Fire Management & Consultancy Services
Understanding the Legal Requirements
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) is the fire safety legislation in England and Wales. It applies to all workplaces and commercial buildings and non-domestic parts of multi-occupied residential buildings - this includes those areas clarified by the Fire Safety Act.
The Fire Safety Order places the duty to keep people safe from fire upon the Responsible Person. The Responsible Person is a legally created entity, as defined in Article 3 of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The Responsible Person must carry out an assessment of the fire risks to people on the premises or within its vicinity (these are described as ‘relevant persons’ in the order). The fire risk assessment helps identify the fire safety precautions the Responsible Person must take to comply with the Fire Safety Order.
Check if you are the Responsible Person
You are the Responsible Person if:
You are the employer, and the workplace is to any extent under your control, for example:
You run the company.
It is a family-owned business.
You are self-employed.
You may also be the Responsible Person if:
1. You are not the employer but have some degree of control over the premises (where there isn’t a traditional employer / employee relationship or where volunteers are involved), for example:
Village hall
Scout hut
Charity shop
Place of worship
2. You own a commercial premises, and it is not legally under someone else’s control, for example it is derelict.
Responsible Person Responsibilities
Undertake a fire risk assessment.
You must undertake a fire risk assessment of the premises and review it regularly.
A fire risk assessment:
Reviews premises to identify any areas where a fire might start.
Makes recommendations to reduce the likelihood of fire and to keep people safe when a fire happens.
Identifies the fire safety measures that you need to take to make the premises safe for employees or residents, as well as other ‘relevant persons’.
Are you competent to undertake the Fire Risk Assessment?
You can either do the risk assessment yourself, if you feel you are competent i.e. have the practical, technical knowledge and experience to do so, or you can get a competent person to do it on your behalf.
At Fire Management & Consultancy Services our fire risk assessors are on Tier 2 of the Institute of Fire Safety Management National Fire Risk Assessors Register ifsm.org.uk/fire-risk-assessors/ This enables the responsible person / duty holder to locate and select a Fire Risk Assessor who is competent at the prescribed level and is capable of carrying out a Fire Risk Assessment of the premises / workplace or similar establishment. The assessor will be able to identify and record fire risks, as well as carry out audits to verify another person's Fire Risk Assessments.
Penalties & Enforcement
If you are a Responsible Person or Duty Holder and breach the Fire Safety Order, i.e do not carry out a Fire Risk Assessment, you may be subject to an enforcement notice or prosecution.
The Fire Risk Assessment Process
Fire Management & Consultancy Services fire risk assessors undertake Fire Risk Assessments in a variety of settings, including, offices, shops, restaurants, bars, warehouses, care / residential homes, places of Worship, HMO’s, residential and tenanted properties.
The assessor will carry out a comprehensive assessment of the existing protective and preventative fire safety arrangements taking into consideration the fire risk. They will provide advice and a report which will highlight good practice as well as any deficiencies found. The comprehensive report contains photographs for easy identification and an easy-to-follow action plan.
Fire Door Surveys & Inspections
Fire Management & Consultancy Services can also undertake fire door surveys and fire door inspections. These will be undertaken by a qualified fire door inspector working to current relevant Fire Legislation and British Standards 8214:2016.
The fire door inspector will photograph each door and apply a unique number Fire Door number. They will then carry out a thorough inspection which includes the door leaf, door frame, intumescent & smoke seals, hinges, door closing device, hold open devices, lock & latches, glazing, and door furniture. The fire door inspector will highlight any deficiencies and produce a detailed report. The report will include a photograph of the door and ID number, so you know exactly which door is being referred to. Alongside this will be the recommended actions to ensure that all fire resisting doors in your building perform as designed in preventing the spread of smoke and fire. Thus, ensuring the safety of those in the building.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 will make it a legal requirement for the responsible persons to provide to residents of all multi-occupied residential buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises (that have common parts) information on the importance of fire doors to a building’s fire safety.
Fire Awareness / Fire Marshal Training
Fire Management & Consultancy Services have delivered numerous fire awareness / fire marshal courses, ensuring that employees and those with additional fire responsibilities know exactly what to do in the event of a fire. The course lasts for 3hrs and includes;
Understanding Fire Legislation
Understanding Fire Growth & Spread
Fire Detection Systems
Classes of Fire & Types of Extinguishers
Human Behaviour in a Fire Situation
Fire Marshal Roles & Responsibilities
Practical Use of Fire Extinguishers
Short test to ensure learning has taken place
On completion of the course all attendees will receive a certificate.
