Fire Risk Assessments

Fire Safety Legislation

The most significant change in fire safety legislation in the last 30 years took place on the 1st October 2006 with the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

It consolidates all previous fire safety legislation and Fire Certificates have been abolished and are no longer legal.

It is now the responsibility of an employer, manager or any other person who may have control of part of the premises (referred to as ‘the responsible person’) to carry out a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment for the safety of all persons legally on the premises.

Local Fire Authorities will enforce the regulation through inspection. This reflects the change in responsibility for setting standards under the regulations from the Fire Authority to the ‘responsible person’. Authorities have the power to issue notices of deficiencies, enforcement, restriction and prohibition, and may tale legal action.

A review should also be carried out at such earlier times as there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid or if there have been significant changes ie; extensions or alterations to the property, a change of use or process, an increase in staff, or a change in ownership or occupancy etc.

Fire Risk Assessment Review

A review should also be carried out at such earlier times as there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid or if there have been significant changes ie; extensions or alterations to the property, a change of use or process, an increase in staff, or a change in ownership or occupancy etc.

The Fire Safety Order

The Fire Safety Order applies to virtually all premises and nearly every type of building and open space including

Offices and Shops
Factories and Warehouses
Restaurants, Public Houses and Clubs
Community Halls
Residential Care Premises
Hospitals
Hotels
Hostels
Bed and Breakfast Establishments
Common areas in blocks of flats
Houses in multiple occupation
Schools, Colleges and Universities
Tents and Marquees

In order to comply with the requirements of the regulation, ‘the responsible person’ may appoint one or more competent persons to assist with or carry out the fire risk assessment.

A competent person is someone who has sufficient training, knowledge, experience and understanding of the principles of fire safety.

Any risk assessment should be reviewed periodically, and the ‘competent person’ should determine the period between the date of issue of the assessment and the subsequent reviews.