Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Fire Safety Order

• What is the Fire Safety Order?

The order was made, under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001. It replaces most fire safety legislation with one simple order. It means that any person who has some level of control in premises must take reasonable steps to reduce the risk from fire and make sure people can safely escape if there is a fire.

Fire Safety Order

• The order applies to virtually all premises and covers nearly every type of building, structure and open space.

For example, it applies to:• offices and shops;• premises that provide care, including care

homes and hospitals;• community halls, places of worship and other

community premises;

Fire Safety Order

it applies to (cont)

• pubs, clubs and restaurants;• schools and sports centres;• tents and marquees;• hotels and hostels; and• factories and warehouses.

Fire Safety Order

it applies to (cont)

• the shared areas of properties several

households live in (houses in multiple occupation - housing laws may also apply);

It does not apply to:

single private dwellings.

Fire Safety Order

Articles• Citation (article 1)• Interpretation (article 2)• Responsible person (article 3)• Meaning of general fire precautions (article 4)• Duties (article 5)• Application to premises (article 6)

Fire Safety Order

• Duty to take general fire precautions (article 8)• Risk assessment (article 9)• Fire safety arrangements (article 11)• Elimination or reduction of risks from dangerous

substances (article 12)• Fire-fighting and fire detection (article 13)

Fire Safety Order

• Emergency routes and exits (article 14)• Procedures for serious and imminent danger and

for danger areas (article 15)• Additional emergency measures in respect of

dangerous substances (article 16)

Fire Safety Order

• Maintenance (article 17)• Safety assistance (article 18)• Provision of information to employees (article 19)• Provision of information to employers and the

self employed from outside undertakings (article 20)

Fire Safety Order

• Training (article 21)• Co-operation and co-ordination (article 22)• General duties of employees at work (article 23)• Enforcing authorities (article 25)• Enforcement of order (article 26)

Fire Safety Order

• Powers of inspectors (article 27)• Alterations Notices (article 29)• Enforcement Notices (article 30)• Prohibition Notices (article 31)• Offences (article 32)• Defence (article 33)

Fire Safety Order

• Onus of proving limits of what is practicable or reasonably practicable (article 34)

• Appeals (article 35)• Determination of disputes by Secretary of State

(article 36)• Fire-fighters switches for luminous tube signs

(article 37)

Fire Safety Order

• Maintenance of measures provided for protection of fire-fighters (article 38)

• Civil liability (article 39)• Duty not to charge employees for things done or

provided (article 40)• Duty to consult (article 41)• Consultations with other authorities

(articles 42-46)• Service of notices (article 48)

Fire Safety Order

• Application to the Crown and Houses of Parliament (article 49)

• Guidance (article 50)• Application to visiting forces (article 51)• Subordinate provisions (article 52)• Repeals etc (article 53)

Fire Safety Order

• This is different from previous legislation in that you must consider everyone who might be on your premises, whether they are employees, visitors or members of the public.

• You should pay particular attention to people who may have a disability or anyone who may need special help.

Fire Safety Order

• If your premises have been designed and built in line with modern building regulations (and are being used in line with those regulations), your structural fire precautions should be acceptable.

• You will still need to carry out a fire-risk assessment and make sure that you keep up all fire precautions and maintenance routines.

Fire Safety Order

• The DCLG (Dept for Communities & Local Govt) have produced 11 Guidebooks to help ‘occupiers’ with Fire Safety.

• These can be accessed via their website• www.firesafetyguides.communities.uk

Fire Safety Order

• Guide 1 – Offices and shops• Guide 2 - Factories and warehouses • Guide 3 - Sleeping accommodation• Guide 4 - Residential care premises• Guide 5 - Educational premises• Guide 6 - Small and medium places of assembly• Guide 7 - Large places of assembly• Guide 8 - Theatres and cinemas• Guide 9 - Outdoor events• Guide 10 - Healthcare premises• Guide 11 - Transport premises and facilities

Fire Safety Order

• The guidebooks are designed to be used by people using the building (i.e. Responsible Person).

• They are a step by step approach to making a building safe & include the process of Fire Risk Assessments, with examples, & blank forms.

Fire Safety Order

• Further information

• www.communities.gov.uk• www.firesafetyguides.communities.gov.uk• www.fire.gov.uk• www.kent.fire-uk.org

Managing Fire Safety

• Common Parts - Multiple occupancy• Flats and HMO’S applies to areas up to and

including the door to the flats/rooms• Risk Assessment – Responsible Person • Article 18 Safety Assistance-Notification to other

occupiers• Article 17 -Maintenance• Article 8 - General Fire Precautions• Article 13 - Fire Fighting and Fire Detection• Article 14 - Emergency Routes and Exits

Fire Safety Order

Any questions ?