The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 consolidates nearly all fire safety legislation. Businesses are now responsible for fire safety on their premises. This became law on 1st October 2006.
You are now legally responsible.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order affects any place, in particular workplaces, and you are required to carry out a mandatory fire risk assessment.
The law directly affects you if you are:
Although there are a small number of exclusions such as transport, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to designated 'places' including almost every premises which does not constitute a single private dwelling. This includes the common areas of flats and houses in multiple occupation together with marquees and movable structures.
The Government has issued a series of national guidance booklets to assist employers and Responsible Persons in meeting their legal responsibilities. To view or download the guidance best suited to your particular premises please click on the appropriate link below.
There is no standard method of recording a Fire Risk Assessment however one way of achieving compliance with the above guides can be found in the FRA template.
This is one alternative to that already existing in the Keep Your Business In Business link below.
Therefore, even if you are running an event - maybe a pop concert or a wedding reception - then the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 may apply and if it does you are required to carry out your fire risk assessment.
West Midlands Fire Service, working in partnership with West Midlands Police, via the West Midlands Arson Task Force, have produced Keep Your Business In Business. Although initially designed with businesses in mind it can be used by other organisations to help satisfy the requirements of this legislation.
This package is fully compliant with Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and is available to download by going to: www.wmarsontaskforce.gov.uk/kybib
A sister package, Keep Your Schools in Business specifically produced for schools, is also available to download by going to: www.wmarsontaskforce.gov.uk/kysib
For further information on either of these above packages please go to: www.wmarsontaskforce.gov.uk/kybib
Further information on fire safety legislation can be found on the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) website: www.communities.gov.uk/fire/firesafety
