Since October 2023, we’ve seen a raft of changes and improvements to fire safety legislation, and if you’re a commercial building owner or manager you absolutely need to be on top of them – and take corrective action if necessary.
In this blog – which is condensed from the Voices in Construction Insight Panel Focus on Fire, run by construction marketing specialists BCM Agency, and in which we recently participated – we take a quick look at the changes, and what you need to do to ensure your building remains compliant.
Fire safety law changes: background and effect
Whilst we can’t explore all the changes here, it’s worth looking at a few of them, as they’re particularly relevant to those who have responsibility for fire safety in commercial buildings.
The Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) process, for example, was made much more rigorous, with stricter demands on Responsible Persons to collect and record fire risk information, and coordinate fire safety plans and efforts with other Responsible Persons and similar.
At the same time, much of the associated legislation around buildings and construction – so not just the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – was beefed up, for example the Building Safety Act 2002, to incorporate explicit reference to fire safety legislation from all angles.
In short, what the changes have delivered is a much more rigorous approach to the areas of FRA and the duties of Responsible Persons.
But – and this is something to be very aware of – the laws have also gained significant ‘teeth’, with stricter interpretations of fire safety breaches, and greater penalties for those who commit them.
FRAs and spot-checks: the heat is on
What’s interesting here is the sheer speed of the changes and the rapidity with which we’ve seen them take very noticeable effect.
Fire safety inspections, for example, are now far more likely to be carried out on site, rather than on the strength of a paper submission.
Spot-checks in building of all types – from residential and commercial to places of worship – are now taking place frequently.
And in those visits, an up-to-date FRA is the first thing the inspectors will ask to see.
FRAs and fire strategy: the key to compliance with the new Fire Safety Laws
For many building owners and managers, then, it could be time to act.
FRAs have always been a legal requirement, but that obligation is now being applied, policed, and enforced more stringently than ever.
Your Fire Strategy – which is the technical document that informs the FRA – therefore also needs to be current and compliant.
And though it’s tempting to think that your building has passed compliance once and the job is done, the combination of more muscular legislation and the fact that changes in your building’s use, layout, and even fixtures and fittings over time can invalidate any existing FRA means you need to give both your FRA and your Fire Strategy your attention sooner rather than later.
How we can help?
As industry specialists, we keep up with every new development in fire safety legislation and procedure, and help you meet your fire safety obligations.
From legal and technical documents like FRAs and Fire Strategy, to the development of Fire Emergency Evacuation Plans (FEEPs), and the installation and remediation of fire doors, compartmentation, and other passive fire protection, we handle the detail so you can get on with your core business.
Our people are qualified, accredited, and certified to understand and interpret the changes to fire safety legislation, and ensure you achieve – and maintain – compliance with them.
We can supply you with a free quote on an initial Fire Risk Assessment using our FRA Calculator. Alternatively, you can Contact us today for more information and book your FREE initial site visit. We are also available to reach via Telephone: 0800 059 0113 or via Email: hello@commercialfireprotection.co.uk
