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Fire Risk Assessment & Fire Safety Audit in Ghana

A fire risk assessment identifies fire hazards in a premises, evaluates who is at risk, and sets out prioritised measures to prevent fire and protect life. S.G. Technologies conducts fire risk assessments and fire safety audits across Ghana — for offices, factories, warehouses, hotels, schools and hospitals — aligned to LI 1724 and GNFS requirements.

Last updated: · Reviewed by S.G. Technologies consultants

Definition

Fire risk assessment: A structured evaluation of ignition sources, fuel, oxygen, people at risk, and the measures that prevent, detect and respond to fire in a specific premises — producing a prioritised action plan, not a generic checklist.

What does the assessment examine?

Five areas, in order: ignition and fuel sources (electrical installations, cooking, hot work, storage of flammables — GNFS reporting consistently identifies electrical faults as Ghana's leading fire cause); people at risk, including night staff, visitors and anyone needing help to evacuate; prevention measures — housekeeping, maintenance, electrical inspection regimes; detection, alarm and suppression — smoke detection coverage, alarm audibility, extinguisher type and siting; and escape and response — travel distances, exit capacity, emergency lighting, signage, drills and warden arrangements.

Fire risk assessment vs fire safety audit — what's the difference?

Fire risk assessmentFire safety audit
Question answeredWhat could burn, and who is at risk?Do current measures meet the standard?
Reference pointThe premises and its useLI 1724, GNFS requirements, your own policy
OutputPrioritised risk-reduction planCompliance findings and corrective actions
Best usedNew premises, change of use, after incidentsAnnually, before GNFS re-inspection

Most Ghanaian businesses need both on a cycle: an assessment to set the baseline, audits to hold it — the same assess-then-maintain method S.G. Technologies applies to security.

Which regulations apply to workplaces in Ghana?

Three instruments do most of the work: the Fire Precaution (Premises) Regulations, 2003 (LI 1724) and its 2016 amendment (LI 2249), which drive the GNFS fire certificate; the Factories, Offices and Shops Act, 1970 (Act 328), which sets workplace safety duties enforced through the Department of Factories Inspectorate; and for petroleum-sector contractors, the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) HSE Regulations, 2017 (LI 2258), which require documented HSE management systems. A fire risk assessment maps your premises against all that apply — see also the fire certificate guide.

FAQ

Fire Risk Assessment & Fire Safety Audit in Ghana: frequently asked questions

How often should a fire risk assessment be reviewed in Ghana?
At least annually — conveniently aligned with the 12-month GNFS fire certificate renewal — and immediately after significant changes: new layout, new processes, increased occupancy or any fire incident, however small.
Do warehouses and factories need a different approach?
Yes — storage height and configuration, rack separation, flammable inventories and process hot work change the hazard profile substantially. S.G. Technologies assesses industrial premises in Tema and nationwide against those specific risks.
Does the assessment cover our fire systems too?
Yes — detection coverage, alarm audibility, extinguisher siting and servicing status, emergency lighting and EVACS are checked as part of the assessment, and system gaps can be designed and installed as a follow-on phase.
Can the same firm assess both security and fire risk?
That is S.G. Technologies' core model: one consultancy covering security and safety together, so measures like locked doors and escape routes are engineered to work with each other rather than against.

Start with the evidence

Tell us about your sites and we'll scope the work within one business day — no obligation.

Request an assessment