Fires can be unpredictable. They can ignite quickly and spread rapidly – leading to the devastating destruction of both people and property. 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 fire safety duties.
Blog Overview: Ignoring Fire Safety Has Consequences
A Nottingham takeaway owner recently received a serious fine for breaching multiple fire protection requirements, putting their staff, property, and customers at serious risk. Ultimately it revealed how fire protection is a commitment. However, 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 steps towards protecting your business today.
Failing to Comply: A Real-World Warning
Recently 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 safety training.
- Failure to have a risk assessment in place.
Each of these breaches failed to comply with the UK legal requirements for building fire protection. The UK fire protection laws are:
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Fire Safety Order 2005
- The Fire Safety Act 2021
- The Building Safety Act 2022
Over the last year in the UK, approximately 22,000 fires were reported to have occurred in the workplace. Therefore, though the failings listed in the Nottingham case resulted in a fine, it could have cost people their lives.
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, we practice proactive fire protection. In other words, we promote actively taking safety measures to prevent fires from occurring altogether. This includes:
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 safety – and give you clear remedial actions to fix these risks before they become dangerous.
Want guidance or support? Book an FRA with one of our expert assessors.
2. Servicing Equipment: Servicing equipment is a cost-effective, simple way to guarantee that your safety equipment will work in an emergency. For example, over time, extinguishers can lose pressure, alarms can fail, and emergency lights can dim. Therefore, servicing checks the quality of your equipment and ensures it will work when you need it the most.
3. Staff 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 insider information. If the worst happens, you will be prepared.
Building Lasting Fire Safety
The Nottingham case reveals the consequences that failing to meet fire protection requirements can have on a business. Ultimately, treating fire safety as an ongoing commitment rather than a quick fix allows you to take control of your business’s safety.
Q. What is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?
A UK law that makes the fire protection of non-domestic buildings the responsibility of the ‘responsible person’. Part of their duty is to conduct fire risk assessments, plan escape plans, provide staff training, and install safety systems.
Q. What happens if your business isn't compliant?
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 regulations?
- Maintain clear escape routes.
- Book regular fire risk assessments.
- Provide training for all staff members.
- Service safety equipment.
If ever in doubt, you can consult an OHEAP fire specialist today.
Q. In the UK which regulations govern building fire protection?
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Fire Safety Order 2005.
- The Fire Safety Act 2021.
- The Building Safety Act 2022.
