The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Effective from October 2006, the Fire Safety Order applies in particular to a work place and the common parts of flats, such as the stairway. It also applies to Houses and Flats put to use in multiple occupation. As a general rule it applies to all places other than buildings used exclusively as private dwellings, ships and aircraft in transit and construction sites during construction. For the avoidance of any doubt it does apply to ships in dock which may for example be open to the public as an exhibition or perhaps be converted to a restaurant or hotel etc. The Fire Safety Order places a duty on the Responsible person(s) to assess the risks to people, including visitors, from fire and carry out such measures as required to reduce those risks to a reasonable level.
The responsible person will be any employer. It can also be any other person having control of the premises including building owners and land lords. The fire safety order is goal based and shifts the prime responsibility of fire safety from the fire authority to the individual. It widens the scope of the risk assessment by placing a greater emphasis on the need to maintain fire fighting provisions for fire fighters as well as the risks to occupants and extends its provisions to people at a particular risk and those within the immediate vicinity of the building. In some cases, this may include the risks of fire spreading from one building to another. The order places specific duties on the responsible person to provide a suitable fire risk assessment and this should include and address where applicable, certain matters like fire safety training, keeping records of that training, maintaining adequate fire precautions including servicing and testing.
Keeping records of that servicing and testing and where applicable co-operating with other building owners that share some part of the fire safety amenities in the building. Procedures should include action to be taken in the event of fire and this can differ from premises to premises even though they may have the same use. There is a greater emphasis on the provision of information and fire safety training. There is a specific statutory duty imposed on the responsible person that they must, if not competent themselves, appoint a competent person to assist them with the fire risk assessment
