The law applicable to fire safety underwent significant change in October 2006 - as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into effect at that time.
This legislation, commonly known as RR(FS)O - or simply RRO - replaced over 70 pieces of fire safety law and it applies to all non-domestic business premises in England and Wales.
It applies to individuals who are:
- Responsible for business premises.
- An employer (or someone self-employed) with business premises.
- Responsible for a part of a dwelling which is solely used for business.
- A charity or voluntary organisation.
- A contractor with a degree of control over any premises.
Such individuals are deemed the “responsible person” for the premises in question. The responsible person has a legal obligation to carry out a fire safety risk assessment on the premises and implement and maintain a fire management plan for the premises.
The responsible person may contract out the task of preparing the fire risk assessment, but they still remain responsible for it and also for implementing the actions needed to reduce or manage the risk.
In general, the fire services no longer issue fire certificates to premises and existing fire certificates cease to have any legal status.