Fire safety legislation has changed under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO) 2005. The changes are designed to make the law easier to comply with and easier to understand by reforming and rationalising current fire safety laws previously contained in over 100 pieces of legislation. The main focus of the Reform is towards risk reduction and fire prevention, with Fire Certificates no longer having any legal status.

These changes affect all non-domestic premises and will even apply to certain activities taking place outdoors.

Responsibility for complying with the Fire Safety Order rests 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, for example, the occupier or owner. In shared premises ALL those responsible must take all reasonable steps to work with each other.

As a ‘responsible person’ you must ensure a fire risk assessment is carried out that focuses on the safety in the event of a fire of all 'relevant persons'. It should pay particular attention to:
• People at special risk e.g. young people, disabled persons and anyone with special needs,
• Means of detecting, raising and extinguishing any fire,
• Any dangerous substances likely to be on the premises,
• Emergency plans.

You must also appoint a competent Duty Holder to review and manage the fire requirements of the company.

Your fire risk assessment will help you identify risks that can be removed or reduced and to decide the nature and extent of the general fire precautions you need to take to protect people against the fire risks that remain. If you employ five or more people you must record your risk assessment and any significant findings.

Through a structured process in accordance with BSI PAS79, we are well placed and very experienced in assessing these considerations against your normal day-to-day business activities to ensure minimal risks to individuals and property. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the landlord/tenant relationship and common areas of responsibility.