| Fire Safety Legislation |  |
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to nearly all non-domestic premises.
The main effect of the Order is to ensure 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.
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Does it apply to me?
Responsible Person
Risk Assessment
Guidance
Enforcement
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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 now.
The Fire Safety Order applies in England and Wales. (Northern Ireland and Scotland have their own laws.) It covers 'general fire precautions' and other fire safety duties which are needed to protect people in case of fire in and around premises. The Order requires fire precautions to be put in place 'where necessary' and when it is reasonable and practicable to do so.
Responsibility for complying with the Fire Safety Order rests with the 'responsible person' for the premises. If you are the responsible person you have to carry out a fire risk assessment which must focus on the fire safety of all people within your building. 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 helps 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. |