The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order is a new piece of fire protection legislation that significantly changed fire safety law and practice. It places the onus of responsibility squarely on the responsible person. This may be an employer, landlord or any person who has to any extent control over the building. This new fire legislation also includes those who are self-employed.

What does The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 mean to me?

Responsibility for complying with the new fire safety legislation rest with the “responsible person”. For a workplace, this will be the employer or any other person who may have control of any part of the workplace, for example, the owner or occupier. Under the new fire legislation, the responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment and take reasonable steps to remove or reduce the risk.

The responsible person must provide a suitable and sufficient level of fire precautions. These should include:

• Appropriate measures to reduce the risk of fire
• Appropriate measures that will limit the spread of fire
• Appropriate measures of detection and giving warning in case of fire
• Appropriate measures to ensure that means of escape can be effectively used at all time
• Appropriate portable fire extinguishers for the risk identified in means of fire fighting
• Appropriate signs and notices to enable persons to escape safely
• Ensuring persons understand the action to be taken in the event of fire on the premises, including:
  • Instruction and training of staff
  • Measures to lessen the effects of fire

If you employ 5 or more people you must carry out and record the findings of fire risk assessment to comply with the new fire legislation.

What does the Responsible Person have to do?

The Responsible Person is responsible for the safety of employees and relevant persons by effectively managing:

• Fire Risk Assessment
• Fire Safety Policy
• Fire Procedures
• Fire Drills
• Means of Escape
• Emergency Lighting
• Fire Alarms and Fire Extinguishers
• Fire Doors and Compartmentation
• Fire Evacuations
• Signs and Notices
• Fire Training Courses

Our reports typically include observations and findings relevant to the following:

• Description of property and the applicable legislation
• General property information including number of floors, use of premises, occupiers and basic risk level
• Fire hazards and ignition sources, including electrical sources of ignition, heating, cooking, arson, storage, house-keeping, building work and outside contractors
• Means of escape, including fire exits, protection of escape routes, structural integrity and external exit routes
• Emergency lighting including maintenance and records.
• Signs and notices
• Fire alarm and fire warning arrangements, including fire and smoke detection
• Fixed and portable fire extinguishing equipment and installations including fire extinguishers and maintenance
• Management of fire safety including fire routine, emergency plan and record keeping
• Access for fire fighting and fire fighter safety including staircase and corridor ventilation
• An action plan providing recommendations to rectify any deficiencies found during our assessment including a priority order for completion and guideline budget costs.