News - Changes to Fire Safety Law
If you are:
- responsible for business premises
- an employer
- self-employed with business premises
- a charity or voluntary organisation
- a contractor with a degree of control over any premises
...then you will need to act by October 2006.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO), made in June 2005, is the biggest overhaul of fire safety legislation in decades.
- The main effect of the changes 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.
- 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.
- If there is more than one responsible person in any type of premises, all must take all reasonable steps to work with each other.