The introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO) 2005 changed the responsibility for the control of fire safety from the Fire Brigades onto building managers.  The RRO applies to all non-domestic premises and places a duty of care on either, or any combination of, the employer, the occupier or the owner as the Responsible Person. 

Alternatively a Competent Person providing services can fulfil this task for you.  Our fire safety consultants are highly skilled individuals, many of whom have many years of experience serving with the Fire and Rescue Services Fire Safety teams.  Led by a Fire Engineer who is a member of both the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) and the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM), this experienced team provides ‘competent people’ with high quality expertise, systems and strategies.

Of particular importance in this area as far as equality for disabled people is concerned, is the requirement for the workplace manager or responsible person to ensure that there is effective escape for everyone from the premises (ie it is not sufficient merely to move a disabled person to a refuge and then wait for the Fire and Rescue Services). 

Article 14 (b):

“in the event of danger, it must be possible for persons to evacuate the premises as quickly and as safely as possible”.

Article 15 (1):

(a) establish and, where necessary, give effect to appropriate procedures, including safety drills, to be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger to relevant persons;

(b) nominate a sufficient number of competent persons to implement those procedures in so far as they relate to the evacuation of relevant persons from the premises;

guidance documents

There are a large number of publicly available guidance documents to assist people responsible for the management of workplaces and these include:

Building Regulations 2000: Approved Document M

Access To and Use of Buildings

BS8300:2009 + Amendment 1:2010 Design of Buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people – Code of Practice Building Regulations 2000: Approved Document B Fire Safety

BS9999:2008 Fire Precautions in the Design, Construction and Use of Buildings. 

11 Department for Communities and Local Government Fire Risk Assessment Guides plus the supporting Guide - Means of Escape for Disabled People