FIRE SAFETY CONSULTATION LAUNCHED

In July the Government launched a consultation on proposals to enhance the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and implement recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 Report.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is concerned with responsibilities for managing fire safety in non-domestic premises in England and Wales, this includes duties to carry out risk assessments, ensure (so far as is reasonably practicable) the safety of employees, and in relation to non-employees to take such fire precautions as may reasonably be required in the circumstances to ensure that premises are safe and a duty to carry out a risk assessment.

Proposals under the Fire Safety Order include:
• Overhauling the guidance previously issued under this order.
• Introducing a requirement to record the details of responsible persons under the order and ensure a whole building approach is taken to the management of fire safety by encouraging co-operation where two or more people have responsibilities for a building.
• Proposals to fully record fire risk assessments and make requirements that they are carried out by competent persons.
• Proposals regarding the provision and recording of relevant information
• Allowing Fire and Rescue Authorities to charge for enforcement action taken under the order.

Proposals for implementing Grenfell Inquiry recommendations include:
• Defining the buildings subject to the recommendations as “high-rise” residential buildings to buildings that are 18 metres or above, and/or more than six storeys, whichever comes first
• Requiring responsible persons for high-rise residential buildings to provide local Fire and Rescue Services with certain information including:
o information about the design and construction of the building’s external and information about any material changes made to them
o Building plans and floor plans
• Requiring responsible persons to have in place a premises information box containing relevant information
• Requiring responsible persons to carry out various regular checks including fire doors, lifts and other equipment
• Requiring responsible persons to draw up and make available evacuation plans
• Requiring responsible persons to provide relevant details of residents who self-identify as requiring assistance to evacuate to local Fire and Rescue Services and to place these in the Premises Information Box
• Requiring responsible persons to provide relevant information to residents

The consultation runs until 12 October 2020. Full details of the proposals can be found on the Gov.UK website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fire-safety?utm_source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bsr-hse&utm_term=fire-safety&utm_content=bulletin-10-sep