Running a business is a complex endeavour with plenty of challenges and many things to consider. Those with a physical presence have even more to consider, like security measures and fire safety.

New research from Spy Alarms, security and fire systems experts, uncovered that more than half of UK businesses only invest in security systems, neglecting potentially life-saving measures.

The data revealed that 59% of businesses invested in CCTV, intruder alerts and access control, but only 39% invested in fire security. This is highly alarming, considering the average cost of a fire to a business is £78000 – not taking into account potential health and emotional factors, or legal consequences.

Fire hotspots in London

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Government data reveals a significant 71% decrease in fire incidents in 2024 compared to 2023. However, London still faces an alarmingly high number of fire-related incidents, with Westminster emerging as the city's biggest fire hotspot, recording a total of 239 incidents.

The borough also had the highest number of false alarms, at 1,979. This may suggest that businesses in the area are particularly cautious, reporting suspected incidents more frequently than those in other parts of London.

Area	Incidents in 2024
Westminster	239
Newham	198
Greenwich	191
Haringey	189
Barnet	182
Ealing	182
Brent	182
Lambeth	174
Enfield	162
Hillingdon	161
Lewisham	156
Hackney	152
Wandsworth	149
Havering	147
Bexley	143
Islington	141
Bromley	140
Redbridge	130
Hounslow	129
Waltham Forest	125
Barking & Debenham	119
Hammersmith & Fulham	91
Merton	86
Kensington & Chelsea	85
Sutton	83
Kingston	75
Harrow	71
Richmond	66
City of London	23

High-risk business types

Whilst fire safety should be a priority for all businesses with a physical presence, for some, it should be one of the highest. Government data shows that certain business types are more at risk for fire than others:

Business Type	Fire Risk Percentage
Industrial	24%
Food & Drink	19%
Retail	17%
Hotels	8%
Hospitals	7%

Reasons for Fire Safety Neglect

According to Spy Alarms, the main reasons for businesses neglecting their fire safety, are:

Financial constraints: Investing in fire safety can be a significant expense for businesses, which is why many do not consider it a priority, despite the potential catastrophic consequences.
Lack of knowledge: Especially new business owners might be unaware of legal requirements and the implications of missing fire safety measures.
Insufficient internal processes: Implementing and maintaining fire safety systems requires maintenance, and employees need to be trained. Some companies don’t have processes in place to implement this, or don’t see the value in setting them up.

Andrew Fowler, Fire System Specialist at Spy Alarms emphasises the importance of fire safety: “As we've all become aware of in recent years, a well-thought-out fire plan, including sufficient and maintained systems, extinguishers and an evacuation plan supported by training, are absolute non-negotiables.”

“While costs may be a concern, we offer site visits to determine the most suitable systems for our customers, from a set-up and budget perspective. It’s crucial to put expenses for these systems into perspective by comparing them to other operational costs and considering the potential losses and consequences of a fire incident.”

Fire safety should be a top priority for all businesses, especially those in the identified high-risk industries. Potential losses and health risks outweigh the initial investment in fire safety systems.

Please find further information here: https://www.spyalarms.co.uk/cost-of-uk-business-fires/

Notes to Editor

Spy Alarms is a trusted provider of security solutions with nearly 40 years of experience, specialising in burglar alarms, CCTV, fire protection, and access control systems across Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and London.

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