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Fire Safety Legislation underwent a complete overhaul with the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which came into force in October 2006.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is an encompassing Act replacing approximately 118 items of old legislation including the Fire Precautions Act 1971 as amended by the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulation 1997.

The order applies to almost all work places and firmly places the responsibility on the Responsible Person to ensure the safety of all persons he or she is responsible for. At the same time it allows Enforcing Authorities to make sure it is enacted upon and set penalties for non-conformance.

Fire Risk Assessment

Under old legislation the Local Authority (Fire Service) were required to undertake inspections of premises and to issue fire certificates, which identified the standards of fire safety provisions that were available within each premises. This legislation was prescriptive with the Local Authority issuing directives to ensure the fire safety arrangements were installed and maintained.

Regular inspections were then carried out by the Authority to ensure the conditions imposed were being maintained.

The Fire Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment, produce a policy, develop procedures (particularly with regard to evacuation), provide staff with suitable training, and carry out fire drills. It also states the responsible person must appoint one or more competent persons to assist them.

The new legislation requires self-compliance with the role of the Local Authority (Fire Service) being changed to that of a policing authority.