WHAT IS THE REGULATORY REFORM (FIRE SAFETY) ORDER 2005?
The government have introduced better regulations, the regulatory reform(fire
safety)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are no longer valid or have any legal status.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.
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.
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.
