Date Of Article – Summer 2007

Any company employing five or more individuals must have a written Fire Risk Assessment - that’s the law. Or, more correctly, that is part of the new Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 that came into operation in October 2006 in conjunction with the wider changes to Part B of the Building Regulations.
 
Under the new legislation virtually every type of premises, with the exception of private homes, is required to have a “responsible person” who will be obliged to carry out a number of fire safety procedures in order to comply with the law. These obligations extend to the owners of multiple occupation homes and even to the communal areas in blocks of privately owned flats.
 
In addition to carrying out regular fire drills and keeping written records of fire training and equipment maintenance, the “responsible person” must also have a “fire policy” covering preventative measures and detailing escape routes.  A further requirement is the provision of a regularly reviewed, fire assessment document detailing what measures have been taken to prevent fire risk and what steps might be necessary to further reduce such risks in the future.
 
Kirkby & Diamond’s Colin Hope has recently completed the latest specific Fire Risk Assessment training at the Building Research Establishment’s headquarters in Watford and will be able to advise further on the steps necessary to comply with the new legislation.
 
For further details on the topic, contact Colin Hope at the Luton office (01582 738866) or view the full text at… http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051541.htm