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Fire Safety Legislation
The Changes
Fire Safety Legislation is undergoing significant change. The changes are designed to make the law easier to comply with and easier to understand. The legislation that will bring about these changes is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO) 2005.
The changes will take effect from October 1 2006.
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The changes will apply across England and Wales and will affect all non-domestic premises and will even apply to certain activities taking place outdoors.
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How will this affect you?
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The main change will be in emphasis towards self regulation through fire risk assessment. Fire certificates will no longer be issued and the Fire Service will be mainly responsible for audit and inspection.
Responsibility for complying with the Fire Safety Order rests with the 'responsible person'. In a workplace, this is the employer and any other person who may have control of any part of the premises, for example, the occupier or owner.
In all other premises the person or people in control of the premises will be responsible. If there is more than one responsible person in any type of premises, all must take all reasonable steps to work with each other.
If you are the responsible person you must carry out a fire risk assessment which must focus on the safety in case of fire of all 'relevant persons'. It should pay particular attention to those at special risk, such as young people, the disabled and those with special needs, and must include consideration of any dangerous substance likely to be on the premises.
Your fire risk assessment will help you identify risks that can be removed or reduced and to decide the nature and extent of the general fire precautions you need to take to protect people against the fire risks that remain. If you employ five or more people you must record your risk assessment and any significant findings.
The risk assessment will result in the production of a Fire Safety Plan which will detail all the issues to be addressed before after and during a fire. All persons employed should be instructed and trained to ensure that they understand the fire safety plan and the action to be taken in the event of a fire. This should include persons engaged on regular duties outside normal working hours, (e.g. cleaner, contractors). Larger premises may decide to appoint Fire wardens to assist them discharge their responsibilities.
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Who does the new legislation apply to?
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The Fire Safety Order will apply to virtually all premises and covers nearly every type of building, structure and open space. For example:
- offices and shops
- premises that provide care
- community halls
- common areas of houses in multiple occupation
- pubs, clubs and restaurants
- schools
- tents and marquees
- hotels and hostels
- factories and warehouses
But it excludes purely domestic premises occupied by a single family group.
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Need more advice on the new fire legislation?
Call 07970 106498.
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