Regulatory Reform Order - Summary

Key Points Of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

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The Regulatory Reform Order -
What The Fire Safety Legislation Means In Practice



If you prefer more detail, you can read the actual text of the Regulatory Reform Order itself by following this link.


The Regulatory Reform Order replaces lots of previous legislation, and applies to the vast majority of UK business premises. The main thrust of the changes is to place responsibility very clearly with the 'Responsible Person' to ensure the safety of the people in the workplace for which they are responsible. The Responsible Person is whoever owns the premises or controls the activities within it. It can be more than one person in shared premises.

Fire Risk Assessment

Fire Risk Assessment is the cornerstone of the Regulatory Reform Order and involves a systematic examination of fire safety arrangements within the workplace. The Fire Risk Assessment should:

Means of Escape

You must ensure that your premises have adequate means of escape and that these are available for use at all times. This also includes:

Fire Fighting Equipment

You must provide appropriate fire extinguishers and other fire fighting equipment, which may include fire blankets, hose reels or sprinkler systems

All such equipment must be checked regularly and properly maintained by a suitably qualified person

Staff Safety Training

The findings of the Fire Risk Assessment must be passed on to staff and they should be consulted on Fire Safety issues. All employees must receive adequate training in fire safety procedures, including fire drills and action in the event of fire. Some staff may have additional responsibilities as Fire Wardens and require extra training in these duties.

Policies and Procedures

I have already mentioned that you must record the findings of your Fire Risk Assessment if you employ five or more people, and you must also document an Emergency Plan, detailing action in the event of fire or other emergency.

You must have a policy in place to demonstrate what your safety arrangements are, including minimising the risk of fire, maintaining means of escape and controlling the spread of fire.

You must have procedures in place to ensure that:

As well as recording the findings of your Fire Risk Assessment, you should keep records of the actions you take such as staff training, fire extinguisher maintenance, emergency lighting testing, etc. Further information and Forms you can use to do this can be found HERE. The Fire Authority may ask to see these as proof of your actions.

Enforcement and Penalties

For the vast majority of us, the enforcing authority is your local Fire Authority. Other bodies such as HSE, MOD and local authorities have responsibility in certain cases, such as building sites, shipyards, military establishments, sports grounds, etc.

An officer from the enforcement authority has the right to:

You can be taken to court if you fail to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and could be fined up to £5,000 or imprisoned for up to two years.






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