Regulatory Reform Order

The aim of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order is to simplify and consolidate existing fire safety legislation with a risk-based approach to fire safety.   It was effective in England and Wales from 1st October 2006 and will effect employers and those who are responsible for non-domestic, industrial, commercial and residential premises, including the voluntary sector and self-employed people with premises separate from their homes.

What does this mean to you?
This act will repeal the Fire Precautions Act and the Fire Precautions in the Workplace Regulations.

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

The Fire Safety Order covers 'general fire precautions' and other fire safety duties which are needed to protect 'relevant persons' in case of fire in and around most 'premises'.

Who is responsible?
Responsibility for complying with the Fire Safety Order will rest firmly 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, e.g. 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.

The Fire Safety Order allows the Enforcing Authority (normally the Fire Service) to make sure that the Order is enacted (by force if necessary) and sets penalties if it is not.

The responsible person is tasked with ensuring that all fire detection and fire fighting equipment is well maintained by an accredited company to ensure the safety of the employees and that of the fire fighters.  They also have to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment (see below), produce a policy, develop procedures (particularly with regard to evacuation), provide staff training and carry out fire drills.

The Fire Risk Assessment
Fire Risk Assessment is central to this legislation as the Order requires fire precautions to be put in place ‘where necessary’ and to the extent that it is reasonable and practicable in the circumstances of the case.  That is, a systematic appraisal of the premises are required by the 'responsible person' to identify potential fire hazards and to decide who might be in danger in the event of fire.  You are then required to evaluate these risks in conjunction with your existing fire precautions, deciding whether these precautions are adequate or whether more needs to be done.

The responsible person must provide and maintain

• Clear Means of Escape
• Signs
• Notices
• Emergency Lighting
• Fire Detection
• Alarm
• Extinguishers

The Fire Risk Assessment should pay particular attention to those at special risk, such as the disabled and those with special needs, and must include consideration of any dangerous substance likely to be on the premises.

The Fire Risk Assessment must be reviewed regularly and amended if necessary.

The Fire Risk Assessment Report
If you employ five or more people you must record the significant findings of the assessment.  The Fire Risk Assessment must also be formally recorded if the premises are licensed or the Inspector requires it.

The generated report should identify the level of protection required as recognized by the British Standard BS5839-1:2002.

The report should also clarify that the FD&A System Designer, Installer, Commissioning and Service Provider is registered either under BAFE SP203 or LPS 1014 Quality Assurance scheme.