One Site, Many Risks: Why Fire Safety in Shared Spaces Needs a Holistic Approach

Compiled By: Schalk W. Lubbe

In industrial and commercial environments, fire risk is rarely confined to a single source or location. More often, it's a complex web of hazards, especially when multiple tenants, departments, or warehouse zones operate under one roof.

Take this common scenario:

• A tenant uses high-powered tools that generate heat and sparks

• A warehouse stores flammable materials stacked to the ceiling

• A cleaning crew stores chemicals in a poorly ventilated area

• And no one is fully aware of what the others are doing

Sound familiar?

When departments don’t communicate and tenants operate independently, it creates an environment where fire loads overlap, safety gaps widen, and risks multiply. Even the best-intentioned safety measures can fall short if they don’t consider the full picture.

Why Overlapping Fire Loads Are a Serious Concern

A fire load is the amount of combustible material present in a space — but when several teams or businesses share a site, those loads aren’t isolated. They interact. And when they do, a small spark in one area can rapidly escalate into a site-wide emergency.

Examples we often see include:

• Power tools used near volatile stock

• Improper chemical storage next to electrical panels

• Fire exits partially blocked by “just temporary” deliveries

• Confusion over who’s responsible for evacuation planning

These aren't just mistakes — they’re missed connections. And they can cost lives.

Our Approach: One Site, One Assessment

At Collaborative Risk Applications, we specialise in navigating complex, shared environments where multiple activities — and risks — converge.

We conduct holistic fire risk assessments that look beyond individual departments or tenants. We map out the entire site’s fire load, identify where responsibilities overlap or fall through the cracks, and provide clear, actionable strategies to prevent disaster before it strikes.

Our assessments don’t just tick boxes — they build communication, coordination, and confidence across your site.