Under current fire safety legislation (The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all business premises and residential flats (communal areas) require Fire Risk Assessments. A written fire risk assessment is needed if you employ five or more employees. If you employ less than five employees, the fire risk assessment does not need to be written down unless the property is a licensed premise or following an instruction from your Local Fire Authority following a potential visit. However, we recommend a written fire risk assessment report as a better way to communicate any findings on your property and highlight any completed works that may have been carried out because of the report findings.

Fire Risk Assessments are required for all non-domestic properties, including public and commercial premises, such as schools, warehouses, factories, licensed premises, nursing homes, care homes, offices, retail outlets, licensed premises, and businesses that provide sleeping accommodation. It also applies to sheltered housing and the communal areas of blocks of flats and houses in multiple occupations (HMOs).

Compliance is mandatory if you fit in any of the below categories:

  • An employer or self-employed with business premises
  • A landlord responsible for business premises
  • A landlord of a house of multiple occupancy (HMO)
  • Premises providing accommodation for paying guests
  • Premises open to the public and consumers
  • Charities, churches, and voluntary organisations
  • Educational buildings, nurseries, schools, colleges
  • Medical facilities and care homes
  • Contractors responsible for all or parts of buildings
  • Residential property with a communal or shared area

Legislation

Fire Safety Legislation was changed in October 2006 with the implementation of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The Order places the responsibility on individuals (Responsible Person) within an organisation to carry out fire risk assessments to identify, manage and reduce the risk of fire.

The meaning of Responsible Person within the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) is:

  1. In relation to a workplace, the employer, if the workplace is to any extent under his control,
  2. In relation to any premise not falling within paragraph (a)
  • The person who has control of the premises (as occupier or otherwise) in connection with the carrying on by him/her of a trade, business or other undertaking (for profit or not); or
  • The owner, where the person in control of the premises does not have control in connection with the carry on by that person of trade, business or other undertaking.

The ‘Responsible Person’ must carry out a fire risk assessment of their premise, or alternatively employ the services of a competent person to carry the fire risk assessment on their behalf.  Below the fire risk assessment five step checklist.

  • Fire Hazards
  • People at Risk
  • Evaluate and act
  • Record, plan and train
  • Review