The Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005

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The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

• Tim Birchall BSc (Hons),MIFireE

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The Fire Safety Order

• In force 1st October 2006
• Replaces 103 pieces of Fire Legislation
• England and Wales
• Enforcement via the Fire Service

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Responsible Person

• Person with control
• Chair of Governors?
• Headteacher?
• Local Education Authority?

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Responsible person MUST

• General Fire Precautions (Article 8)
• Safety of employees and other relevant persons
  (SFARP)
• Reduce risk of fire
• Means of escape
• Fire fighting
• Detection and warning
• Action to be taken

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Risk Assessment (Article 9)

• Suitable and Sufficient
• Focusing on the safety of relevant persons
• Review and update if not longer valid
• Record significant findings of assessment
• Inform employees
• Provide special measures for children
• Measures for those with a disability

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Elimination / reduction of dangerous substances
(Article 12)

• Reduce quantity of dangerous substances to
  minimum / avoid or minimise release
• Science Labs?
• Mitigate the effects of a fire
• Compartmentation ?

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Procedures for serious/imminent danger (Article
15)

• Safety drills
• Sufficient competent persons to assist
  evacuation.
• Additional Emergency Measures (Article 16)
• Provide information on emergency arrangements for
  staff
• Suitable warning

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Maintenance (Article 17)

• System of maintenance, efficient working order
  and good repair.
• Occupier / owner co operate with responsible
  person

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Safety Assistance (Article 18)

• Appoint competent person(s) to carryout
  preventive protective measures
• Provide co- operation
• Time to do the job
• Means in relation to size, risk
• provide employees with clear and relevant
  information

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Training (Article 21)

• Employees are provided with adequate training
• Upon employment
• Exposure to new /increased risk
• New work equip
• New systems of work
• Suitable and sufficient
• Repeated periodically
• Reviewed
• Provided in appropriate manner

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Fire Risk Assessment 5 Steps

• EMPHASIS ON MANAGING RISK PRIOR TO PROVIDING
  CONTROL MEASURES
• E eliminate by removing risk
• R remove the hazard
• I isolate hazard from people
• C control exposure to hazard
• D discipline safe system of work
• P use of PPE

If the building is maintained in accordance
with Approved Document B managing residual risk
should be a simple matter
ERIC DP
If not in accordance with ADB this may not be a
simple matter!
return
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Concordat Principles
PROHIBITIONS
ENFORCEMENT NOTICES
AGREED ACTION PLAN
ADVICE IN WRITING (MINOR NON-COMPLIANCE)
Satisfactory
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Stakeholder views

• Looking for short (10-12) page advice booklet

CFOA in partnership with ODPM have drafted short
booklet to assist small businesses
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A Guide to the Guides Regulatory Reform (Fire
Safety) Order 2005
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The Brief

• Written for the responsible person
• Suitable for small/medium businesses
• Provide practical examples
• Consolidate ALL existing guidance
• Also for Enforcers

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How the Guides should be used
Guide divided into two main parts with an
emphasis on risk reduction/ prevention in the
first instance
PART 1 A simple, straightforward guide to
complying with the law carrying out a fire risk
assessment (5 step approach)
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How the Guides should be used

• PART 2 Further detailed information on premises
  specific advice, risk reduction and general fire
  precautions (can be dipped into)

A MORE FUNCTIONAL APPROACH PROVIDING GUIDANCE
APPROPRIATE TO A RANGE OF RISKS USES
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Appendices

• A1. Fire Safety Checklist (Not a Risk Assessment)
• A2. Recording Significant Findings
• Fire Resistance
• Construction
• Doors
• Door fastenings including Electronic Door Locks
  (EDLs)
• Historic Buildings
• Glossary

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Technical Standards
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Schools Risk Assessment Training

• Fire Safe Design
• 2 Day Risk Assessment course for schools
• Contact your Health and Safety Advisor.

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Fire Safety Guidance
www.communities.gov.uk Risk assessment
guides www.bedsfire.com Fire Safety Guidance Note
65 Premises fire strategy document Small
Premises Risk Assessment
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Arson in Schools

• 1 in 20 schools experience a fire
• 60 are deliberate.
• Insurers are paying out more than 100m each year
  for school fires

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BB100 Design for Fire safety in schools

• New schools
• Extensions
• Major refurbishment
• Government Expectation is to fit sprinklers

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Arson in Schools

• Risk analysis and cost benefit tool kit
• Assist in determining whether sprinklers are
  required.
• More than 300 schools in England and Wales now
  have sprinklers
• gt 50 LEAs have a policy of installing them

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Arson in Schools

• More than 300 schools in England and Wales now
  have sprinklers
• gt 50 LEAs have a policy of installing them.

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• Questions