Mixed Uses
Basement worship space, cooking and upper-floor sleeping accommodation all required consideration.
Protecting Worshippers, Volunteers and Residents
A Type 1 Fire Risk Assessment for a South London temple with community and sleeping areas.
Project Snapshot
PropertyBuddhist temple and community premises
LocationSouth London
ServiceType 1 Fire Risk Assessment
OccupancyWorshippers, staff, volunteers and two sleepers
Outcome14 prioritised actions
The Client’s Situation
Linh Son Temple UK combines worship, community activity, cooking and limited residential use. The trustees needed a clear order for urgent life-safety measures and the longer-term work needed to support safe operation.
The assessment translated the findings into a prioritised plan covering physical precautions, evacuation arrangements and day-to-day management.
The Challenge
Different uses, a single upper-floor staircase and a varied congregation created a demanding fire-safety picture.
People Needing Support
Evacuation arrangements needed to account for elderly worshippers and a Vietnamese-speaking congregation.
Multiple Ignition Sources
Candles, cooking and electrical equipment required consistent management.
What Eon Did
The inspection on 27 January 2026 reviewed accessible worship and communal areas, cooking facilities, escape routes and management arrangements.
- Fire warning and detection
- Fire doors and the kitchen loft hatch
- Emergency lighting and signs
- Electrical hazards and combustible storage
- Procedures, training and evacuation support
What We Found
The report identified urgent concerns that required the sleeping use and wider management arrangements to be reconsidered.
Warning Arrangements
Standalone smoke detectors did not provide a linked warning throughout the premises.
Physical Precautions
Fire doors failed gap checks and the kitchen loft hatch lacked adequate fire resistance.
Professional Judgement
The overall risk was assessed as Intolerable, requiring urgent action and immediate precautions.
What We Recommended
The trustees received a clear sequence for urgent controls, specialist work and management improvements.
Suspend Sleeping Use
Stop sleeping use immediately until suitable precautions have been implemented and verified.
Commission a Linked Alarm
Provide a suitable linked fire-warning system throughout the premises.
Repair Fire-Resisting Elements
Address deficient fire doors, the loft hatch and combustible loft storage.
Strengthen Management
Improve electrical controls, emergency lighting, signage, written procedures, training and evacuation assistance.
The Outcome
Result
Fourteen Prioritised Actions
The trustees received an ordered programme ranging from immediate life-safety precautions to longer-term management improvements.
Follow-up
Evidence Needed to Reduce Risk
Completion of remedial works and any reduction in risk remain to be confirmed through suitable evidence.
Support After the Assessment
Eon can help trustees understand the findings, review follow-up evidence and keep the action plan under review as work progresses.
Independent assessmentPhotographic action planPlain-language summaryFollow-up evidence review
Need a Fire Risk Assessment for a Place of Worship?
Get an indicative planning range online, or contact us about mixed-use community premises, sleeping accommodation or evacuation support.