Fire Certificates Out in Overhaul of Fire Safety Rules

Government proposals to simplify fire safety law would see an end to fire certificates for businesses, and would make employers totally responsible for carrying our risk assessments and reducing risks. The proposals are contained in a consultation document announced this week by fire safety minister Chris Leslie.

The end of fire certificates would also remove the need for businesses to pay the administration fees to fire authorities to obtain a certificate. This is estimated to save business £1.7m a year. Fire authorities will continue to inspect premises and ensure that fire precautions are adequate.

The new risk assessment-based fire safety rules aim to ease the burden on business by shedding the confusion caused by over-lapping legislation. The proposed reform repeals the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and amends or removes wherever possible the many provisions dealing with fire safety contained in other legislation.

These will be replaced by a single Order applying the risk assessment principles introduced by the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997. The result will be one fire safety regime applying to all workplaces and other non-domestic premises.

The proposed Order will require the person responsible for the premises - usually the employer - to carry out an assessment of the risks of fire and to take steps to reduce or remove those risks. They will also have to meet certain specific requirements such as ensuring that there are adequate means of escape and appropriate fire fighting equipment.

Dale Collins of Osborne Clarke, writing in the LWF Guide to Fire Safety Management Law and Practice 2002, estimated that over 120 pieces of legislation deal in some way with fire safety or fire precautions.

The consultation document is available from the ODPM website - www.odpm.gov.uk.

The LWF Guide to Fire Safety Law and Practice (price £49.50, 10% discount to members) is available from the eshop, or by calling 0870 777 0202.
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