Fire Safety Law

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 covers general fire precautions and other fire safety duties which are needed to protect ‘relevant persons’ in case of fire. The order requires fire precautions to be put in place ‘where necessary’ and to the extent that it is reasonable and practicable. Responsibility for complying with the Order rests with the ‘responsible person’. In a workplace this is principally the employer and then 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 will be responsible. The responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment which must focus on the safety in case of fire of all relevant persons. It should pay attention to those at special risk and must include consideration of any dangerous substance likely to be on the premises. The risk assessment will help identify risks that can be removed or reduced and to decide the extent of the general fire precautions necessary. If 5 or more are employed (or a license is in force for the premises) then the significant findings of the risk assessment must be recorded.