Fire safety reform guidance finally here

There were concerns that the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) would be forced to once again delay the introduction the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.

Originally scheduled to come into effect in April, the Order was put back to October by the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, because crucial guidance for businesses and other organisations had not been produced on time.

In January 2005, former fire safety minister Phil Hope made a commitment in Parliament, promising that a series of detailed guides for various sectors would be available at least three months before the Order came into effect.

Now several guides - including those for offices and shops, factories and warehouses, sleeping accommodation and educational premises - are available to download from the DCLG website.

A further booklet from the Chief Fire Officers Association aimed at small to medium sized businesses - 'A short guide to making your premises safe from fire' - explaining how to meet the requirements of the Order was also published this week.

Publicity campaign

Guides for residential, transport and healthcare premises and facilities, as well as theatres and cinemas and some others, are not yet available.

However a spokeswoman for the DCLG said that the department was expecting to publish all of the guides by July. She confirmed that as a result the Order would definitely be coming into effect from 1 October.

The spokeswoman told us: "The guides are now starting to become available, and soon we will be launching our PR campaign to bring these to the attention of those who need to know."

She added that the department had plans to target specific trade media to raise awareness of the new guidance and that some money would be spent on promotional leaflets and advertising.

Norwich Union property risk manager, Allister Smith, said he welcomed the fact that the guides were now being produced.

"The most crucial aspect of delivering the reform was always going to be good publicity and guidance, to ensure that those not aware of the changes, or even the existing requirements, are brought up to speed. Hopefully this much needed communication exercise will be fully underway soon."

Risk-based approach

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order will impact on all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, and has been described by the Government as "the biggest overhaul of fire safety legislation in decades."

It amends and consolidate around 79 pieces of legislation relating to fire safety and marks a shift towards what the Government describes as a more "risk-based" approach to fire safety.

The main issue for employers and buildings owners will be the abolition of fire certificates, as well as a requirement to carry out a fire risk assessment and act on the findings - something which is already required under current legislation.

Inspections by the Fire and Rescue Authorities will only apply "in some cases" - in particular "higher risk premises".