Shared office environments and co-working spaces have exploded in popularity over the past decade, driven by the rise of hybrid working, start-up culture and flexible business models. In the UK alone, the flexible workspace market has grown by over 25% since 2019, with operators attracting everyone from freelancers and SMEs to corporate satellite teams looking for collaboration-rich environments without the long-term lease commitments.

Not only are these modern workspaces seen as more adaptable, social and cost-effective – they also significantly reduce overheads for businesses and encourage greater productivity among employees. With amenities, utilities and reception services all bundled in, it’s little wonder co-working spaces are now a go-to option for businesses looking to scale up or down quickly and efficiently.

However, with this popularity comes a critical responsibility: maintaining impeccable fire safety standards. Unlike traditional private offices, co-working buildings often experience high footfall, multi-tenant occupancy and flexible room usage – all of which present a unique set of fire risks and compliance challenges. According to government statistics, there are around 22,000 workplace fires in the UK each year, many of which stem from improper maintenance, outdated safety systems and lack of clearly defined evacuation procedures.

At Twenty4 Fire & Security, we’re proud to help building owners and facilities managers stay ahead of these risks. A recent example is our work at Origin Workspace in Bristol, where our engineers inspected and maintained the building’s existing fire door sets, installed multiple new fire doors, and ensured every escape route was fully compliant with current regulations. Fire doors play a vital role in protecting life and property by compartmentalising work areas and allowing those inside vital extra time to evacuate.

When it comes to safety in flexible office environments, proactive management is essential. Key responsibilities include:

  • Regular fire risk assessments to identify new hazards associated with changing occupancy and usage.

  • Professional fire door inspections and remedial works to ensure doors close correctly, provide adequate resistance and are kept in good condition.

  • Clear signage, lighting and evacuation plans to account for rotating occupants who may not know fire escape routes.

  • Maintenance of alarms, extinguishers, emergency lighting and sprinkler systems to ensure every piece of life-saving equipment is working as intended.

Whether you’re an owner, operator, or facilities manager of a shared office building, it’s your legal duty to stay compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and more importantly, to protect the people who use your space every day.

With flexible workspaces here to stay, now is the time to ensure your building isn’t just modern and collaborative, but safe, secure and compliant too. If you need help staying on top of your responsibilities, Twenty4 Fire & Security’s experienced team is on hand to carry out full inspections, maintenance, supply and installation work to give you confidence that your workspace is as safe as it is successful.