New Fire Safety Regulations Implemented From 1 October 2023
This guidance is a vital component of Phase 3 of the Home Office’s fire safety reform program, aimed at enhancing fire safety across all premises regulated by the Fire Safety Order (FSO). The new regulations have multiple objectives: to promote better collaboration and coordination among Responsible Persons (RPs), to establish more stringent requirements for documenting and sharing fire safety information, to simplify the process for enforcement authorities to address non-compliance issues, and to furnish residents with extensive information regarding fire safety in their respective buildings.
What is the background?
In recent developments, authorities have released three new fire safety guides tailored for small non-domestic premises, small blocks of flats, and small sleeping accommodations. These guides are designed to replace the previous concise guide for ensuring fire safety on premises. Additionally, an updated fire risk assessment checklist has been made available to assist responsible individuals in comprehending and meeting the new requirements, facilitating their efforts to ensure the safety and security of their premises against fire hazards.
What to do if you are a designated responsible person
The Fire Industry warmly welcomes these new regulations as a significant stride toward elevating fire safety standards nationwide. We also strongly encourage all Responsible Persons to thoroughly review the updated guidelines and take the necessary actions to achieve full compliance. Furthermore, commencement regulations for the new fire safety legal provisions introduced under section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 have been officially presented in Parliament.
Where are the latest regulations?
Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) introduces a series of amendments to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) with the aim of enhancing fire safety across all buildings subject to FSO regulation. These improvements constitute Phase 3 of the Home Office’s fire safety reform program, building upon the foundation of Phase 1 (the Fire Safety Act 2021) and Phase 2 (the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022).
Phase 3 serves to further fortify fire safety in all FSO-regulated premises by:
- Enhancing cooperation and coordination among Responsible Persons (RPs).
- Increasing requirements related to the documentation and sharing of fire safety information, creating a continuous record over a building’s lifespan.
- Streamlining the process for enforcement authorities to address instances of non-compliance.
- Ensuring residents have access to comprehensive information regarding fire safety in their respective buildings.
For a comprehensive assessment of your commercial fire safety requirements you can contact one of our expert team members at SS Systems by completing the form below.
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