Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

1 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Guidance Note No. 1: EnforcementOctober 2007 Department for Communities and Local Government: LondonRegulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Guidance Note No. 1: Enforcement Department for Communities and Local GovernmentEland HouseBressenden PlaceLondon SW1E 5 DUTelephone: 020 7944 4400 Website: Crown Copyright 2007 Copyright in the typographical arrangement rests with the publication, excluding logos, may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium for research, private study or for internal circulation within an organisation.

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3 07 FRP 04638/a 3 ContentsOverview 5 Introduction 6 Purpose 6 Contents 6 General 7 Application 7 Housing 9 Part 1 General 10 Article 1 Citation, commencement and extent 10 Article 2 Interpretation 10 Article 3 Meaning of responsible person 11 Article 4 Meaning of general fi re precautions 12 Article 5 Duties under this Order 13 Article 6 Application to premises 13 Article 7 Disapplication of certain provisions 13 Part 2 Fire Safety Duties 15 Article 8 Duty to take general fi re precautions 15 Article 9 Risk Assessment 15 Article 10 Principles of prevention to be applied 16 Article 11 Fire Safety Arrangements 17 Article 12 Elimination or reduction of

4 Risks from dangerous substances 17 Article 13 Fire-fi ghting and fi re detection 18 Article 14 Emergency routes and exits 18 Article 15 Procedures for serious and imminent danger and for danger areas 19 Article 16 Additional emergency measures in respect of dangerous substances 19 Article 17 Maintenance 20 Article 18 Safety assistance 21 Article 19 Provision of information to employees 21 Article 20 Provision of information to employers and the self-employed from outside undertakings 22 Article 21 Training 22 Article 22 Co-operation and co-ordination 23 Article 23 General duties of employees at work 23 Article 24 Power to make regulations about fi re precautions 24 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005: Guidance Note No.

5 14 Part 3 Enforcement 25 Article 25 Enforcing authorities 25 Article 26 Enforcement of Order 25 Article 27 Powers of inspectors 27 Article 28 Exercise on behalf of fi re inspectors of their powers by offi cers of fi re brigades 27 Article 29 Alterations notices 28 Article 30 Enforcement notices 29 Article 31 Prohibition notices 29 Part 4 Offences and Appeals 31 Article 32 Offences 31 Article 33 Defence 31 Article 34 Onus of proving limits of what is reasonably practicable 31 Article 35 Appeals 32 Article 36 Determination of disputes by Secretary of State 32 Part 5 Miscellaneous 33 Article 37 Fire-fi ghters switches for luminous tube signs etc 33 Article 38 Maintenance of measures provided for protection of fi re-fi ghters 33 Article 39 Civil liability for breach of statutory duty 34 Article 40 Duty not to charge employees for things done or provided 34 Article 41 Duty to consult employees 34 Article 42 Special provisions in respect of licensed etc premises 34 Article 43 Suspension of

6 Terms and conditions of licences dealing with same matters as this Order 35 Article 44 Suspension of byelaws dealing with same matters as this Order 35 Article 45 Duty to consult enforcing authority before passing plans 35 Article 46 Other consultation by authorities 36 Article 47 Disapplication of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in relation to general fi re precautions 36 Article 48 Service of notices etc 36 Article 49 Application to the Crown and to the Houses of Parliament 37 Article 50 Guidance 37 Article 51 Application to visiting forces, etc 38 Article 52 Subordinate Provisions 38 Article 53 and Schedules 1 to 5 Repeals, revocations, amendments and transitional provisions 385 OverviewWith the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)

7 Order 2005 ( the Order ) in October 2006, Fire and Rescue Authorities and other bodies ( enforcing authorities ) now have a duty to enforce fi re safety in non-domestic Most of the requirements of the Order will not be new to Fire and Rescue Authorities. Many are similar to those of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 (as amended), but are applicable to a far larger range of premises eg all non domestic premises including common parts of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and those premises used by the self employed (including family run businesses) and the voluntary sector.

8 Provision is made for the protection of a wider range of persons under the Order than the 1997 Regulations. Experience has shown that enforcement activity and uniformity of approach varies across Fire and Rescue Authorities and that guidance on the intent of the Order may help increase consistency. This is the fi rst guidance note in a series intended to assist Fire and Rescue Authorities as enforcing authorities in better understanding their duties under the Order and for the public to better understand the intent of specifi c aspects of the Order .

9 This guidance is issued by Government and has been seen in draft by the following stakeholders:Chief Fire Offi cers AssociationFire Brigades UnionThe Association of Building EngineersDepartment for Culture, Media and SportBusiness and Community Safety ForumHealth and Safety ExecutiveLocal Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory ServicesThis document may be updated from time to time and any changes will be notifi ed through a new guidance note in this series. 1 Fire and Rescue Authorities are the main enforcing authorities for this Order , however there a small number of exceptions, as set out in article 25 of the Order and those enforcing authorities should note this guidance for their particular areas of enforcement.

10 6 Introduction1. This guidance is issued by the Secretary of State to assist enforcing authorities in their enforcement responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (SI 2005/1541). By virtue of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Subordinate Provisions Order 2006 (SI 2006/484), the Order came into force on 1 October 2006. This guidance does not apply to Wales. 2. All enforcing authorities will wish to note article 26(2) of the Order , which requires enforcing authorities to have regard to guidance given by the Secretary of State about enforcement of the Order .