If you have an internal audit, an insurer visit or a regulatory inspection coming up, the best thing you can do is get organised early. A fire or electrical compliance audit usually looks at two things: whether the right checks have been carried out, and whether you can show clear evidence of that when asked.
The exact focus will vary, but most audits look for the same gaps. Inspectors tend to check whether your records are current, whether testing has been done at the right intervals, whether defects have been dealt with, and whether your staff know what they're supposed to do in an emergency.
If you are trying to work out how to prepare for a compliance audit, start there. It's usually less about producing one perfect file on the day, and more about showing that safety is being managed properly over time.
GOV.UK states that the responsible person must carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment, keep a written record, and make sure emergency routes, detection systems, fire-fighting equipment and staff training have been considered.
This is usually the part that slows people down, so it makes sense to start here. Before a visit, gather the records you are most likely to be asked for.
Rented commercial properties, public buildings and other high-risk environments may need EICR fixed wire inspections, while emergency lighting and fire alarms have to be tested and maintained under the Fire Safety Order. Test records should include the date, location, type of test, any faults found and any remedial action taken.
Preparing for a fire audit starts with reviewing both your on-site conditions and your documentation.
Finally, take time to review your fire safety procedures. Make sure they still align with how the building is actually being used. If there have been changes to the layout, occupancy, or daily activities, your fire risk assessment and procedures may need updating accordingly.
How to prepare for an electrical audit is slightly different, because you need to look at both records and condition.
Start by checking that your EICR status is current and that any observations from earlier inspections have been dealt with or at least clearly scheduled. Then review your PAT or EET records and make sure they match the equipment currently in use.
After that, carry out a basic visual check around the site. Look for damaged sockets, loose cables, cracked accessories, extension leads in poor condition, or portable equipment that should already have been taken out of use.
Anything obvious, overdue or already known about needs attention before the visit. That usually means:
If everything cannot be completed beforehand, the next best thing is to show that the issue has been identified and action has been booked in. An unsatisfactory EICR can lead to repairs and follow-up certification, and this creates a clear audit trail against duty holder obligations. A known issue with no action behind it is much harder to defend than a logged issue with a planned fix.
While audits do look at paperwork, they also test whether the right people know what's happening on site.
Your team doesn't need to know every regulation in detail, but relevant staff should know where key records are kept, what the evacuation procedure is, and who is responsible for reporting or dealing with safety issues. If someone's asked a straightforward question during a visit, they shouldn't be hearing the answer for the first time.
Before the day itself, make sure you have:
We support clients with maintenance, testing and remedial works, so if there are gaps in your records or obvious issues on site, we'll help you deal with them before your audit.
Once you're audit-ready, at phs Compliance, we can conduct your fire risk assessments, electrical inspection and testing, remedial works, PAT testing, EICR inspections and more, helping you keep all your compliance testing in once place.
Explore our services or get in touch to receive a practical review or to book in your next audit.
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