Fire Safety And The Regulatory Reform (RRFSO)

Current fire safety Laws detail employers and others' with responsibilities for people's safety if there is an out break of fire. At present there are various pieces of legislation that contain fire safety provisions, which makes it difficult for people to know what is applicable to them and their business in respect of complying with the Law.

As part of the Governments' commitment to reduce death, injury and damage caused by fire, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has now implemented changes in fire safety Law. Existing fire safety Law will be repealed or revoked and be replaced with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO), which has now received Parliamentary Approval (7 June 2005) and will come into force in

By adopting a fire risk assessment, the responsible person(s) will need to look at how to prevent fire from occurring in the first place, by removing or reducing hazards and risks (ignition sources) and then at the precautions to ensure that people are adequately protected if a fire were still to occur. Therefore the main emphasis of the changes will be to move towards fire prevention.

The fire risk assessment must also take into consideration the effect a fire may have on anyone in or around your premises plus neighbouring property. The building fire risk assessment will also need to be kept under regular review.

The RRFSO will apply to virtually all non-domestic properties, including voluntary organisations and will be subject to monitoring and where appropriate enforcement by the Local Authority Fire Service (LAFS).

Overall the RRFSO is intended to be less burdensome and clearer.

Summary of RRFSO

All existing fire legislation will be repealed or revoked, which includes the Fire Precautions Act 1971, the amended 1997 Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations plus 100 other pieces of fire related

Protection is explicitly extended to all occupants, which would include employees, visitors, contractors and passers-by who would all have to be considered in the fire risk assessment.

What are the implications for business?

When the RRFSO comes into force, building fire safety will be solely risk assessment led, therefore all businesses regardless of size will have to conduct a comprehensive fire risk assessment to enusre;

The elimination or reduction of risks (ignition sources),

There are suitable means of detecting & raising the alarm in the event of fire,

There are adequate emergency escape routes & exits,

There are appropriate type & sufficient quantities of fire extinguishers,

There are the correct type & sufficient quantities of fire signs & notices,

There are provisions for the correct maintenance of installed fire equipment,

Suitable provisions for the protection of Fire Service personnel,

That occupants receive the appropriate instruction / training in, e.g. actions to be taken in the event of fire and fire evacuation drills,

Who is the responsible person(s)?

Employer with control of a