Fires can be unpredictable. They can ignite quickly and spread rapidly – leading to the devastating destruction of both people and property. Fire safety is critical to protecting people when it matters most but also to preventing disasters from occurring altogether.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, business owners, have both a moral and legal responsibility to protect their staff and property from fire threats. Let’s look at what happens when you fail to comply with your legal fire safety duties.
Blog Overview: Ignoring Fire Safety Has Consequences
A Nottingham takeaway owner recently received a serious fine for failing to meet basic fire safety responsibilities. They had put their staff, property, and customers at serious risk. The fine was a reminder that ignoring fire safety has consequences. Fire protection is a commitment but it doesn’t need to be complicated. Long-term fire safety includes:
- Installing and maintaining fire alarm systems
- Servicing equipment regularly
- Conducting professional Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs)
- Training your team to act with confidence in an emergency
Don’t wait until it is too late. Take action by beginning to build lasting fire safety today.
When Fire Safety Goes Wrong: A Real-World Warning
In a recent case in Nottingham, a takeaway owner was fined £30,000 for multiple fire safety breaches, including:
- Failure to provide appropriate fire detection and warning systems
- Failure to maintain means of escape within the premises.
- Failure to provide staff with fire safety training.
- Failure to have a risk assessment in place.
Each of these fire safety breaches fail to comply with the UK legal requirements for building fire protection. The fire safety laws in the UK are:
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Fire Safety Order 2005
- The Fire Safety Act 2021
- The Building Safety Act 2022
In the Nottingham case, the business owner’s failure to comply resulted in a fine. However, over the last year in the UK, approximately 22,000 fires were reported to have occurred in the workplace. Therefore, the failings listed in the Nottingham case could have cost people their lives.
Fire safety regulations provide guidance, protection and support to avoid tragic consequences. By educating yourself on what is required under each regulation you can help protect your people and property. But what other safety solutions are readily available to maintain your building’s fire protection? Let’s take a closer look.
How to Protect Your Building
At OHEAP, our fire safety experts practice proactive fire safety. This means proactively taking safety measures to prevent a fire from occurring altogether. Some of these proactive measures include:
1. Fire Risk Assessments (FRA’s): Conducting an FRA can sound daunting. You might wonder where you should start or what you’re looking for. But the purpose of an FRA is not to catch anyone out. Instead, these simple assessments help you locate any gaps in your building’s fire safety – and give you clear remedial actions to creating comprehensive fire safety.
Want guidance or support? Book an FRA with one of our expert assessors.
2. Servicing Fire Safety Equipment: Servicing equipment is a cost-effective, simple way to maintain the quality of your equipment. Emergency lighting, fire alarm systems and fire extinguishers all require regular servicing to guarantee they will work in an emergency. Over time, extinguishers can lose pressure, alarms can fail, and emergency lights can dim. Servicing checks the quality of your equipment and ensures it will work when you need it the most.
3. Staff Fire Safety Training: In an emergency, knowledge is power. Do your staff know:
- Where the emergency exits are?
- How to safely use a fire extinguisher?
- How to alert others and evacuate safely?
Understanding how to protect yourself and others from fire is a skill that can be developed through education and practice. That’s why OHEAP offers online staff training. These sessions supply your staff with expert fire safety information. If the worst happens, you will be prepared.
Building Lasting Fire Safety
The Nottingham case reveals the consequences that failing to maintain fire safety can have on a business. It is also a reminder that proactive fire safety measures are essential to protecting people and property. Ultimately, good fire safety is a commitment, not a quick fix. By regularly servicing equipment, conducting FRA’s and training staff you can take control of your business’s fire safety.
Q. What is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?
A UK law that makes fire safety the responsibility of the ‘responsible person’ in non-domestic buildings. This includes fire risk assessments, escape plans, staff training, and installing safety systems.
Q. What happens if you break fire safety laws?
Penalties range from fines up to £5,000 for minor breaches to unlimited fines and up to 2 years in prison for major failures.
Q. Who is responsible for maintaining a building’s fire safety?
Usually the business owner, employer, landlord, or anyone with control over the premises.
Q. How can businesses ensure compliance with fire safety regulations?
- Maintain clear escape routes.
- Book regular fire risk assessments.
- Provide fire safety training for all staff members.
- Servicing fire safety equipment.
If ever in doubt, you can consult an OHEAP fire safety expert today.
Q. In the UK which regulations govern building fire safety?
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Fire Safety Order 2005.
- The Fire Safety Act 2021.
- The Building Safety Act 2022.
