New Fire Safety Rules

The Government has reviewed current fire safety law, and new fire safety rules affecting all non-domestic premises came into effect on October 1st 2006.  The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 was approved by Parliament on 7 June 2005. The Fire Safety Order will only apply in England and Wales.  Northern Ireland and Scotland will have their own laws.

Emphasis on Fire Prevention

The main effect of the changes will be:

        a move towards greater emphasis on fire prevention in all non-domestic premises, including the voluntary sector and self-employed people with premises separate from their homes. 

                        Fire certificates will be abolished and will cease to have legal status. 

        Responsibility for complying with the Fire Safety Order will rest with the 'responsible person'.  In a workplace, this will be 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.  This would occur if several businesses shared a block of offices.

         The responsible person will have to carry out a fire risk assessment which must focus on the safety in case of fire of all 'relevant persons' including the disabled and those with special needs.  The fire risk assessment will help identify risks that can be removed or reduced and the nature and extent of the general fire precautions that will be needed to protect people against the fire risks that remain.  If five or more people are employed then there must be a record of the significant findings of the assessment.  Responsibility for enforcement of the new rules will be with the local fire and rescue service authority who will carry out regular inspections with top priority going to those premises presenting most risk to the community.

      For government advice guides to risk assessments for fire......

   Covering small and large manufacturing, shops, pubs, clubs, large public venues, housing etc. click below.

 http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1162104

However, since many letting businesses operate from commercial premises, the employer will need to review fire safety procedures.

In addition, the new Fire Safety Order will affect blocks of flats or a house divided into bedsits or self-contained flats since the ‘workplace’ health and safety legislation applies to the common areas in these types of property where there is a degree of open and regular access for maintenance and cleaning – areas such as entrance halls, stairways and lifts.

Reference: www.lettingnetwork.com