The
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into force on 1st
October 2006.
The 'Fire Safety Order' replaced the
Fire Precautions Act 1971, and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations
1997.
The effect of the Order is to:
-
Create
one simple fire safety
regime applying to all 'non-domestic' premises;
-
Scrap
fire certificates;
-
Place
full responsibility for
the fire safety of the occupants of premises and people who might be
affected by a fire with the
responsible person;
-
Require a Fire Risk
Assessment to be carried out;
-
Require
the preservation and
maintenance of fire precautions required under building regulations, and
other similar legislation, which are for the use and protection of the fire
brigade;
-
Increase
powers of entry for Fire
Authorities to investigate fires and give them the power to take away
samples for testing.
-
Place the emphasis on business continuity, and containing and
preventing the spread of small fires;
-
Require the training of staff and provide fire emergency
plans.
Employers must
ensure the provision and
maintenance of 'risk appropriate' fire precautions, which include
adequate:
-
Fire-fighting equipment,
fire detection & alarms;
-
Fire fighting measures,
& nominated employees to implement them;
-
Adequate equipment &
training;
-
Arrangements for
contacting emergency services;
-
Emergency routes and
exits; and
-
Maintenance of fire
safety measures.
All fire safety measures provided must be as a result of a
fire risk assessment, and
where 5 or more persons are employed, the risk assessment must be
recorded.
To help you carry out your fire risk assessment, the
Government has issued 11 guidance documents, which can be purchased or
downloaded free from
www.communities,gov.uk
If you are unsure how to carry out your duties under the
Order, Marsden Fire Safety can help. We can carry out a
fire safety audit of your workplace
and give you a report on your fire prevention or fire safety status. The
report will tell you if your fire safety provisions are adequate, and may
suggest improvements.
Contact us now for your needs in
fire
prevention
