temporary staff, so they know the alarm sound, escape routes and assembly points from day one

If you need help with your training, we have solutions available for both fire warden training and First Aid training.

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Temporary summer tasks which increase fire risk

Summer also brings a large number of one-off and seasonal jobs, and often these infrequent temporary tasks – done sometimes by contractors, catch businesses out, such as:

• Hot works and refurbishment: Quiet periods are popular for building works. Hot works such as welding, grinding, soldering and bitumen roofing are a major fire risk and should always be controlled under a hot works permit system, with fire watch checks of the area after work finishes
• Grounds maintenance: Strimming, mowing and hedge cutting near buildings can throw sparks or sever cables, and petrol-powered equipment brings refuelling risks. You should never refuel a hot machine
• Dry grass and vegetation: Vegetation against buildings is potentially fuel for fire spread. Keep it cut back, and store cuttings away from the building – green waste can heat up by itself and combust
• Workplace events: Summer barbecues and other social events bring open flames and gas cylinders into the work environment. Risk assess them like any other activity, locate barbecues well away from the building, never leave them unattended, and only dispose of coals once they are fully cold
• Contractors on site: Any contractor working in your building should be inducted, supervised where appropriate, and made aware of your fire procedures and evacuation plan. Always ask to see their risk assessments before work starts

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Conclusion

Summer fire hazards are easy to underestimate largely because the season feels relaxed. However, a short review which covers your electrical equipment, waste storage, fire doors and escape routes, fire safety training and staffing levels could be the difference between an ordinary summer and a devastating fire.

Make fire safety part of your summer routine, and the few hours spent PAT testing seasonal equipment, refreshing fire warden training and updating your Fire Risk Assessment could save your business from sudden devastation. If it has been a while since your last Fire Risk Assessment, right now is the perfect time to book one, because fire safety is a year-round responsibility, whatever the weather.