New independent audit programme aims to help reduce fire risk and build confidence among insurers
The Textile Services Association (TSA) is introducing a new Fire Safety Code of Practice Audit for commercial laundries, designed to strengthen fire risk management across the sector and demonstrate a consistent, independently verified approach to fire safety. It has been developed in consultation with TSA members, expert fire safety auditors, insurance brokers and independent audit provider WorkNest. The audit aims not only to further improve fire prevention in commercial laundries, but also to address one of the industry’s biggest challenges: access to insurance.
Commercial laundries generally maintain strong safety standards, but the combination of heat, textiles, chemicals and continuous operations means fire risk must be carefully managed. When fires do occur, the impact can be severe. That has contributed to a more cautious insurance market, with some operators facing restricted cover and rising premiums. The TSA’s new audit programme is intended to tackle that issue head on. Building on the association’s Fire Safety Code of Practice, it will provide an independent means of evidencing compliance with an industry-specific standard for fire risk management, while helping show insurers that the sector is taking practical, measurable steps to reduce risk.
“We were advised that an independently audited, industry-wide approach is the most effective way to demonstrate a consistent standard of fire risk management,” says Emma Kiviniemi Wilson, managing director of the TSA. “We hope this will build greater confidence among insurers, encourage more providers into the market and, over time, help improve the availability and affordability of insurance for our industry.”
From January 2027, the audit programme will be introduced for all TSA laundry members. Operators with one or two sites will receive audits across all sites in the first year, while larger multi-site businesses will be audited on a phased basis, with all sites covered within a three-year inspection cycle. Members will normally receive at least six weeks’ notice of an audit, with full guidance provided in advance on the criteria, process and what to expect on the day.
WorkNest will deliver the independent audits on a site-by-site basis. “The audit is not about catching members out or assuming that every improvement requires significant capital investment,” says Jeff Watkins, head of fire safety at WorkNest. “It is about recognising good practice, identifying meaningful opportunities to reduce risk and giving members a clear route to demonstrate compliance with the Code of Practice.”
For insurance specialists involved in shaping the programme, that independent evidence is a key part of the value. “Insurers need clear evidence that effective fire-risk controls are not only documented but consistently implemented,” says Andy Taylor, client director at insurance broker Marsh. “Independent audits provide credible assurance and, over time, should support better-informed conversations between textile service businesses, brokers and insurers about risk, resilience and insurability.”
Lisa Fry, director of laundry broking & risk management at Milsom Insurance Brokers, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how fires can have a devastating impact on laundries, their customers and the people who work so hard in them. By establishing a clear, industry-specific standard for managing property and business risk, the Fire Safety Code of Practice represents an important step towards reducing both the likelihood and potential severity of these incidents.”
The programme has also been welcomed by operators with direct experience of the consequences of fire. Mark Middleton, managing director of Belmont Laundry and a TSA member involved in the audit’s development, said: “Experiencing a serious fire brings home just how quickly a business, its employees, customers and years of hard work can be placed at risk. If these audits help another business identify and address a vulnerability before a fire occurs, they will be seriously worthwhile.”
Andrew Glassford, TSA’s project director, has overseen the audit’s development, working with contributors including WorkNest, Marsh and TSA members. “It’s great to see the Fire Code of Practice audit programme launch after so much collaboration between TSA members, insurers and fire safety specialists”, he says. “This takes us from agreeing good practice to being able to demonstrate it consistently across the industry, helping members strengthen their resilience and protect their businesses.”
The new audit programme will be discussed in more detail at the TSA Autumn Conference 2026, where fire safety and risk management will form part of the wider conversation about strengthening the future of the industry. It will also be available to non-members at a higher rate, although participation will only be mandatory for TSA laundry members. The cost for members will be £600 + VAT per site, charged at cost, with no profit retained by the TSA.