FIRE SAFETY LAW

New fire safety law

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 was approved by Parliament in June 2005 with the aim of reducing death, injury and damage caused by fire. The new law will:

• Emphasise preventing fires and reducing risk.
• Make it your responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone using your premises.
• Do away with the need for fire certificates.

The new legislation came into force in October 2006 and applies to England and Wales (Scotland and Ireland will have their own laws), and consolidates most of the existing fire safety legislation.

A summary of some of the main provisions is explained below.

• Responsibility for complying with the Fire Safety Order rests with the ‘responsible person’ – the owner, employer or other person who has control of the premises.
• The ‘responsible person’ is required to carry out a fire risk assessment, which must focus on the safety in case of fire, of all relevant persons.
• The risk assessment should identify risks that can be removed or reduced and help you decide the nature and extent of general fire precautions you need to take to protect people against the risk of fire.
• If you employ five or more people, you must record the significant findings of the assessment.
• Fire certificates will be no longer valid under the new legislation.

Carrying out a fire risk assessment

A fire risk assessment should cover the following 5 steps:

1. Identifying the fire hazards

For fire to occur there must be a source of ignition, fuel and oxygen. If all 3 are present, and in close proximity, then there is an increased fire risk. Your fire risk assessment should list all the potential sources of ignition and fuels present in your premises.

• Potential sources of ignition include: naked flames, smokers’ materials, matches, pilot flames, heaters and arson.
• Potential sources of fuel include: textiles, wood, paper, card, plastics, packaging, rubber, fixtures and fittings, waste materials, petrol, white spirit, paraffin, paints and varnish.

2. Identifying the people at risk

If there is a fire, the greatest danger is the spread of fire, heat and smoke through the premises. Your fire risk assessment should consider:

• The likely speed of growth and spread of any fire, and associated heat and smoke. (Some fuels burn faster than others.)
• The numbers of persons in the premises, including customers, employees and visitors.
• How they will become aware of any fire that occurs (will there be some form of fire detection and alarm system?).
• How they will make their escape (can they make their way out quickly, easily and safely?).

3. Evaluating the risks and making changes

Once the hazards and the persons at risk have been identified, you must assess the effect of a particular hazard on the occupants of the premises, taking into account any control measures that are already in place. You then need to decide what other measures are required to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. These measures may include:

• Removing possible ignition sources.
• Moving the hazard to another area.
• Providing an improved fire detection and alarm system.
• Training staff to reduce the possibility of fire.
• Providing appropriate fire fighting equipment.

4. Recording your findings

If you employ 5 or more employees, you must record the significant findings of your risk assessment and the measures you have taken to reduce risk and improve fire safety.

5. Reviewing and revising the risk assessment

Fire risk assessment is a continuous process, and should be reviewed on a regular basis. Similarly, any changes to your premises, equipment, staff numbers, work practices, or the materials you use should prompt you to revise your fire risk assessment.

Other fire safety requirements

• All items of portable electrical equipment should be inspected regularly and fitted with the correct fuses.
• All new upholstered furniture for non-domestic use must comply with the requirements of British Standards.
• Fire exits must always be unlocked when your premises are in use or be capable of being opened without the use of a key.
• Fire escape routes must be clearly signed with the ‘running man’ pictogram.
• Fire escape routes should be adequately lit with artificial lighting and emergency lighting if required.
• Staff should be trained in general fire safety, including the use of fire fighting equipment, and the location of fire exits and assembly points.
• Ensure your fire alarm system is in good working order and is tested on a weekly basis.
• Ensure that an adequate number of suitable fire extinguishers is available, and that they are serviced annually.

Getting more information on fire safety

You can find more information on the new fire regulations by visiting the website of the Department for Communities and Local Government – www.communities.gov.uk

A number of guides is available that tell you what you have to do to comply with fire safety law, help you to carry out a fire risk assessment, and identify the general fire precautions you need to have in place. These can be found by visiting www.firesafetylaw.communities.gov.uk