The Regulatory Reform Order 2005 Summary

Making sure your business is adhering to fire safety legislation is a legal requirement for all businesses. Understanding what this means for your company will allow you to make sure you are compliant.

What is The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which went into effect on October 1, 2006, replacing the Fire Precautions Act 1961 and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997/1999. It requires that all non-domestic premises be assessed for fire risk. It also necessitates the appointment of a competent person to conduct fire training and the implementation of appropriate preventative measures such as the installation of fire safety products.

Who and What Does it Apply To?

The Fire Safety Order requires that all business owners have an in-depth knowledge of fire safety. As the owner of a business, you are the ‘responsible person,’ and you have a legal obligation to provide fire safety care to your employees and anyone who visits your location.

Your Responsibilities Are:

You’ll need to know what fire hazards exist, what safeguards you have in place to protect employees and visitors from fire, what your emergency procedures are, and who your fire marshals are. The main points are:

• Your premise meets the required standards.
• Employees are provided with adequate fire safety training.

What “adequate fire safety training” means

Adequate fire safety training can vary from business to business but typically involves:

• Employee induction training for new employees to cover general fire safety guidance
• Periodic refresher training to make sure employees know their responsibilities and updates regarding best fire safety practices and procedural updates.
• Training to help support employees to carry out their required fire safety duties, especially when concerning work with increased fire risks
• Building skills regarding fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers or fire warden training.

Fire Risk Assessments

You are required by law to ensure that a competent person has completed a Fire Risk Assessment if you are responsible for the premises. Additionally, if your business has five or more employees or is licenced under a current enactment, your Fire Risk Assessment must be documented. Additionally, the person responsible for the premises is required to:

• Identify those who might be more at risk.
• Reduce the risk of fire or eliminate the risk as is reasonably practical.
• Provide the appropriate fire precautions.
• Take additional measures where flammable or explosive materials are stored on the property.
• Create an emergency plan and record any findings.
• General fire precautions must be maintained.
• Facilities for use by firefighters must be maintained.
• Keep any findings of the risk assessment under review.

Guidance for required standards

Employers are required by law to undertake the risk-assessment-based regime to prevent fires and protect against the death and injury of employees and relevant persons in the event of a fire. This was the same duty imposed on employers by the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1999. Still, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 broadens the duty to include all non-domestic premises to which employees or relevant persons have access.