Are Your Fire-Risk Assessments Up to Date?

Local Fire Authorities no longer issue fire certificates. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 introduced a risk-based approach to fire safety, making it a legal requirement for the person responsible to carry out a fire-risk assessment for all non-domestic premises in England and Wales. This includes the shared areas of houses in multiple occupation.

The person responsible must identify any possible dangers and risks from fire to anyone who might be on the premises, consider who may be especially at risk and eliminate or reduce those risks as far as is reasonably practicable. Measures must be put in place to protect users of the premises from any risks that remain and a plan drawn up of the action to be taken in the event of an emergency. These findings must be kept up to date. Employees and others working at the premises must be informed of the risks and the preventive and protective measures in place and provided with adequate safety training. There are additional emergency measures that must be taken if there are dangerous substances present.

Failure to comply with the legislation is a criminal offence, punishable by fines or even a prison sentence.

The Government has guidance on making your premises safe from fire.