Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 or "the Fire
Safety Order" applies across England and Wales and came into
force on 1 October 2006.
What does this mean for you?
The Order affects all non-domestic premises and even applies to certain
activities taking place outdoors. See 'where does the new legislation
apply' for examples. The Fire Safety Order places the emphasis towards
risk reduction and fire prevention. Fire certificates are no longer
issued.
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. You will also need to produce an 'emergency plan'.
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.
Where:
* a licence under an enactment is in force,
* an Alterations Notice under the Fire Safety Order requires it, or
* you are an employer and have five or more employees,
the emergency plan and the findings of the risk assessment must be
recorded. The details must include existing control measures, those
which will be put in place and any persons identified as being especially
at risk.
Where does the new legislation apply?
The Fire Safety Order applies 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.
