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Event safety relies on effective planning, coordination, and risk management to ensure that outdoor events, festivals, and other large gatherings are delivered safely for attendees, staff, volunteers, contractors, and the wider community.
Event organisers, whether operating as individuals, organisations, or local authorities, have a legal responsibility to take all reasonably practicable steps to protect the health, safety, and welfare of those involved in an event. Regardless of the size of an event, organisers should identify potential hazards, assess the associated risks, and implement suitable control measures to reduce the risk of injury, illness, or harm.
The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) promotes a collaborative approach to event planning, involving organisers, emergency services, local authorities, contractors, and other key stakeholders. Effective event management should be supported by robust processes for gathering information, assessing risks, implementing control measures, and documenting decisions within a Fire Risk Assessment and Event Management Plan (EMP).
The following information and resources are intended to support the identification and management of risks and contribute to the safe planning and delivery of events.
Following legislative changes, all non-domestic premises are now required to keep a written record of the fire risk assessment that has been undertaken and record their fire safety arrangements for ongoing monitoring of fire safety. This also applies to open-air events and venues.
The fire risk assessment, in conjunction with an Event Management Plan, should determine whether the risks identified are acceptable or whether additional steps to reduce or control them are required.
Further information and guidance on carrying out a fire risk assessment is available at Fire Risk Assessment
Each Local Authority has a Safety Advisory Group that meets to assess locally held events and provide advice and guidance on public safety to ensure that event organisers are aware of their responsibilities.
When planning an event, further information and specific requirements for your local authority can be accessed via the following links:
When notified of an event through the Safety Advisory Group, an Inspecting Officer may carry out a fire safety audit or peak performance inspection at the venue. This Inspecting Officer may review the Event Management Plan and fire risk assessment to ensure that your event or venue complies with the requirements of relevant guidance.
If you are organising or managing an event, you should, as a minimum, be satisfied that:
if there is a fire, everyone would be able to escape safely and unaided
the appropriate fire alarm(s) and warnings, signage, lighting and other requirements referred to in the government guidance are in place to assist people to evacuate if there is a fire
you know what to do if there is a fire, and that this information has been passed on to your staff and other relevant people
you are doing everything reasonably practicable to prevent fire in the first place by identifying fire hazards and people at risk, and by removing or reducing those hazards and risks
you keep records of what you do and keep your Fire Risk Assessment updated.
There are several recognised publications and guidance documents available to support the safe planning and delivery of outdoor events, intended to help organisers plan and manage events effectively while meeting their legal responsibilities.
To support event organisers, the NFCC has produced a range of guidance documents, fire risk assessment tools, templates, and checklists that can be incorporated into an Event Management Plan. These resources are designed to help organisers identify hazards, manage fire safety risks, and maintain a safe event environment throughout the planning and operational phases of an event.
The HSE guidance provides information on how to plan, manage and review an event, with role specific guidance and supplementary resources.
Guidance about completing a fire safety risk assessment for people responsible for open-air events and venues.
Fire safety risk assessment: open-air events and venues - GOV.UK
The above guidance does not cover sports stadia, permanent buildings or structures, large temporary structures, or air-supported structures. For these premises, the relevant Government Guide to Fire Safety Risk Assessment should be followed, which can be accessed via the following link - Fire safety: guidance for those with legal duties - GOV.UK
The Purple Guide to Health, Safety and Welfare at Music and Other Events, developed by the Events Industry Forum in collaboration with the UK events industry and government representatives, provides comprehensive guidance for event organisers and is now widely recognised as the industry standard for event safety management.
The Purple Guide – Please note that a subscription charge applies to this guide.
Last updated: Friday, 17 July 2026