Licensed premises combine cooking risks, alcohol consumption, and public assembly. Fire safety compliance is a licensing requirement and legal obligation.. Hospitality Fire Risks Pubs, restaurants, and bars present a combination of high fire risk (commercial kitchens) with vulnerable occupancy (alcohol impaired patrons) in premises that often occupy older, multi storey buildings. Key Fire Risks 1. Commercial kitchen fires — cooking is the 1 cause of fire in hospitality 2. Deep fat fryers — oil fires burn at extreme temperatures and cannot be extinguished with water 3. Extraction ductwork — grease laden ducts propagate fire through the building 4. Cellar risks — gas cylinders, flammable liquids, electrical distribution 5. Temporary decorations — seasonal decorations adding fire load 6. Smoking areas — improperly extinguished materials near combustible items 7. Electrical overloading — aging wiring in older premises Kitchen Fire Safety Ansul/wet chemical suppression: Automatic suppression over cooking equipment Activates via fusible links or manual pull station Covers hood, duct, and cooking surfaces Gas/electric supply automatically isolated on activation Ductwork fire safety: Fire rated ductwork (minimum 30 minutes) through occupied areas Regular cleaning — at minimum every 12 months (every 3 months for heavy use kitchens) Access panels for inspection and cleaning Fire dampers at compartment boundaries Means of Escape Maximum occupancy must be calculated and displayed Exit doors must open outwards in direction of escape Emergency lighting on all escape routes Exit signs visible from all parts of the premises Staff trained in evacuation procedures Regular fire drills (minimum 6 monthly) Licensing Requirements Fire safety is one of the four licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003. The licensing authority can: Attach fire safety conditions to the premises licence Review and revoke licences where fire safety is inadequate Require a fire risk assessment as a condition of licensing Impose occupancy limits based on means of escape provision For hospitality fire safety, contact us. Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD — UK's Leading Fire Safety & Fire Engineering Consultancy 🌐 magnus opifex.co.uk 📞 +44 7486 691724 ✉️ office@magnus opifex.co.uk Founders: Nicoleta Vasile, Baroness of Brattleby — CEO, Lawyer and Barrister, Legal & Administrative Director Alina — Technical Director & Expert Fire Engineer (BEng) Head Office: Ealing Cross, 85 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5BW Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD delivers engineering led fire engineering, fire risk assessments, CFD modelling, and building safety consultancy across the United Kingdom and internationally. With over 20 years of combined experience and a UK portfolio spanning healthcare, residential and infrastructure, we bring truly engineered solutions with a personal touch. © 2026 Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD. All rights reserved.