Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The above Fire Safety Order comes into force on October 1st 2006. It will replace the Fire Precautions Act and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations and will become the primary fire safety legislation.

The Fire Safety Order will apply to all premises to which persons have access.

It will place a duty on the 'responsible person' to ensure that all persons who resort to your premises are kept safe from fire.

Short guide to making your premises safe from fire:

Who does it affect?

Anyone with managerial responsibility for premises to which the public as visitors or employees has access.

Does it matter if I only employ family members or am self-employed?

No. If the public have access to your premises as visitors or employees you will have to comply.

What premises are not affected?

Private domestic dwellings

What do I have to do to comply?

Anyone with managerial control (the 'responsible person') for any workplace has a legal duty to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment to ensure that persons in or near your premises are not at risk from a fire involving your premises.
You have to ensure that a competent person carries out the Fire Risk Assessment. Any shortcomings identified from that survey (the 'significant findings') have to be rectified.

You may also have to provide your local Fire Safety Office with a copy of the significant findings and a plan drawing of your premises.

What should I do now?

Current fire safety legislation requires you to carry out a fire risk assessment. Start preparing your fire risk assessment if you have not already done so.

What will happen next?

At some stage you may receive a visit from a Fire Safety Officer who will carry out an audit of your premises to ensure that persons on the premises are not put at risk from a fire. The Fire Safety Officer will determine whether you have satisfactorily carried out your managerial responsibilities and will work with you to make your premises a safer place by offering advice and guidance. However, the Fire Authority has a duty to enforce the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, and will, if all other means fail, consider pursuing a prosecution through the courts.

What will the Fire Safety Officer be looking for?

The Fire Safety officer will audit your management systems to ensure that acceptable standards of fire safety are maintained. The cornerstone for ensuring that your premises is safe, and that persons are not put at undue risk from fire is the Fire Risk Assessment. Your escape routes will be checked to ensure that persons can easily and safely evacuate the premises if required to do so. Records and log books will also be checked for evidence that any systems in place such as fire alarms and emergency lighting are regularly examined by a competent person to ensure they will operate in an emergency. The Fire Safety Officer will also be checking that you are testing your systems on a regular basis.

Where can I get more information?

If you have access to the Internet, go to the Government's Communities and Local Government website where you can find out more. Click onto the 'Fire and Rescue' site and then follow the link to 'fire regulations and safety for businesses and organisations'. This website also contains information about arson reduction for businesses

For further assistance the Fire Protection Association (FPA) has provided a basic online Fire Risk Assessment Checklist suitable for use by small to medium sized business premises.

For further information please call (023) 9254 5505, 5506 or 5507 during office hours or call at the Town Hall, High Street, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 1EB.

Alternatively e-mail ehs@gosport.gov.ukany time.