Fire Risk Assessments

As the responsible person you must carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment of the premises. This will identify what you need to do to prevent fire and keep people safe.

As of the 1st of October 2023, the Building Safety Act 2022 came into effect with Section 156 amending the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, setting the requirement for all fire risk assessments to be recorded irrespective of the number of employees or whether there is a license in force.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) is the primary legislation in England and Wales that requires businesses to have a fire risk assessment. The FSO applies to all workplaces and common areas of buildings with more than one domestic property.

The FSO requires that the “Responsible Person” for a premises:

• Undertake and record a fire risk assessment
• Put in place and maintain general fire precautions
• Inform relevant people of the actions taken
• Review the assessment regularly
• The assessment should be carried out by a competent person who is trained, experienced, and skilled. The assessment should also consider those at special risk, such as disabled persons.