Fire safety for businesses is such an important part of workplace safety culture. For each business in a physical space with employees, there should be a focus on health and safety and fire hazards. Ensuring you have a strong fire risk assessment can be the difference between a safe workplace and an unsafe one. Here are some of our FAQs on fire safety.
What are the laws for fire safety in businesses?
The fire safety legislation for Great Britain falls under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This legislation was brought in place to bring each piece of the law in to one place. It was supposed to make everything more simple for non-domestic properties – namely businesses and organisations. The Regulatory Reform Order states the need for:
- A responsible person whose job it is to ensure the workplace is fire safe.
- Fire safety duties including risk assessments, fire doors and exits, training and additional measures.
- Information about offences and enforcing authorities.
- Duty not to charge employees for safety additions undertaken
These regulations are part of the law, and form the backbone of what must be done for fire safety for businesses.
Who is the ‘responsible person’ in my business?
The responsible person in your business is the owner, occupier or employer. This is often the leader within the business, and someone who has ultimate say over certain aspects of the business, and can be counted on as a decision maker.
In short, someone leading the company. They need to ensure they are completing the correct fire safety procedures and assessments, and operating so their business fall in line with regulations.
How should I conduct a fire risk assessment?
Conducting a fire risk assessment is not as easy job. It involves assessing the roles of employees, the offices/premises you are in and the risks and fire hazards that are within these situations. The job here is to identify and eliminate/reduce the risk of fire. This isn’t an easy job for a business leader, and can be time consuming.
That’s where Direct365 can help. Our team offer fire risk assessment services that take the pain away from the task. Our competitively priced service covers you with a thorough and comprehensive fire risk assessment. For more information on our commercial fire risk assessment service, click here.
Do I need fire marshals at my business?
Businesses are legally required to have at least two fire marshals in their business. Fire marshals are members of staff who need to usher staff to safety upon the event of a fire, check the building for issues and ensure everybody is out of the building. They are also trained in using fire extinguishers and will try and ensure the risk of a fire is low initially.
Which fire extinguisher type do I need?
There isn’t just one fire extinguisher that deals with all types of fires. Below is a graph that shows which extinguisher (in the left column) to use for which material (across the top).
| Extinguisher | Solid Items (wood, paper, textiles. | Flammable Liquids (petrol, diesel, etc) | Flammable Gas (methane, propane, hydrogen) | Flammable metal (magnesium, aluminium, lithium) | Electrical (Computers, heaters, etc) | Cooking oils |
| Water | Y | N | N | N | If di-electrically tested | N |
| Foam | Y | Y | N | N | If di-electrically tested | N |
| Water Mist | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | N |
| CO2 | N | Y | N | N | Y | N |
| Wet Chemical | Sometimes | N | N | N | N | N |
| ABC Powder | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | N |
Do my staff need fire safety training?
The law doesn’t state an exact number, but the general consensus is that there should be one fully trained fire warden for every 20 staff. You may be wondering the difference between a fire warden and a fire marshal. Fire marshals are more reactive, being given the role to manage employees during a fire situation, whereas a warden is more proactive. This includes spot checks, assessments and more.
How often are fire drills held?
Fire drills are required to be carried out at least once a year. Depending on the size and risk of the business, you may want to conduct these more often. Also if you have a large turnover of staff, where this may be helpful, it may be a good idea to do them more frequently.
A recording of the time, date and results must also be kept as part of your fire safety evacuation plan, as part of your risk assessment.
We will be adding to this document as more questions and enquiries come through about fire safety for business. Check back for more details. And for more details on how we can help, fill in the form below and let Direct365 help you become compliant.
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