Fire & Safety Control Associates - Fire Safety Consultants

In October 2006 major changes to Fire Precautions legislation occured when the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO) came into force.

The Fire Precautions Act 1971 and other relevant legislation has been repealed and Fire Certificates are no longer required, although the Fire Precautions imposed by a Fire Certificate cannot be removed.

The move towards Self-Regulations and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 imposes certain defined duties on the management and staff of all commercial and non-domestic premises, including those occupied by the self-employed and voluntary sectors.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that all non-domestic premises, provides sufficient and satisfactory fire precautions are put in place to cover general fire precautions and other fire safety duties. These are needed to protect relevant persons in case of fire in and around most premises. The 'relevant persons' means anyone who is legally on the premises or anyone who may be affected by the fire precautions on the premises.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 does impose the requirement for fire precautions to be put in place, but specifically 'to the extent that it is reasonable and practical in each individual case'

Responsibility for complying with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 rests with the 'responsible person' who in the workplace generally is the employer but could include anyone who may have control of any part of the premises and this could include the Landlord.

The responsible person(s) must carry out or have carried out a Fire Risk Assessment that should include for the structure of the premises, storage of dangerous materials and persons at special risk such as the disabled and those with special needs. In the case of those premises that have 5 or more persons who are likely to be affected by a fire in the premises, the significant findings of the Fire Risk Assessment must be written down.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is enforced by the Local Fire Authority who have the authority to issue Improvement Notices and or take any appropriate action that could include immediate closure, should the risk be substantial.

Having spent many years carrying our Risk Assessments and solving Fire Precautions problems for a varied clientele from Banks, Building Societies, Property Management Companies through to Hotel Groups, as fire safety consultants we are in a strong position to provide cost effective Fire Risk Assessments in a format that complies with the new Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The Fire Brigade's role will be to inspect premises and if the regulations are found to have been ignored or not implemented satisfactorily, they have the power to prosecute under criminal law.