Did you know you could be prosecuted if you don’t have the right fire safety strategy in place for your premises?
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005:
Since the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 fire certificates are no longer issued. Instead onus falls onto the ‘responsible person’ to take appropriate action to prevent fire and protect building users in the event of a fire.
Other Fire Protection
services:
Are You the ‘Responsible Person’?
If you’re an owner, landlord or occupier of business or other non-domestic premises, you’ll be responsible for fire safety. You’re known as the ‘responsible person’.
In Scotland the term the ‘Duty Holder’ might be used, or ‘Appropriate Person’ in Northern Ireland, but they mean the same thing.
The ‘responsible person’ may be prosecuted if they fail to comply with the law. To ensure your premises are as safe as they can be, there are simple actions you can take.
Do You Have a Fire Risk Assessment?
First, you must carry out a fire risk assessment of the premises to identify the potential hazards and risks. It will also look at the fire precautions in place and help you make a judgment if they are adequate, or they need to be changed.
Under the law anyone can carry out a fire risk assessment, but you don’t have to do it yourself. You can use a professional fire risk assessor. They understand the potential fire safety hazards and how to minimize risks.
They will make independent and unbiased recommendations about what, or if any action needs to be taken.
What Happens After the Fire Risk Assessment?
The fire risk assessor will list a plan of what action needs to be taken to minimize fire risks. Also, what is required to detect a fire, warn people and allow them to escape quickly and safely.
We always recommend using a supplier who is third-party certificated.
What Does Third-Party Certificated Mean?
You want to know that you are purchasing quality products, which are delivered, commissioned and installed by competent technicians who are trained and qualified.
The best way to be sure is if you use fire safety suppliers who are third-party certificated. This means they have been independently assessed and the quality of their work has been verified as being to a high standard. The same also applies to the fire risk assessor.
HJS is a Third-Party Certificated Company
So, How Does This Benefit Your Company?
In the unfortunate event you did have a fire your insurance company will investigate all claims. They will want to see evidence that you have used competent suppliers. If you cannot prove this, you may have difficulty getting a full insurance payment. That could be very expensive!
What is UKAS Accreditation?
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the national accreditation body for the United Kingdom. UKAS is recognised by government, to assess the certification bodies that provide certification against internationally agreed standards for testing, inspection and calibration services.
When choosing a supplier you should always ensure they are UKAS accredited. The UKAS logo is generally incorporated in the certification body logo and shown on any certificate of registration.
In Short, UKAS, ‘Checks The Checkers’
Accreditation, with its many potential benefits for the quality of goods and in the provision of services will help the ‘responsible person’ ensure compliance under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, this will also ensure the selection of competent persons for the provision of maintenance under the order.
Scope of Registration
Just checking the accreditations of a supplier is not enough, as you must ensure they are accredited for the provision of service(s) or product(s) you require. For example, a security alarm company who are third-party certified for security systems offer you fire alarm system maintenance, which is not included in their certification.
It is very common for organisations to assume their certification covers everything they do because they have seen a UKAS certification body logo on the suppliers letterhead. Always read the scope of activities covered. You will find this on the certificate of registration and it will detail what their certification covers.
By choosing service or product suppliers who are certified by a UKAS accredited certification body you will reduce the chances of facing prosecution under the Fire Safety Order.
How You Can Guarantee a Quality Fire Risk Assessment for Your Business With BAFE SP205?
The press is constantly reporting on fire safety breaches and prosecutions due to poor quality fire risk assessments often carried out by many incompetent fire risk assessors.
So, how will you know if the fire risk assessor you have employed is qualified and competent to carry out your fire risk assessment?
Anyone can attempt to carry out a fire risk assessment, but in order to ensure you are using a competent provider you should be using a BAFE registered company who are BAFE SP205 Life Safety Fire Risk Assessment registered.
This scheme was launched in May 2012 and has been developed for organisations that provide life safety fire risk assessment services for others. It is designed to give assurance to those commissioning fire risk assessments and provide confidence in the quality and relevance of the services being provided.
BAFE Life Safety Fire Risk Assessment SP205 specifies that organisations have the required technical and quality management capabilities and risk assessment staff meet appropriate standards. The scheme has been designed to meet the requirements of fire risk assessment providers large and small, recognising that there are many individuals working as assessors.
Harrold-Jones Services (UK) Ltd has been awarded BAFE Life Safety Fire Risk Assessment SP205.
Do you need a quotation from us for a Fire Risk Assessment review? If so, please contact us on 0121 486 1929. Alternatively, email us at: enquiries@harrold-jones.co.uk
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