Cymraeg

Fire Safety Order

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (In force, 1st October, 2006)

As part of the Government's commitment to reduce death, injury and damage caused by fire, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) (formerly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) conducted a review on fire safety law. As a result, a number of changes have been made which are designed to make the law easier to understand and comply with.

The principal aim of this change is to simplify, rationalise and consolidate existing fire safety legislation. It now provides for a risk-based approach to fire safety, allowing more efficient effective enforcement by the Fire and Rescue Service. (See the Department for Communities and Local Government for further details.)

The main effect of the changes is a move towards greater emphasis on fire prevention in all non-domestic premises, including the voluntary sector and self-employed people with premises separate from their homes. The new regime of fire safety enforcement affects employers and those who are responsible for, non-domestic, industrial, commercial and residential premises.

Fire certificates will be abolished and will cease to have legal status, although they will always be valuable as a reference document particularly for those persons carrying out a Fire Risk Assessment of the premises. From the 1st October 2006 occupiers of premises designated under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 will no longer need to apply for a Fire Certificate.

The Fire Safety Order applies in England and Wales. (Northern Ireland and Scotland have their own laws.) It covers 'general fire precautions' and other fire safety duties which are needed to protect 'relevant persons' in case of fire in and around most 'premises'. The Order requires fire precautions to be put in place 'where necessary' and to the extent that it is reasonable and practicable in the circumstances of the case.

At the core of the legislation lies the Fire Risk Assessment. This is an organised appraisal of your work activities and the workplace to enable you to identify potential fire hazards, and to decide who (including employees and visitors) might be in danger in the event of fire, and their location. You will then evaluate the risks arising from the hazards and decide whether the existing fire precautions are adequate, or whether more needs to be done.