Published: 29th October 2024
Fire safety is crucial, and ensuring your building is complaint with regulations and legal obligations is key as a facilities manager, building owner, landlord or employer. Understanding regulations and fire safety compliance requires a number of steps.
In this article we go into detail about why it is important to understand the regulations within the UK, what those regulations are, and some actionable steps you can take to ensure you are compliant with building fire safety.
Within the UK, the legislation in place for fire safety compliance is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, sometimes known as the Fire Safety Order, or the FSO. This legislation requires the building owner, landlord, facilities manager, or employer to take necessary steps in order to mitigate the risk of a fire and ensure safety of its occupants.
A second regulation, brought about in 2010, is The Building Regulations (Part B: Fire Safety), and relates to the design and construction of buildings which includes fire escapes, fire-resistant materials and compartmentation to help prevent a fire from spreading.
The responsible person must fully understand both of the above regulations and follow government guidance where necessary.
According to the Fire Safety Order 2005, it is a legal requirement to conduct a fire risk assessment on all public buildings. This mandatory assessment helps to identify any potential fire hazards including faulty wiring and flammable materials and determine the risk to those within the building. It is crucial to review any current fire safety measures including alarm systems, fire doors, correct signage and emergency lighting.
It is recommended to conduct a fire risk assessment at least once a year, or whenever there are significant changes to the building. This can be done internally, or you can hire a professional risk assessor.
It is required that all buildings have correct fire detection safety systems in place. These include fire alarms suitable for the building’s size that are up-to-date and tested regularly, fire extinguishers that are inspected frequently, clear exit signs and unobstructed routes that illuminate, easy-to-open fire doors, and emergency lighting that can guide people to safety in the event of a power outage. Whilst not a mandatory system, sprinklers are advised and are highly effective in areas classed as high-risk.
As a facilities manager, building owner, or employer, you should create a full fire safety plan under the legal requirement of the Fire Safety Order. The fire safety plan is important at keeping everyone safe and should include a clear, defined evacuation plan that leads to a safe meeting place at an adequate distance from the building, and appointed fire marshals to coordinate evacuations when needed. This should be displayed in areas of common usage.
You should regularly hold fire safety training for everyone, including occupants, to ensure people know how to respond safely in an emergency.
It is important to regularly inspect and maintain electrical systems within the building to prevent the risk of a fire breaking out. In order to comply with the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations 2020, you must conduct electrical inspections every five years and encourage occupants to report any electrical issues such as faulty equipment or wiring.
Understanding and complying with fire safety regulations is a legal requirement and requires regular reviews. By being proactive and staying on top of maintenance, training and regulation changes, you can ensure that the building is safe for its occupants and that you are abiding by the law.
If you require any further information or assistance with the electrical engineering within your building, get in touch with us today and book your discovery call.