WHAT ARE...
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENTS?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into effect in October 2006 and replaced over 70 pieces of fire safety law.

The Order has a large impact on landlords of residential properties and managing agents. The Act applies to all residential properties which have communal parts including blocks of apartments, houses converted into self contained flats and House of Multiple Occupancy.

The Order requires a Fire Risk Assessment to be carried out on all communal areas of a building. It also requires there to be a fire policy in place for each individual block of apartments.

The main enforcing body is the fire authority; they have the power to issue three types of notices to premises not complying, failure to comply with a notice or a duty under the order is an offence. The current maximum fine in the magistrates’ court is £5,000, however if the case is referred o the Crown Court, the penalty is both an unlimited fine and or imprisonment for up to two years..

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What is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?
The Order, made under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001 has replaced over 70 separate pieces of fire safety legislation, such as the Fire Precautions Act, Licensing Act and Housing Acts with a simple, single Order. It has abolished the requirement for certain premises to hold a fire certificate and instead requires any person who exercises some level of control in any non-domestic premises to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk from fire and ensure occupants can escape safely if a fire does occur.

As well as simplification, the Order provides for better regulation by reducing the number of enforcing authorities that businesses have to deal and ensuring that regulation is carried out on the basis of risk and in a manner more suited to the needs of modern business and commerce.

In many non-domestic premises achieving fire safety will be a matter of common sense but as a 'responsible person' you will have to ensure that sufficient time is put aside to work through the necessary steps. In more complicated premises or those with a high life risk more expert help may be required.

To help you ensure your premises comply with the new legislation, the CLG website www.communities.gov.uk/firesafety contains information on how to comply with the requirements of the Order.


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