There are inevitably a lot of complicated and challenging matters for landlords and business owners in the UK to navigate on a day-by-day, week-by-week, and month-by-month basis.
Certainly, if you are an individual or decision-maker for an organisation in the UK, you will want to ensure your compliance with the current legal requirements, while also protecting what you might have worked hard for, and keeping people safe.
The topic of fire safety hits all these touchpoints. So, below, we’ll take a closer look at the essential things to know about fire risk compliance in the UK, including how you can achieve and maintain it for your own premises.
Why should you care about fire risk compliance?
In some respects – at least at first – it might seem that the task of complying with the law on fire safety is just one more unwanted burden on UK landlords and business owners, of the many that exist.
However, it is also crucial to acknowledge the very real risks of fire occurring at a property that you own or are responsible for. According to UK Government statistics about incidents attended by fire and rescue services (FRSs) in England for the year ending June 2024, some 594,384 incidents were attended over that period, with 129,541 of these being fires.
Moreover, the following consequences could arise if you fail to keep in compliance with the latest fire safety legislation in the UK:
- Legal penalties – If you are not in adherence with the current legislation governing fire risk in the UK, you could face heavy fines, lawsuits, and/or imprisonment. Even minor penalties could be as high as £5,000. For a major violation of the law, meanwhile, you might be hit with an unlimited fine and/or spend two years in jail.
- Human cost – Not keeping on top of the latest fire safety compliance requirements can mean a higher risk of fire – and associated injuries and/or loss of life among the people who may use or visit your buildings.
- Financial damage – A lack of fire risk compliance can seriously hit you in the pocket in various ways. A fire can result in a loss of assets that it would cost you money to replace, and interruption to your business operations. Furthermore, the history of a major and damaging fire having occurred at your premises could drive up your insurance premiums going forward.
- Reputation loss – Your business’s non-compliance with fire safety legislation – along with associated consequences like those outlined – could also cause serious and lasting damage to your brand’s credibility and image, as well as your personal reputation.
It is of critical importance, then, to be confident of the fire safety measures at your property being compliant with the latest regulations. If you have any doubt in your mind about this, we suggest you read on for further information and guidance.
What is fire risk compliance in the UK?
The term “fire risk compliance” refers to the extent to which a relevant party (such as a landlord or business owner) adheres to the laws and guidance aimed at reducing fire risks in properties and ensuring the safety of occupants.
If you are such a party, you will need to ensure your compliance with legal frameworks such as:
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
This is the primary legislation governing fire safety in England and Wales; equivalent regulations exist in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Also often referred to as simply the “Fire Safety Order” or “FSO”, this law applies to all non-domestic premises, communal areas in residential buildings, and shared spaces.
The FSO was updated in 2021 by the Fire Safety Act, focusing on external wall systems in high-rise buildings in light of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in June 2017.
Building Safety Act 2022
This legislation enforced stricter regulations for “higher-risk buildings”. The Act defines such structures as those that are at least 18 metres tall or have a minimum of seven storeys, in addition to containing at least two residential units.
By achieving and maintaining adherence with all these laws, you can greatly help ensure you are doing everything possible to safeguard lives, protect property, and avoid adverse legal repercussions.
Who is responsible for fire risk compliance in the UK?
The allocation of responsibility is a key aspect of compliance with UK fire safety law that you need to be mindful of and knowledgeable about as a landlord or business owner:
- The “responsible person” – The FSO defines the “responsible person” as the employer, owner, or occupier of the premises. The “responsible person” is tasked with carrying out fire risk assessments, safety measures, and staff training.
- Shared responsibility – Landlords and tenants are required to coordinate in cases of multioccupancy buildings. An example of how such coordination could work, is the landlord handling communal areas, while the building’s tenants manage their individual spaces.
- High-risk buildings – Under the Building Safety Act 2022, the “Accountable Person” – defined as the person or organisation that has responsibility for the given building – must now maintain building safety files for properties over 18 metres in height.
What are the key components of fire risk compliance?
If you are responsible for fire safety at a particular property, you will need to keep on top of these elements of compliance with the relevant legislation:
Fire risk assessment
It is a legal requirement to identify, evaluate, and mitigate fire hazards; this process is known as a fire risk assessment, or “FRA”.
The steps of an FRA at a property include:
- Identifying hazards (sources of ignition, fuel, and oxygen)
- Identifying people at risk (occupants, visitors, and contractors)
- Assessing current measures and identifying gaps
- Recording findings and implementing an action plan
- Regularly reviewing and updating the assessment (for example, annually or when changes occur).
As for who, exactly, should conduct an FRA at your site, this will depend on how large or complex your property, business, or organisation is. A competent individual can undertake this task, or you might decide to arrange for an external fire safety professional to do it.
Fire safety plan
The fire safety plan is a comprehensive document setting out the procedure and actions to follow to ensure safety if a fire-related incident occurs.
It should include elements such as:
- Emergency evacuation routes
- Clear fire assembly points
- Instructions for vulnerable persons – for example, Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans, or “PEEPs”.
The most effective fire safety plan will be tailored to the specific characteristics and requirements of the given building and its occupants. For instance, the best fire safety plan for a high-rise residential building will differ from the most suitable plan for a manufacturing plant.
Training is another crucial consideration when it comes to fire safety plans. It is essential for staff members to know their roles in fire emergencies, and in the case of any given plan, regular fire drills should be conducted to evaluate its effectiveness.
Fire protection measures
As you put measures in place at your building to help guard against fire risks, the below are some of the most important ones to be aware of:
- Active systems encompassing fire alarms, smoke detectors, and sprinklers. Fire suppression systems play an especially crucial role in kitchens or industrial premises.
- Passive systems such as fire doors, fire-resistant walls, and ceilings; compartmentalisation can help prevent a fire’s spread.
- Testing and maintenance measures including annual alarm system checks, monthly fire extinguisher inspections, and quarterly reviews of emergency lighting.
Digital records
From 2024, large businesses are encouraged to maintain digital logs of compliance activities. Examples of these include logbooks for equipment testing, fire drill reports, and risk assessment updates.
How can fire risk management software help with compliance?
Dedicated fire risk management software – such as the relevant technology incorporated into the Vision Pro platform – can be invaluable for simplifying your compliance efforts.
Here are some of the features you can expect such software to include:
- Automated tracking
Fire risk management software that draws upon automated tracking capability will be able to help you with the scheduling and tracking of inspections, equipment tests, and fire drills.
Such software may also be able to issue you with reminders of upcoming deadlines, such as for extinguisher servicing.
- Centralised recordkeeping
A leading fire risk management software platform can also provide a single place for the digital storage of risk assessments, compliance reports, and maintenance logs.
Such software tends to be designed in a way that allows for easy access to these documents and records during audits or inspections.
- Customisable compliance checklists
The fire risk management software in which you invest should also give you the ability to create tailored checklists for different property types or regulatory requirements.
- Real-time updates
There are likely to be various individuals involved in devising and implementing fire safety measures at your building(s).
If the software that you choose updates itself in real time, this will help ensure all relevant personnel of yours are working on the basis of the same complete and up-to-date information.
- Reporting tools
The best available fire risk management platforms are also capable of generating professional and informative reports for stakeholders and regulatory bodies, as and when they may be needed.
What are the best practices for achieving fire risk compliance?
By committing yourself as an individual or organisation to making the below practices fundamental elements of your fire risk compliance process, you can greatly help ensure you never fall out of line with the latest legal requirements.
- Create a fire-safe culture
Fire safety instructions should be prominently displayed at your building, and staff members or tenants using the property should be encouraged to report any hazards or concerns.
- Collaborate with authorities
It is a positive move to prioritise having a good relationship with your local fire service. After all, local fire services play a crucial role in enforcing fire safety in the local area by carrying out inspections of buildings. So, they can be a very useful source of guidance.
- Continuous improvement
Whether you are a landlord, business owner, or another party subject to UK fire safety legislation, you should proactively keep yourself updated on the latest legal changes, such as the aforementioned Building Safety Act.
You should also be regularly evaluating your fire safety systems for your building, and upgrading it whenever necessary.
- Engage tenants and occupants
Anyone renting your premises should be left in no doubt about the roles they have to play in fire safety. Indeed, you might also use resident meetings to educate such individuals and address any concerns.
Conclusion: are you ready to prioritise fire risk compliance in 2024/25?
Hopefully, this article has made clear to you precisely why fire risk compliance is so important – for legal, moral, and business reasons.
So, it is essential to avoid neglecting such critical steps as conducting or updating fire risk assessments, or investing in staff training and equipment maintenance. Leveraging the right professional support and digital tools can also greatly assist your efforts to comply with every aspect of UK fire safety law.
Are you ready to discover the difference that Vision Pro software could make to the optimisation of your fire risk compliance arrangements? If so, please don’t hesitate to contact us today, so that you can discuss your needs with us and request a demo of this powerful platform.
