Fire Safety For Your Business
The Fire Safety Order and
what it means for your business.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 or "the Fire Safety Order" came into force on 1st October 2006.
The legislation fundamentally changed the way in which fire safety for businesses is carried out and enforced.
It provides for a risk-based approach to fire safety in non-domestic premises.
This allows more efficient and effective enforcement by the fire and rescue service.
Who is responsible for Fire Safety?
You are responsible for fire safety in business or other non-domestic premises if you are:
an employer
the owner
the landlord
an occupier
anyone else with control of the premises, for example a facilities manager, building manager, managing agent or risk assessor
The Fire Safety Order also applies if you have paying guests, for example if you run a bed and breakfast, guesthouse or let a self-catering property
If you fall into the categories above, it is your responsibility to make sure your workplace reaches the required standard and employees are provided with adequate fire safety training.
What do I have to do?
The Responsible Person at the premises is responsible for carrying out a risk assessment to identify the risks and hazards, with fire safety officers enforcing the Fire Safety Order through audits.
The Responsible Person is responsible for;
Reducing the risk from fire as far as reasonably practicable
Providing general fire precautions
Taking additional measures where flammable or explosive materials are involved
Creating a plan to deal with emergencies
Fire safety - information for employers
If you are an employer, below is a summary of your rights and responsibilities.
For a comprehensive list of your rights and responsibilities, please refer to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
If you have any doubts about your legal obligations, you should seek independent legal advice.
