What is the fire safety order?
The government have introduced better regulations, the order replaces various references made to fire safety from different legislations such as the licensing act, the housing act and the fire precautions act and has consolidated them all into one legislation. Any person who has a level of control over premises are now required to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk from fire and should a fire occur all occupants must be able to escape safely. This became a LEGAL requirement from October 2006.
Who is responsible?
The emphasis is to place responsibility for compliance onto the responsible person for fire risk management within the workplace, normally the employer or any other person who may have control over the premises is classed as the responsible person.
What are the main changes?
The main changes are that fire certificates are no longer valid or have any legal status.
What should employers do?
The responsible person within any organisation must ensure that fire risk assessments are conducted competently, and ensure that a "suitable and sufficient" fire risk assessment is completed to meet the legislative requirements. If an employer employs five or more persons then all significant findings must be in the form of a written document.
The following information provides a brief insight into the requirements:
Fire Safety arrangements:
The responsible person must make and give good effect to such arrangements as are appropriate to the size and nature of his undertaking for:
Effective Planning, Organisation, Control, Monitoring & Reviewing of the preventative measures necessary to manage fire safety.
Arrangements must be in writing where there are five or more employees and formally documented by the risk assessor.
Fire Fighting & Fire Detection:
The responsible person must ensure that the premises are equipped with appropriate Fire fighting equipment and with fire alarm systems, show documentation of maintenance regimes.
Competent Persons:
The responsible person must nominate competent persons to implement the measures for fire fighting within the premises. The competent persons must be suitably trained and they must have adequate equipment available to them.
Competent persons need to have sufficient training, experience & knowledge to enable them to properly implement the measures identified in fire safety.
Emergency Routes & Exits:
Emergency exit routes must be kept clear at all times, the "responsible person" has the over-riding duty. People must be able to evacuate the building to a place of safety in a reasonable time and safely. Below are some mandatory points regarding emergency routes and exits.
Emergency routes & exits must be adequate for the needs of the building and its use. Emergency doors must open in the direction of travel. Emergency routes & exits must be indicated by signs. Emergency lighting must be provided where illumination is necessary.
Further Information is available from the Communities and Local Government Website at:
The government have introduced better regulations, the order replaces various references made to fire safety from different legislations such as the licensing act, the housing act and the fire precautions act and has consolidated them all into one legislation. Any person who has a level of control over premises are now required to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk from fire and should a fire occur all occupants must be able to escape safely. This became a LEGAL requirement from October 2006.
Who is responsible?
The emphasis is to place responsibility for compliance onto the responsible person for fire risk management within the workplace, normally the employer or any other person who may have control over the premises is classed as the responsible person.
What are the main changes?
The main changes are that fire certificates are no longer valid or have any legal status.
What should employers do?
The responsible person within any organisation must ensure that fire risk assessments are conducted competently, and ensure that a "suitable and sufficient" fire risk assessment is completed to meet the legislative requirements. If an employer employs five or more persons then all significant findings must be in the form of a written document.
The following information provides a brief insight into the requirements:
Fire Safety arrangements:
The responsible person must make and give good effect to such arrangements as are appropriate to the size and nature of his undertaking for:
Effective Planning, Organisation, Control, Monitoring & Reviewing of the preventative measures necessary to manage fire safety.
Arrangements must be in writing where there are five or more employees and formally documented by the risk assessor.
Fire Fighting & Fire Detection:
The responsible person must ensure that the premises are equipped with appropriate Fire fighting equipment and with fire alarm systems, show documentation of maintenance regimes.
Competent Persons:
The responsible person must nominate competent persons to implement the measures for fire fighting within the premises. The competent persons must be suitably trained and they must have adequate equipment available to them.
Competent persons need to have sufficient training, experience & knowledge to enable them to properly implement the measures identified in fire safety.
Emergency Routes & Exits:
Emergency exit routes must be kept clear at all times, the "responsible person" has the over-riding duty. People must be able to evacuate the building to a place of safety in a reasonable time and safely. Below are some mandatory points regarding emergency routes and exits.
Emergency routes & exits must be adequate for the needs of the building and its use. Emergency doors must open in the direction of travel. Emergency routes & exits must be indicated by signs. Emergency lighting must be provided where illumination is necessary.
Further Information is available from the Communities and Local Government Website at:
Fire Safety Order
The Fire Safety Order
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