Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 31/08/2

The Chief Fire Officer is reminding businesses of fire safety legislation following the serving of two prohibition notices in Newquay. The notices were served under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 on a house of multiple occupation and a surf lodge.

The new fire safety legislation came into force on 1 October 2006. This legislation replaced the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and Fire Precautions Workplace Regulations 1997.

Fire safety in premises became the responsibility of the ‘responsible person’ (normally the owner or occupier). The legislation covers nearly every type of building, structure and open space except for private homes and individual flats in a block or house, although communal areas are affected.

The ‘responsible person’ has a duty to ensure the safety of everyone who lawfully uses their premises and those in the immediate vicinity who may be at risk from fire.

In advance of the new fire safety legislation, known as The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, coming in Cornwall County Fire Brigade conducted an extensive countywide campaign to inform businesses of the need to carry out risk assessments.

The campaign included a letter followed by a phone call, and was supported by national advertising and publicity through the local media. 4,000 businesses were contacted in Cornwall.
“Businesses need to be clear that it is their responsibility to manage fire safety within their premises. They should not wait for the Fire Brigade to visit and tell them what they need to do” said Chief Fire Officer Matt Littmoden

He cont: “They should have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment in place and have implemented all necessary measures to control risks from fir. If we do visit and find things wrong we may issue an enforcement notice, prohibition notice or even prosecute in severe cases”

There are a series of guides to assist those carrying out fire risk assessments including an entry level ‘A short guide to making your premises safe from fire’ and more detailed guidance targeted at specific areas of business including:

 Offices and Shops
 Premises providing Sleeping Accommodation
 Residential Care
 Small and Medium Places of Assembly
 Large Places of Assembly
 Factories and Warehouses
 Theatres and Cinemas
 Educational Premises
 Healthcare Premises
 Transport Premises and Facilities
 Open Air Events

All of the guidance documents are available to download free of charge at www.firesafetyguides.communities.gov.uk
Alternatively please visit www.cornwall.gov.uk/fire
To speak to a local fire safety officer please call:

• West Division fire safety department - 01326 212412
• Central Division fire safety department - 01726 72582
• East Division fire safety department - 01208 72312