Legal & compliance
Fire safety for saunas and recovery rooms
By ThermaCare team · Published 2026-09-16 · Reviewed 2026-09-16 · UK guidance
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 you are a responsible person for the recovery room even as a tenant inside a gym. You need a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment covering the sauna heater and timber interior, chemical storage and escape routes, coordinated with the building owner's assessment; extinguishers serviced yearly; emergency lighting tested; signage; a daily check that exit routes are clear; and staff who know what to do. Scotland and Northern Ireland have equivalent law.
The assessment
Identify the hazards (heaters, timber, towels and oils, chemical store, electrical equipment), the people at risk (including a bather in a sauna who cannot hear an alarm), the controls, and the emergency plan. Review it yearly and after any change. If you are a tenant, share it with the landlord and make sure the building alarm reaches your room.
Equipment and checks
Extinguishers suitable for the risks, serviced annually with an extended service every five years. Emergency lighting with a monthly function test and an annual full-duration test. Signage that survives steam. A daily arrival check that exit routes are clear and doors open.
Questions operators ask next
Do I need my own fire risk assessment if I rent space in a gym?
Yes, for your part of the premises, coordinated with the gym's. Both responsible persons must cooperate.
How often are extinguishers serviced?
A basic service every twelve months and an extended service every five years, by a competent person.
See where your room stands
ThermaCare tracks every requirement on this page against your own records, with the daily checklist, water tests, certificate reminders and asset history to prove it. Start with the free five-minute risk score, or create your account.
This guide summarises UK legislation and HSE guidance as understood on 2026-09-16. It is a working guide, not legal advice; decisions about your premises rest with you and your professional advisers.