Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

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, specifically workplaces, and you are required to carry out a mandatory detailed fire risk assessment.

Fire certificates will no longer be valid. However, a fairly recent fire certificate may be a good starting point for your fire risk assessment.

The law directly affects you if you are:

  • responsible for business premises;
  • an employer;
  • self-employed with business premises;
  • a charity or voluntary organisation;
  • a contractor with a degree of control over any premises.


Although there are a small number of exclusions such as transport, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to businesses i.e. workplaces, but it applies to 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.

Therefore, 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 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