Learn everything you need to know about fire risk management

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RR(FS)O 2005) is the main piece of legislation governing fire safety in buildings in England and Wales.

The FSO applies to all workplaces and the common parts of buildings containing 2 or more domestic premises. It places legal duties on anyone in control of these premises (the Responsible Person - usually the owner or landlord) to undertake and record a fire risk assessment and put in place and maintain general fire precautions.

The responsible person for fire safety can be an employer, landlord, occupier, owner, or anyone who has a degree of control over a premises, such as a manager. The responsible person must conduct and regularly review a comprehensive fire risk assessment for the premises. Based on the findings of the fire risk assessment, they are responsible for implementing appropriate fire safety measures to mitigate identified risks. The basic aim of a responsible person is to help safeguard lives and property from fire risks. This also includes the requirement to reduce the risk of malicious damage and arson.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – the Fire Safety Order – provides a framework for regulating fire safety in all non-domestic premises including workplaces and the parts of multi-occupied residential buildings used in common in England and Wales.

You must carry out (and review regularly as necessary) a fire safety risk assessment of the premises to the extent of your control, or obligations towards them, identifying any risks to persons in, or in the immediate vicinity of, the premises in respect of harm caused by fire. Put simply, complete a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and undertake the actions identified.

Fire risk assessment is an organised look at what, in your work activities and workplace, (Including communal space in blocks of flats) could cause harm to people from fire. It will help determine the chances of a fire occurring and the dangers from fire that the workplace poses for the people who use it. A competent person must be appointed to complete a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment if the business employs 5 or more persons (Including part time staff) and keep a record of its findings.

To provide a 'suitable and sufficient' assessment as required in law, sufficient detail is required to clearly establish that all relevant factors have been considered, the outcomes of those considerations, and to allow for critical review. This would suggest an individual who has received formal training and has qualifications to undertake them. Although employers can complete the FRA themselves, without training, it is very unlikely that they will complete the FRA to the required standard.

E K Fire Protection Ltd has been undertaking fire risk assessment for over 15 years and have recognized formal qualifications. They have experienced engineers in all areas of fire safety, all with the relevant expertise to meet the requirements of the RR(FS)O 2005. Our fire risk assessors have all been trained to understand the fire risks and hazards within your buildings, the special risks posed by your staff members and visitors and how best to manage their safety.

A written report that covers all areas and aspects of fire safety relevant to your business. It is clear, concise and fulfils the requirements of all legislation relating to fire safety. We are unique to other risk assessors and fire protection businesses as we provide continual support to our customers throughout, ensuring you have the most cost effective but efficient methods to complete your outstanding actions.

It is important to note that if something is too good to be true; in regards to fire risk assessment it probably is and will potentially end up costing you a lot more. There are a number of factors that influence the cost of a fire risk assessment, which includes but is not exclusive, the complexity, size, use of premises and vulnerability of the occupants. At E K Fire Protection Ltd we pride ourselves on our competitive pricing that has led to our outstanding reputation with our customers and satisfaction in our work ethic, services and products. All buildings are individually priced based on a personalized interaction with the responsible person.

A fire risk assessor will undertake a thorough and detailed inspection of your premises and will spend some time with the responsible person to understand the inherent risks and hazards of the business, the activities they undertake and personnel present on the premises. The time this will take will be determined by some of the factors previously mentioned; however an average time for an assessor to remain on site is between 2-4 hours. On completion of the fire risk assessment, they will be expected to document in a detailed report, all of their findings and have it available within 48 hours of completion.

Failure to comply with the Fire Safety Order can result in enforcement actions ranging from advice and warnings to prosecution. Serious violations can lead to fines or imprisonment.

E K Fire Protection Ltd offer a full range or products and services related to fire safety. These include:

• Fire alarm survey, installation and servicing in compliance with BS5839;

• Fire extinguisher surveys, installation and servicing to BS5306;

• Fire signage survey and installation;

• Emergency lighting survey, installation and servicing in compliance with BS5266;

• Fire extinguisher and fire warden training;

• Fire door inspection surveys.