Following the inquest into the Grenfell Tower tragedy, fire safety regulations have become increasingly stringent in the UK, but who enforces fire safety legislation?
The government has made significant changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order in recent years, and continue to make improvements to ensure buildings in England and Wales remain safe. Scotland and Ireland have separate fire safety laws.
Local fire and rescue services ultimately have the authority to conduct inspections on buildings, and address any concerns with the person responsible regarding fire safety compliance within their property.
This article will outline current fire safety regulations, looking at who is responsible for enforcing fire safety, with a focus on commercial buildings.
What are the fire safety legislations?
In an effort to tackle widespread complacency around fire safety, the Fire Safety Act 2021 was introduced.
The order applies to all workplaces, commercial or public buildings, and non-domestic parts of multi-occupied residential buildings in England and Wales.
It declares the responsible person/s of a premises must manage fire safety and mitigate the risks of a fire breaking out – this includes conducting a fire risk assessment.
A fire risk assessment is carried out once a building is constructed and is in use. It must be completed on an annual basis and looks at any potential fire hazards in the building and what should be done to put them right. As a result, a fire risk assessment is more reactive to fire safety issues and does not look at how the building is constructed, the materials used etc.
Find out more about the fire safety regulations in England and Wales and how the changes in January 2023 may have affected you.
Phase 3 of the regulation changes will come into force on October 1st 2023, which involves additional accountability for the responsible person - we will keep you up to date with the latest developments.
Who enforces fire safety legislation in the UK?
As part of the Fire Safety Order, enforcement officers from local fire and rescue authorities (FRA) are responsible for proactively preventing fires.
Fire safety enforcement officers have the authority to thoroughly inspect a property to ensure that the responsible person is following the correct guidelines and fulfilling their duties to maintain a safe and compliant building.
Inspections are usually scheduled, but there is the possibility they may arrive unannounced. The responsible person is required to be present and assist with the inspection.
Some of the checks an FRA can undertake are:
- Inspect the premises
- Evaluate the level of compliance
- Take material samples to check flammability
- Request access to fire risk assessment records & evacuation plans
Fire and rescue authorities may advise improvements to be made to the building in the form of an informal or formal notice, depending on the severity of the issues identified.
More serious failings may incur fines, or can even result in imprisonment.
Find out more about fire safety penalties for non-compliance.
Who is responsible for fire safety legislation in commercial buildings?
Every commercial building must have a designated ‘responsible person’. This could be either the Director, Office Manager, Landlord, or Building Owner.
Each premises must have at least one person who ensures that fire safety regulations are adhered to, and it is their responsibility to identify fire risks and hazards in a building or premises and take the necessary precautions to mitigate the risk.
Responsibilities include:
- Conduct fire risk assessments
- Implement fire evacuation procedures
- Implement and maintain fire safety equipment
- Providing fire safety training for staff
Want to know more about fire safety regulations for your building? Find these helpful articles below for more information on:
Staying compliant to fire legislation with FireSealsDirect
FireSealsDirect are leading providers of passive fire protection products and fire door components. If you have any concerns over the fire safety of your premises and would like advice on our fire stopping or fire door products, please contact our technical support team at [email protected] or call us on 02920 857 959.
