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Smoking Shelter and Vaping Area Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Describe your smoking shelter or vaping area — location, construction, proximity to the building — and we generate a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment covering fire risk, ash disposal, shelter fire resistance and lone working in minutes.
Used by offices, factories, hospitals, care homes, pubs and facilities teams across the UK
🔥 Shelter sited near a fire escape, air intake or oxygen store? Mention it — we'll include the specific proximity, ventilation and segregation controls needed to eliminate that combustion risk.
Legal requirements for smoking shelters and vaping areas
The Health Act 2006 requires that virtually all enclosed workplaces and public places in England are smoke-free, which is why designated outdoor smoking shelters are common. To avoid being classed as an "enclosed" space and therefore subject to the smoke-free ban itself, a shelter generally must not be more than 50% enclosed on the walls — meaning careful attention to construction is a legal, not just a safety, matter.
Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires every employer to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to employees and others affected by the business — including anyone using or passing a smoking shelter. Fire risks from discarded smoking materials must also be addressed under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which places a duty on the "responsible person" to reduce the risk of fire and its spread.
Smoking shelters raise hazards not covered by a general premises assessment: fire from discarded cigarettes and ash, the fire resistance of the shelter structure itself, its proximity to the main building and any flammable or oxidising materials stored nearby, and the personal safety of staff — particularly lone workers — using a shelter that may be remote or poorly lit. A specific, written assessment is expected by fire risk assessors, insurers and the HSE alike.
How it works
1. Describe the shelter
Tell us the shelter's construction and materials, its distance from the main building and fire exits, whether it is used for smoking, vaping, or both, and whether it is used out of hours or by lone workers.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment covering fire risk, ash disposal, shelter fire resistance, proximity hazards and lone working controls.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. File it alongside your fire risk assessment, hand it to your facilities manager, or keep it for HSE and insurance purposes. £29, no subscription.
What it covers
Every smoking shelter and vaping area risk assessment is written in full — covering every hazard specific to designated smoking and vaping spaces.
Fire risk from discarded cigarettes and ash
Provision of metal, lidded ash bins and safe disposal procedure
Shelter fire resistance and construction materials
Proximity of shelter to the main building and fire escapes
Separation from oxygen cylinders and other oxidising materials
Separation from flammable liquids and waste storage
Ventilation and compliance with the 50% enclosure rule
Lone working risks in remote or poorly lit shelters
Lighting, visibility and personal safety after dark
Vaping-specific risks — e-cigarette battery and charging hazards
Slip and trip hazards from wet or uneven shelter flooring
Signage, designated area boundaries and non-smoker protection
Housekeeping and regular emptying of ash and cigarette waste
Weather protection and shelter structural maintenance
Works for
From office car parks to hospital grounds, Anyrisks covers every type of smoking shelter and vaping area.
What customers say
"Our fire risk assessor flagged the smoking shelter's proximity to a fire exit. Anyrisks gave us a specific document covering the fix and the ongoing controls in five minutes."
Diane R.
Facilities manager, office building, Leeds
"We have a shelter tucked round the back of the warehouse that staff use late at night. This picked up the lone working angle we hadn't properly thought through before."
Kevin M.
Health and safety officer, logistics site, Doncaster
"Simple, specific and covers exactly what our insurer asked for after an ash bin fire on a neighbouring site — proper containers, distances and disposal procedure spelled out."
Ayesha K.
Operations manager, care home group, Birmingham
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| Health Act 2006 shelter enclosure rule referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fire Safety Order 2005 duties covered | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ash disposal and fire risk controls specified | ✓ | ✗ |
| Proximity and oxygen cylinder separation addressed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Lone working in remote shelters covered | ✓ | ✗ |
| Vaping-specific risks included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Do I legally need a risk assessment for a smoking shelter?
Yes. Under Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers must assess risks to employees and visitors, and a smoking shelter or vaping area introduces specific fire, structural and lone-working hazards that a general workplace assessment does not cover.
What does the Health Act 2006 require for smoking shelters?
The Health Act 2006 and its associated regulations require that smoking shelters used to comply with the smoke-free workplace ban are substantially open to the outside air — generally no more than 50% enclosed on the walls — to avoid being classed as an enclosed smoke-free space. Your risk assessment should confirm the shelter meets this test.
Are discarded cigarettes really a fire risk?
Yes. HSE and fire and rescue services consistently identify improperly discarded smoking materials as a leading cause of workplace and commercial fires. Your assessment should specify metal, lidded ash bins, regular emptying into non-combustible containers, and safe distance from waste bins and flammable materials.
Does the shelter need to be fire resistant?
The materials used for the shelter structure and roof should be non-combustible or fire-retardant where reasonably practicable, and the assessment should record the shelter's construction, its distance from the main building, and any impact on fire escape routes or fire assembly points.
How far should a smoking shelter be from the building and any oxygen cylinders?
Smoking shelters should be sited well away from building openings, air intakes, and any storage of oxygen cylinders or other oxidising or flammable substances, since smoking near oxygen sources presents a serious combustion risk. The assessment should record the actual measured distance and any additional segregation controls.
Does this cover vaping areas as well as smoking shelters?
Yes. Describe whether the area is used for smoking, vaping, or both, and the assessment will address vaping-specific issues such as e-cigarette battery risks alongside the fire, ash disposal and shelter-condition controls relevant to smoking.
What about lone workers using a remote shelter at night?
If your smoking shelter is in a poorly lit or isolated part of the site, mention it — the assessment will include lone working controls such as lighting, visibility from CCTV or occupied areas, and personal safety measures for staff using the area outside normal hours.
How is this different from your general workplace risk assessment?
Our standard workplace and building risk assessments cover general premises hazards but do not go into the specific detail required for smoking shelters — fire resistance, ash disposal, proximity rules and shelter-specific lone working risks. This assessment is written specifically to cover those points.
Also see: The ultimate guide to risk assessment · Do I need a risk assessment? · Risk assessment legal requirements · AI risk assessment generator