Fire Risk Assessments
With the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 ("the Order") in October 2006, Fire and Rescue Authorities and other bodies ("enforcing authorities") now have a duty to enforce fire safety in non-domestic premises. This is the first guidance note in a series intended to assist enforcing authorities in better understanding their duties under the Order and for the public to better understand the intent of specific aspects of the Order.
The Order does not apply to private dwellings. However, residential premises eg blocks of flats and HMOs are covered by the Order to the extent that they comprise common parts and systems (eg stairs, corridors, shared kitchens, bathrooms and lounges etc) which are used by the occupants of more than one dwelling.
The Order replaces previous fire safety legislation. Any fire certificate issued under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 will cease to have any effect. If a fire certificate has been issued in respect of your premises or the premises were built to recent building regulations, as long as you have made no material alterations and all the physical fire precautions have been properly maintained, then it is unlikely you will need to make any significant improvements to your existing physical fire protection arrangements to comply with the Order. However, you must still carry out a fire risk assessment and keep it up to date to ensure that all the fire precautions in your premises remain current and adequate. If you have previously carried out a fire risk assessment under the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, as amended 1999, and this assessment has been regularly reviewed then all you will need to do now is revise that assessment taking account of the wider scope of the Order If your premises are an HMO, flat or maisonette they will also be subject to the Housing Act 2004.
At Thermal Acoustics & Solutions Ltd we can arrange for a Fire Risk Assessment to be carried out for you and Certificates/reports supplied
Please contact Fiona to discuss or for more information.
