The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The new Order came into force on 1st October 2006

The person who has responsibility for the Premises/Workplace is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Order.

WHY THE NEW REGULATIONS?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (FSO) replaces over 100 pieces of fire related legislation. With so many pieces of legislation there was a great deal of over lapping and inconsistencies arising in fire safety standards. The aim of the FSO is to remove multiple and overlapping fire safety provisions and replace them with a single fire safety regime, which will reduce the burdens and complexity on businesses.

WHAT IS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLD AND THE NEW REGULATIONS?

As from 1st October 2006 Fire Authorities will no longer issue fire certificates.
The fire safety standards will be based on a fire risk assessment, which must be carried out by a competent person.
Where a premises was issued with a fire certificate the occupier of a single occupancy premises was responsible for complying with the conditions of the fire certificate. For a building having more than one occupier, the occupiers and the owner were jointly responsible for complying with the conditions of the fire certificate. Under FSO it is the responsible person (In this Order "responsible person" means-
(a) in relation to a workplace, the employer, if the workplace is to any extent under his control;
(b) in relation to any premises not falling within paragraph (a)-
i) the person who has control of the premises (as occupier or otherwise) in connection with the carrying on by him of a trade, business or other undertaking (for profit or not); or
ii) the owner, where the person in control of the premises does not have control in connection with the carrying on by that person of a trade, business or other undertaking.)

This means, in multi occupied buildings, that the owner/landlord is responsible for the common parts, common systems, organisation and the fire safety procedures including the Fire Emergency Plan; and the occupiers are responsible for their premises, which includes all areas in a building where their employees go as part of the business including escape routes to the public road.

All responsible persons must demonstrate that they are managing the risks from fire safely within the areas under their control
The responsible person must appoint one or more competent persons to assist him in undertaking the preventive and protective measures.
The preventative and proactive measures must take account of all persons legally in or in the vicinity of the premises

WHICH PROPERTIES MUST COMPLY?

Premises is defined in the FSO as any place and, in particular, includes-
(a) any workplace;
(b) any vehicle, vessel, aircraft or hovercraft;
(c) any installation on land (including the foreshore and other land intermittently covered by water), and any other installation (whether floating, or resting on the seabed or the subsoil thereof, or resting on other land covered with water or the subsoil thereof); and
(d) any tent or movable structure;

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE?

Every person who has control/responsibility of the premises to some extent.
Persons who have any contract or tenancy when it relates to-
a) The maintenance or repair of the workplace.
b) The safety of the workplace.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I ALREADY HAVE OR HAVE APPLIED FOR A FIRE CERTIFICATE UNDER THE 1971 ACT?

As from the 1st October 2006 the fire certificate or application will cease to have effect. Any requirements imposed by a fire certificate will not be acceptable under the FSO to the Fire and Rescue Authority even though they may have issued it.

IF THE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY IS NOT GOING TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO, HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO?

Appoint Force Fire Consultants as your fire safety advisers and you can be assured that you will comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Benefits

Force Fire Consultancy will act as the competent person to assist you in undertaking the preventive and protective measures
We will produce a full report of all that is required for full compliance.
We will produce training schedules for all levels of employee so that you can undertake the bulk of training in house.
We will be able to provide telephone assistance for any fire safety problem that you may experience.
When you wish to carry out alterations to your premises we will advise you how to best comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Information Request Form

Please complete your details and submit your request to Force Fire Consultancy.