New fire safety law - the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The government is changing fire safety legislation. The changes are designed to make the law easier to comply with and easier to understand by reforming and rationalising current fire safety laws contained in over 100 pieces of legislation.

The changes will take effect from October 1 2006.The legislation that will bring about these changes is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO) 2005.

The changes will apply across England and Wales and will affect all non-domestic premises and will even apply to certain activities taking place outdoors.

What will this mean for you?

The main change will be in emphasis towards risk reduction and fire prevention. Fire certificates will no longer be issued.

Responsibility for complying with the Fire Safety Order rests with the 'responsible person'. In a workplace, this is the employer and any other person who may have control of any part of the premises, for example, the occupier or owner.

In all other premises the person or people in control of the premises will be responsible. If there is more than one responsible person in any type of premises, all must take all reasonable steps to work with each other.

If you are the responsible person you must carry out a fire risk assessment which must focus on the safety in case of fire of all 'relevant persons'. It should pay particular attention to those at special risk, such as young people, the disabled and those with special needs, and must include consideration of any dangerous substance likely to be on the premises.

Your fire risk assessment will help you identify risks that can be removed or reduced and to decide the nature and extent of the general fire precautions you need to take to protect people against the fire risks that remain. If you employ five or more people you must record your risk assessment and any significant findings.

Where does the new legislation apply?

The Fire Safety Order will apply to virtually all premises and covers nearly every type of building, structure and open space. For example:

• offices and shops
• premises that provide care
• community halls
• common areas of houses in multiple occupation
• pubs, clubs and restaurants
• schools
• tents and marquees
• hotels and hostels
• factories and warehouses

But it excludes purely domestic premises occupied by a single family group.

We can take you through the process of making your fire risk assessment. Go through the steps below.

	Step 1 - identify the fire hazards
	Step 2 - identify people at risk
	Step 3 - evaluating the risks
	Step 4 - record your findings
	Step 5 - review and revise