Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

This requires a minimum fire safety standard in business premises, ensuring safe emergency and exits are provided, risks from fire assessed, and adequate protection is provided, including the provision of fire extinguishers, staff information and training (evacuation drill).

Regulation 9 requires a fire risk assessment to be carried out, with consideration being given to matters identified in Schedule 1.

Where any principles of prevention are applied (Regulation 10) then these must be based on the principles identified in Part 3 of Schedule 1, which are:

“(a) avoiding risks;
(b) evaluating the risks which cannot be avoided;
(c) combating the risks at source;
(d) adapting to technical progress;
(e) replacing the dangerous by the non-dangerous or less dangerous;
(f) developing a coherent overall prevention policy which covers technology, organisation of work and the influence of factors relating to the working environment;
(g) giving collective protective measures priority over individual protective measures; and
(h) giving appropriate instructions to employees.”

The provision of fire fighting equipment (e.g. fire extinguishers), detectors and alarms is stated in Regulation 13.

All emergency exits and routes to exits from the premises, as well as the exists must be kept clear at all times; they must not be chained closed or block to prevent opening or restricting ease of movement along routes. (Regulation 14)