I would say both. the first to record the engineering measures, signage etc and the proposed functioning.

Then again later to start fleshing the system out with records.

You need to consider the arrangements around factors during the development of the store - how new stores work for me is - during construction, the contractor have this responsibility - when we take over (hand over) we do one - when we commence we trade its reviewed taking into consideration new factors such as the public.

thanks all for your replies - all useful !

This is a classic example of where safety gets a bad name.
I have been asked so many times to do retrospective risk assessments. When the engineers are back in ripping down all the nice shiny new walls, installing extra bits and sending the project way over budget, and way past completion...

Who gets the blame?

I do :)

So I concur with all the above - even HSG65 says we should RA inputs, and that's without even picking up CDM!

But this is probably quite a logical time to carryout the assessment.

I'd assume that the responsibility for designing and installing fire safety equipment and systems within new stores will be contracted out to competent professionals that will have their own FRA process to ensure the systems and equipment installed are suitable.

There does not seem to me, in the above scenario, much point in trying to carryout your own FRA for these provisions, as it's being done for you (at contractor appointment stage you would assume the competence to identify the correct type / number / location of detectors etc. etc. has been checked by the client). Moreover, (in my experience), fire alarm / emergency lighting etc. is installed at the latter stages of the fit-out, so maybe 1 day prior to opening is the first instance that everything will be in place!

Of course you want to check that what's installed is what was planned to be installed, but carrying out your on FRA before it is actually installed may not make sense in some scenarios.

For non-retail builds it may well be different, but I certainly don't think such a situation gives safety "a bad name".

As this appears to be a new build reference should be made to Building Regulations Approved Document B Volume 2 Appendix G "Fire safety information"
The designer should have produce a fire strategy for the project and provided the duty holder with the information to produce a fire risk assessment. This information would normally be available in the Building Health & Safety File that is handed over to the occupier on completion.
As mentioned by previous threads this should have been considered during the design stage - if not the CDM C has not been doing their job.
In theory a new build fire risk assessment should be quite slim as it meets current Building Regulations and is safe to operate - said with tongue in cheek.

The requirement to carry out an FRA is in a place of work, and the showroom is a place of work now and not just 6 weeks after it opens. The contractor is likely to have arrangements in place for their employees but you should put in place arrangements for fire safety once it is taken over for your use, which is going to be before it opens.

The FSO requires you to take general fire precautions and apply principles of prevention and not just an FRA.

I suppose ask yourself what will staff and visitors do if there is a fire or alarms sounding in the first 6 weeks, will staff know what to do, how to evacuate, where to go, how to clear the site, call for help.