Fire safety is a paramount concern for any organisation operating within the built environment. The devastating impact of fire on businesses, public services and communities underscores the necessity of stringent fire safety protocols.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 stands as the cornerstone of fire safety legislation in the UK, streamlining previous laws into a clear, comprehensive framework that emphasises prevention, responsibility and continuous risk assessment.
This article delves into the intricacies of the Fire Safety Order, providing a detailed guide to its objectives, the scope of its application and the responsibilities it places on individuals designated as ‘responsible persons’.
Understanding the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is a pivotal piece of legislation in the UK that came into effect on October 1, 2006. It was introduced to consolidate and simplify fire safety regulations across various types of buildings, excluding private dwellings. The Order is designed to emphasise prevention through the ongoing assessment and reduction of fire risks, replacing over 70 pieces of older fire safety law.
Key Objectives of the Fire Safety Order
The primary objectives of the Fire Safety Order are to:
- Enhance Safety: Ensure a minimum level of fire safety in commercial, industrial and public buildings.
- Simplify Legislation: Consolidate existing laws into a clear and coherent framework to make compliance easier and more straightforward.
- Assign Responsibility: Define the roles and responsibilities of individuals responsible for fire safety in buildings, known as the ‘responsible persons’.
- Promote Risk Assessment: Encourage the regular assessment of fire risks to enable proactive management and mitigation of potential fire hazards.
- Facilitate Enforcement: Provide a more efficient and flexible structure for local fire authorities to enforce fire safety standards.
The Scope of the Legislation: Who is Affected?
The scope of the Fire Safety Order extends to nearly all buildings, places and structures other than individual private homes. This includes:
- Commercial spaces like offices, shops and warehouses
- Public buildings such as schools, hospitals, libraries and places of worship
- Community halls and residential care facilities
- Common areas of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)
- Shared areas of apartment buildings (but not the individual private residences within)
Every employer or owner operating within premises that fall under the scope of the FSO is deemed a ‘responsible person’. This individual is tasked with ensuring compliance with the Order by carrying out necessary fire safety duties, including risk assessments and maintaining appropriate fire safety measures.
Responsibilities Under the Fire Safety Order
Duties of the ‘Responsible Person’
The ‘responsible person’—typically the employer, owner or occupier of business or non-domestic premises—is charged with a series of critical duties under the Fire Safety Order. The responsible person may need to participate in fire safety training programmes to understand their legal responsibilities. These responsibilities include:
- Conducting Fire Risk Assessments: Regularly evaluating the premises to identify potential fire hazards and risks.
- Implementing Safety Measures: Ensuring that appropriate fire safety measures are in place to prevent or mitigate the impact of fire.
- Maintaining Clear Escape Routes: Keeping exit routes free of obstructions and clearly marked to facilitate quick and safe evacuation.
- Providing Information and Training: Informing all occupants and employees about fire safety procedures and ensuring adequate training on what actions to take in the event of a fire.
- Cooperation and Coordination: Where premises are shared or have multiple occupants, the responsible person must coordinate with others to ensure comprehensive fire safety across the entire property.
Importance of Fire Risk Assessments
Fire risk assessments form the cornerstone of fire safety under the Order. These assessments are not one-time tasks but ongoing processes that must be reviewed and updated regularly, particularly when there are changes to the layout of the premises, the nature of the stored materials or the occupancy of the building. The key steps in a fire risk assessment include:
- Identify Fire Hazards: Sources of ignition, fuel and oxygen.
- Determine Who is at Risk: Identifying individuals at risk in the event of a fire, particularly vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young or those with disabilities.
- Evaluate and Act: Assess the risk of a fire starting and the dangers from the existing hazards. Remove or reduce these hazards wherever possible.
- Record, Plan and Train: Document the hazards and actions taken, prepare an emergency plan and provide training.
- Review: Regularly reassess the risks and revise measures and processes as necessary.
Maintaining Fire Safety Equipment and Systems
To comply with the Fire Safety Order, the responsible person must ensure that all fire safety equipment and systems are:
- Suitably Maintained: Regular maintenance must be carried out to ensure that fire alarms, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and other fire safety systems are in working order.
- Tested Regularly: Fire safety systems should be tested regularly according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and legal requirements to guarantee functionality during emergencies.
- Adequately Recorded: Maintenance and testing activities should be recorded to provide an audit trail that can be reviewed by fire safety inspectors.
Adhering to these responsibilities is a critical measure control fire risk and protect lives and property. The diligent application of these duties significantly enhances the safety and security of all occupants within the premises.
Training and Awareness
Effective fire safety training is essential to ensure that the staff is aware of the procedures to follow in case of a fire, which significantly enhances their ability to act quickly and safely.
The Fire Safety Order mandates that the ‘responsible person’ must provide adequate training and information about fire risks and preventive measures. Employers can also provide an online fire awareness training course to employees.
A variety of other resources are available to support organisations in implementing effective fire safety training and awareness programmes. These include online training modules, in-person workshops led by fire safety professionals and educational materials provided by fire services or safety organisations.
Developing a robust fire safety culture and providing employees with useful resources can go a long way in reducing fire risk and preventing loss. By investing in training and cultivating a strong culture of fire safety, organisations can significantly mitigate the risks associated with fire, protecting both their employees and their operational continuity.
