Complying with fire safety is a crucial responsibility for building owners and managers. The primary law regarding fire safety is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The order provides a framework for regulating fire safety in all non-domestic premises, including workplaces and the parts of multi-occupied residential buildings used in common in England and Wales.
The order applies to almost all buildings, places and structures other than individual private homes. These premises include blocks of flats, other multi-occupied dwellings and buildings used as a workplace.
Those affected by the Fire Safety Order include:
- The Responsible Person of a premises
- An employer or someone self-employed within a premises
- Someone responsible for a part of a dwelling used for business purposes
- A charity or voluntary organisation
- A contractor with a degree of control over a premises
- Someone who provides accommodation for paying guests
The Fire Safety Act was introduced in 2020 and officially became law in England and Wales in April 2021. It's aimed to close any loopholes in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and ensure residents and all other occupants feel safer in their homes.
The Fire Safety Act has made amendments to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It's crucial for any building owner or the Accountable Person to be aware of these amendments and have a clear understanding of what's included in the Fire Safety Act.
Find out more about the Fire Safety Act and what it means for you by reading our blog.
The Building Safety Act granted Royal Assent on 28th April 2022. The new Act brings sweeping changes to how firms plan, design and construct buildings. For leaseholders, The Building Safety Act means greater protection under the law against legacy fire safety standard shortfalls.
There are various aspects of your building’s fire safety that will change. But before making any changes, you’ll need to assess the condition of the building. Make sure to consider:
- The relationship with your building occupants
- The construction of the building and standards held when it was built
- The practical specifications of your building
- The building's construction and any details of historical refurbishments
- Details about the interior of the building
- Information on maintenance and inspection history
To find out more about the Building Safety Act, download our Building Safety Act Checklist here.
