The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the biggest overhaul in fire safety legislation in decades.

The Order, which came into force on 1st October 2006 firmly places the responsibility for ensuring fire does not put lives at risk with the ‘responsible person’, which in most cases will be the employer. At the same time, it allows the enforcing authority to make sure that the legislation is complied with and sets penalties if it is not.

The Order requires the responsible person (or their representative) to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of their workplace, to remove or reduce fire hazards as far as possible, and to ensure that all facilities relating to fire alarm and detection systems and firefighting are well maintained. The risk assessment should also include evacuation procedures and staff training requirements.