Fire Safety Legislation has changed, and it’s likely you’re affected…

On the 1st of October 2023, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 was amended. In light of these changes, those responsible for fire safety in businesses have a new set of duties.

October 31, 2023

Key takeaways:

• Small business owners have new responsibilities
• Fire Risk Assessments are compulsory for ALL businesses
• Increased fines for offences

Remember, remember the 5th of November! 

With Bonfire Night just around the corner – fires, sparklers and firework displays are already at the forefront of many people’s minds. It is, therefore, a good time of year to remind you that there have been recent changes in official fire safety legislation. 

How has Fire Safety legislation changed?

As a business owner, there are a number of changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 that may affect your operations. Whilst there are various changes to the overall policy, we are focussing solely on those that will directly affect workplaces and business owners. 

The most significant change is that previously, only businesses with more than five employees were required to conduct Fire Risk Assessments. Now, the new regulations mandate that all businesses, regardless of their size, must complete and document a Fire Risk Assessment.

Under the new Fire Safety legislation, all responsible persons for ALL businesses must now:

• Complete a fire risk assessment for their premises 
• Document the fire risk assessment and record all of their findings
• Record all fire safety arrangements
• Identify the person (or organisation) that conducted the fire risk assessment

In addition, there are other legislative changes that do not directly affect responsible persons. Examples include increased fines for certain offences, such as failing to provide a copy of your fire risk assessment when asked by an inspector.

How do you know if you’re a ‘responsible person’?

It is the duty of responsible persons to fulfil these new duties in small businesses, so it’s important to understand if this is you.

Under the Fire Safety Order, responsible persons are defined as the people responsible for fire safety on their premises. You are the responsible person if you are: 

• An employer
• A building owner
• A landlord
• In control of non-domestic premises (for example, facilities manager)
• A host to paying guests (for example, an Airbnb owner)

Do these new Fire Safety legislation changes affect everyone?

If your business already consists of more than five people, it’s likely that these changes won’t affect you at all. That’s because the majority of the new changes are arguably extensions of existing regulations that already applied to larger businesses. 

The key takeaway is that no matter how small your company is, you must complete and document a thorough fire risk assessment.

How do you conduct Fire Risk Assessments?

If you are a business owner of under five employees, it might be that you’ve never conducted a Fire Risk Assessment before. If this is the case – it can be daunting to know where to begin.

There are a number of things you need to accurately assess and record:

• All escape routes remain unobstructed.
• Clear signs mark all escape routes, which are as short and direct as possible.
• The property has sufficient emergency exits and routes to allow safe evacuation for everyone on site.
• All emergency doors meet legal requirements.
• Emergency lighting works properly, and a schedule exists for routine checks.
• Employees have received proper training and know how to use and where to find the escape routes.
• A designated, safe staff meeting point exists, and all employees know about it.
• We have accounted for people with mobility issues, whether they are staff or visitors, and have made special arrangements for their safe evacuation.

Who else can conduct your Fire Risk Assessment for you?

If you’re still unsure about conducting your own Fire Risk Assessment, that’s understandable. The process can be time-consuming and confusing if you don’t have the knowledge, skills or insight to do the job safely.

At pm Connections, our team of highly qualified professionals carry out comprehensive and thorough Fire Risk Assessments that can help ensure your business isn’t falling short of your legal obligations. We have over a decade of experience and are well-versed in the intricacies of fire safety legislation. 

Alternatively, if these changes have left your team wanting to step up and gain some new insights and knowledge on fire safety, our Fire Safety in the Workplace or Fire Marshall training courses might be for you. 

Remember, if you’re not too sure what you need to do – don’t panic. Please get in touch with us on 01925 649 818 or contact us here.