The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Kirsty Ferguson

Technical Fire Safety

• 35,000 fires occur in office premises every year.

• Cost to UK businesses of some £7billion annually.• 80 per cent of businesses affected by fire close within a month.• 70 to 80 per cent of those businesses that do pick up the pieces

and continue trading are expected to fail within three years of

experiencing fire.• Co-operative Group has had to pay £210,000, Tesco £119,000

and fashion retailer New Look £400,000 for RRO breaches.• Majority of fires in non-domestic premises in Kent are electrical

based, cooking related incidents or poor waste management

systems including careless disposal of smoking materials.

Some ‘fire’ facts...

The Order was made under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001.

It was introduced in October 2006 replacing most fire safety legislation, including:

• Fire Precautions Act 1971• Fire Precautions (Workplace)

Regulations 1997

What is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?

Why was it introduced?

• Eastwood Mills, Keighley 1956- 8 deaths

• Henderson’s Department Store, Liverpool 1960- 11 deaths

• The Rose & Crown, Saffron Walden, 1969- 11 deaths

• Woolworths, Manchester 1979-10 deaths

• Bradford City Football Club 1985- 58 deaths

• Kings Cross Underground Station 1987-31 deaths

• Business’s wanted more control over the fire precautions within their premises

• The existing legislation was fragmented, inconsistent and difficult to understand

• Greater emphasis on the fire prevention within commercial premises

Also:

Which premises does the Order apply to?

• Offices and shops• Premises that provide care, including care

homes and hospitals• Community halls, places of worship and

other community premises• Pubs, clubs and restaurants• Schools and sports centre’s

Continued..

• Tents and marquees• Hotels and hostels• Factories and warehouses• The shared areas of premises where

several households live in, (house of multiple occupation-HMO)

• Domestic properties, occupied as a single family dwelling

• Off shore installations• A ship, in respect of the normal shipboard

activities• Borehole sites• Agricultural or forestry workplaces, away from

undertakings buildings• Mines• Aircraft, locomotive, trailers and semi-trailers,

vehicles used as a means of transport, or if a license in force, or if exempt from duty

Which premises does the Order NOT apply to?

What does it mean to you?

As a, ‘Responsible Person,’ which is:• The employer• Site manager• Owner• Managing agents• Any person who has control over the premises

YOU have a duty to maintain fire precautions and comply with the Fire Safety Order.

How can I comply with the Fire Safety Order?

By ensuring fire precautions are in place andmaintained!!

The Fire Safety Order is a risk based approach tofire safety and all premises should have a fire riskassessment, however if you:• employ 5 or more persons• have a license• an alteration notice

You MUST have a written fire risk assessment

What is a Fire Risk Assessment and who can write it?

A fire risk assessment is a 5 step approach:

1. Identify any possible dangers and risks.2. Consider who may be at risk.3. Remove, or reduce the risk from fire, as far as is

reasonably possible and provide general fire precautions to deal with any possible risk left.

4. Create a plan to deal with any emergency and record your findings.

5. Review.

A fire risk assessment should be undertaken by a, ‘competentperson.’ Which means they must have the knowledge experience and training to conduct the assessment.

What to expect when we call

All Inspecting Officers are issued with a

warrant card and this is shown at the start

of the inspection.

In most instances we will notify you in

writing of our intended visit, along with

advisory notes explaining what to expect

and what to have available for inspection.

Enforcing the Fire Safety Order

Fire authorities are the main authority

responsible for enforcing the Fire Safety

Order in non-domestic premises.

They will target their resources and

inspections at the premises that present

the highest risk.

When will we inspect?

• Following our nationally agreed risk based strategy

• Post incident

• Following a complaint

• Via member of the public

• Employee

• Other enforcing authority

What if I don’t meet the Fire Safety Order?

• The fire authority carry out inspections in a fair and open manner, offering practical advice.

• We will work with you to achieve a satisfactory level of fire safety.

• However, if the risk to life is so serious, the fire authority can issue a Prohibition Notice.

What to have available for inspection?

The following documentation will

need to be viewed by the Inspecting

Officer:• Fire Risk Assessment• Fire precautions log book• Records of staff training & fire

drills• Records of testing &maintenance

Continued...

• of fire-fighting equipment

• Records of testing & maintenance for all fire safety systems

(fire alarms, emergency lighting,

sprinkler system, smoke ventilation

system).

Safety standards in the building.

• Fire Safety Inspectors may wish to inspect part or all of the building.

• They may wish to talk to members of staff, so as to check their level of fire safety awareness.

What happens after an inspection?

After the inspection, notification of

fire deficiencies will be sent. This is

classed as, ‘Informal Action.’

On occasions, an alterations notice,

enforcement notice or a prohibition

notice may be issued. This is

classed as, ‘Formal Action.’

Help is at hand!

The DCLG (Department for Communities & Local Government) have produced

13 Fire Risk Assessment Guides. • a step by step approach to

making a building safe.• Process of fire risk assessment

with examples and blank forms.

Fire Risk Assessment Guides

• Offices & Shops

• Factories & Warehouses

• Sleeping accommodation

• Residential care premises

• Educational premises

• Small and medium places of assembly

• Large places of assembly

• Theatres & Cinemas

• Outdoor events

• Healthcare premises

• Transport & Facilities

• Disabled access