Fire Safety Legislation

The Order places 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 no longer have legal status.

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 need to comply with the law

The Fire Safety Order applies in England and Wales.  It covers 'general fire precautions' and other fire safety duties which are needed to protect people in case of fire in and around most premises. The Order requires fire precautions to be put in place 'where necessary' and to the extent that it is reasonable and practicable in the circumstances of the case.

Responsibility for complying with the Fire Safety Order rests with the 'responsible person'.  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. 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.