As the responsible person (the employer or business owner) for your business, you have a legal duty to ensure the safety of “relevant persons”. In fire safety law (the Regulatory Reform [Fire Safety] Order 2005), the term "relevant persons" refers to individuals who could be at risk from a fire on the premises. This includes:
- Employees: All staff members who work on the premises.
- Visitors and Customers: Any person who is legally on the premises, such as customers, clients, contractors, or delivery personnel.
- Persons in the Vicinity: Individuals who are near the premises and could be affected by a fire incident originating from the business.
The term ensures that fire safety measures protect not just employees but anyone who could be affected by a fire at your business.
As the responsible person you must do all that is reasonable to fulfill this duty including assessing fire risks and implementing safety measures.
Issues that you should consider may include:
1. Housekeeping
Ensuring your premises is clear from clutter and your general housekeeping is adequate. Keeping business premises free of combustible materials and maintaining good housekeeping practices (such as keeping flammable materials away from ignition sources) are essential to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Here’s why this is important and how it helps meet fire safety requirements:
- Reducing Fire Risks. Combustible materials, such as paper, cardboard, and flammable liquids, can ignite easily and cause a fire to spread rapidly. By keeping these materials to a minimum and properly stored, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of fire outbreaks. Regular disposal of waste and limiting the amount of flammable material stored in one place are key steps to minimising potential fuel sources for a fire.
- Maintaining safe escape routes. Good housekeeping ensures that escape routes, fire exits, and access to firefighting equipment are not obstructed by clutter or stored items. Blocked exits can delay evacuation, increasing the risk to relevant persons during an emergency. Regular checks should be carried out to ensure these areas remain clear at all times.
- Improved response. Good housekeeping provides clear visibility for identifying potential fire risks and addressing them before they become a hazard.
- Minimising property and stock damage. Preventing the accumulation of combustible materials can help contain a fire to a smaller area, reducing the extent of damage to the premises and potentially lowering repair costs.
2. Compartmentation
Ensuring that your premises has adequate compartmentation. In fire safety, "compartmentation" refers to constructing or dividing a building into separate, fire-resistant sections or "compartments" to contain the spread of fire and smoke. The goal is to limit the fire's ability to spread quickly throughout the building, therefore providing occupants more time to evacuate safely.
Compartmentation involves using fire-resistant walls, floors, doors, and ceilings to create these separate compartments. Proper compartmentation can:
- Prevent fire from spreading from one area to another.
- Protect escape routes, allowing people to exit the building safely.
- Limit damage to specific areas, reducing potential repair costs.
Compartmentation is particularly important in buildings with multiple uses or floors, where containing a fire to one section can prevent it from affecting other parts of the premises.
For example, if your business occupies the ground floor and there is a flat above, there should be no gaps or holes that would allow smoke and heat to pass through in the event of a fire.
3. Fire Loading
Fire loading in your premises is not excessive where it could present a risk of fire. Managing fire loading is an important aspect of fire. "Fire loading" refers to the amount of combustible material present in a space, which can fuel a fire if one starts. Below are some important reasons why you need to focus on managing fire loading:
- Reducing the severity of fires. High fire loading means there is more fuel available for a fire, which can increase its intensity and speed of spread. By minimising the amount of combustible material, businesses can reduce the potential severity of a fire, making it easier to control or extinguish.
- Compliance with fire safety law. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that businesses take steps to reduce fire risks "as far as reasonably practicable." This includes controlling fire loading by safely storing materials, limiting quantities of flammable items, and regularly removing waste.
- Improving emergency response. Lower fire loading makes it easier for firefighters to control the fire, thereby reducing potential damage and allowing for quicker resolution.
How to Manage Fire Loading:
- Limit the accumulation of combustible materials, such as packaging, paperwork, and stock.
- Store items with high fire risks in designated fire-resistant storage areas.
- Regularly remove waste and unnecessary items to keep the fire load low.
- Use fire-retardant treatments on materials, when possible, to reduce their combustibility.
- Conduct routine fire risk assessments to evaluate and manage the fire loading effectively.
- In businesses where flammable materials are necessary (e.g., manufacturing or kitchens), managing fire loading is especially important. Implement strict storage procedures, using fire-resistant containers, and maintaining proper separation from ignition sources
For an exact assessment of your risks please contact a competent fire risk assessor who will be able to assist you in this matter. Please see our page on Fire Risk Assessments here.