Common causes of workplace fires

Understanding the common causes of workplace fires is instrumental in ensuring organisations keep people and places safe and comply with legal regulations. This awareness helps to conduct a thorough fire risk assessment, since responsible person(s) are in a better position to identify hazards and help prevent a fire from occurring in the first place.

Many businesses never completely recover from large fires, according to the Association of British Insurers. In fact, as many as 90% of businesses fail within a year of a major crisis, such as a catastrophic fire. Here, we identify the most common causes of workplace fires, from faulty equipment to flammable materials, so that action can be taken to mitigate the risks to life and livelihoods.

Five common causes of workplace fires 

 All workplaces are different, meaning the common causes of fire in the workplace also differ. For example, an office environment will have different flammable sources than a restaurant kitchen, and a public hospital or school may be at higher risk than a private art studio. But there are several causes that occur time and time again. The most common causes of workplace fires include:

     1. Faulty electricals 

The leading cause of fire in the UK is malfunctioning electronic equipment that isn’t properly tested and maintained. This can generate sparks or heat, igniting nearby flammable materials. This isn’t just heavy equipment on constructionsites, but small kitchen appliances such as toasters, microwaves, extractor fans, and even fridge freezers. Over time, without maintenance, these can be subject to wear and tear, leading to damage and overheating. According to the London Fire Brigade, electrical distribution is the leading cause of fire in UK offices – accounting for 32% of office fires.

     2. Flammable materials 

Most workplaces will have some sort of combustible materials on site, whether it’s paper, wood, and cardboard in a school or office, or flammable liquids, gases, and other chemicals in a garage, factory, or warehouse. As well as correct handling of materials, proper storage and compartmentalisation is crucial for fire safety compliance – having flammable materials too close to lighting sources, for example, accounts for 14% of office fires the London Fire Brigade attends.

    3. Smoking-related incidents 

Another leading cause of fire in UK workplaces (accounting for 11% of fires) is smoking materials, such as cigarette butts, being disposed of carelessly and igniting a fire. This poses a particularly high risk at workplaces such as petrol stations, but can occur in any working environment, especially if designated smoking areas (properly ventilated and away from flammable materials) and strict smoking regulations are not set up and enforced.

   4. Cooking equipment 

Another common cause of workplace fires to start is in the kitchen – whether a commercial set-up, staff room, or self-catering holiday let. From burning food to leaving cooking equipment unsupervised to combustible materials such as cooking oils and fats, kitchens present unique risks that require the specific procedures and equipment to maintain compliant fire safety.

   5. Arson 

It’s disappointing to learn exactly what percentage of fires are caused by people deliberately – just more than a fifth of workplace fires, according to UK loss assessors Morgan Clark. In fact, of the almost 12,000 non-residential fires attended in 2020/21, 2,677 were started deliberately. From securing sources of fuel to tightening CCTV, there are several steps that can be taken to help prevent arson.

Knowing the common causes of workplace fires is a helpful starting point. But this knowledge alone cannot reduce the likelihood of a fire breaking out – action should also be taken. Read our guide to implementing fire safety in the workplace next to help ensure everything from risk assessments to the installation of appropriate fire safety equipment is conducted compliantly.