Fire Safety Reform Due October 2006

Office of Deputy Prime MinisterThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) announced yesterday (6th March) that The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) which contains new fire safety rules affecting all non-domestic premises in England and Wales will now come into force in October 2006.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, made in June 2005, is the biggest overhaul of fire safety legislation in decades. Originally, it was due to come into force next month (April) but in January the department announced it was deferring to give business and stakeholders more time to prepare.

Announcing the new date in a written statement, the ODPM Minister responsible for fire safety Jim Fitzpatrick said today (6th) March:

"The Government's over-riding aim is to save more people from death and injury by reducing risk and preventing fires.

"Over the coming months, we will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that all those affected by the new rules have the support that they need."

The ODPM is working with a range of partners from industry and the fire and rescue service on a publicity strategy to raise awareness of the new laws amongst those affected.

There will also be a series of guides published to assist those preparing fire risk assessments.

The main effect of the changes in the RRO will be 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.

Fire certificates will be abolished and will cease to have legal status.

The Fire Safety Order will apply in England and Wales. Northern Ireland and Scotland will have their own laws.

Main Points:

1. Responsibility for complying with the Fire Safety Order will rest 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, e.g. the occupier or owner.  In all other premises the person or people in control of the premises will be responsible.

2. If there is more than one responsible person in any type of premises, all must take all reasonable steps to work with each other.

3. If you are the responsible person you will have to 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 the disabled and those with special needs, and must include consideration of any dangerous substance likely to be on the premises.

4. 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.

5.  If you employ five or more people you must record the significant findings of the assessment.

6. The new rules are based on the 1997 document "Fire Legislation for the     Future" and were developed with stakeholders from the fire industry, unions,  business interests and others.  A consultation took place in June 2002 with documents being sent out to around 10,000 businesses, government departments, unions, trade bodies and other interested parities.

7. Responsibility for enforcement of the new rules will be with the local fire and rescue service authority who will carry out regular inspections with top priority going to those premises presenting most risk to the community. They are able to do this within the context of the new Integrated Risk Management  Planning (IRMP), part of the Governmentt's modernisation agenda for the FRS.

8.  For more than 40  years, the fire and rescue service provided cover for fires according to recommended standards. These standards dated back to 1947 and  were based on property types within a given area.

9. Integrated risk management has shifted the focus in planning to put people first, looking at the risks arising from all fires and other emergency incidents, and at the options for reducing and managing them.

10. Before making each change, fire and rescue authorities have undertaken, and will continue to do so, wide consultation with their local communities.  

source: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

 
 
Icon: back to news
 

Designed, Hosted and Maintained by Union Safety Services