The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the primary legislation covering general fire safety in England and Wales, supported by subsequent amendments and the Fire Safety Act, which clarified responsibilities in residential buildings.
In Scotland, general fire safety duties are set out under Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, supported by the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, which together place duties on those responsible for premises.
As an employer, building owner, landlord, or occupier, you are classed as the Responsible Person and are required to ensure that a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out and kept up to date. Fire risk assessments in Sheerness may be completed as a standalone exercise or as part of a wider safety management system.
Based on the findings of the assessment, the Responsible Person must ensure that appropriate fire safety measures are in place to reduce the risk of injury or loss of life in the event of a fire.
A fire risk assessment in Sheerness should identify potential fire hazards, sources of ignition, combustible materials, and the people who may be at risk, and set out actions required to manage and reduce those risks.
For further information on fire safety law and guidance, please refer to government fire safety guidance and the relevant Health and Safety Executive (HSE) resources.
As the responsible person you must:
carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment of the premises and keep it up to date, reviewing it when necessary (e.g., changes in use, occupants, or layout)
tell staff, residents, or their representatives about the fire risks you have identified and how they are being managed
put in place and maintain appropriate fire safety measures, including detection, alarm systems, escape routes, fire doors and other precautions proportionate to the risk
plan for an emergency, including ensuring that escape routes are available, understood, and practised where appropriate
provide people on the premises with information, instruction, and training on fire safety measures and emergency procedures
The purpose of a Sheerness fire risk assessment is to identify fire hazards, identify people at risk, evaluate and reduce those risks where necessary, record significant findings, plan for an emergency, provide appropriate information and training, and review the assessment regularly.
The assessor will reference a question template when completing the assessment, the completed report or survey can document the following examples.
For fire risk assessment guidance and recommended methodology, the appropriate current British Standard should be followed. This includes PAS 79-1:2020 for premises other than housing, and BS 9792:2025 for housing, both published by the British Standards Institution (BSI).
Including the Responsible Person, any appointed competent persons, building use, number of floors, lifts, basements, stairwells and shared areas.
Including firefighting equipment, fire detection and alarm systems, extinguishers, fire blankets, fire hoses (where fitted), sprinkler or suppression systems, smoke control and extract systems.
Including sources of ignition, sources of fuel and sources of oxygen.
Including employees, residents, visitors, contractors and others who may be affected, with consideration given to vulnerable persons such as those with mobility, vision or hearing impairment, lone workers, elderly persons, language barriers, substance misuse, cognitive impairment or young persons.
Including the number, location and adequacy of escape routes, final exits and, where relevant, travel distances.
Assessors may use a range of professional judgement tools to evaluate risk, which can include qualitative scoring or matrices, but risk levels should always be justified within the context of the premises.
Including identified deficiencies, recommended actions, priorities and timescales for improvement.
A fire risk assessor may take photographs or request documentation to support findings and demonstrate how conclusions have been reached.
This standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement.
A framework that a company or organisation can follow to set up an effective environmental management system.
An internationally applied British Standard for occupational health and safety management systems.
The BAFE SP205 Scheme requires organisations to implement a documented management system (DMS).
The British Standards Institution (BSI) is a service organisation that produces standards across a wide variety of industry sectors. Its codes of practice and specifications cover management and technical subjects ranging from business continuity management to quality requirements.
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is a professional and educational body, dedicated to the promotion of environmental health and to encourage the highest possible standards in the training and the work of environmental health professionals.
The register is only open to those health and safety consultants who have met specific standards within their professional bodies.
An industry standard for fire safety companies. It sets out criteria and requirements for not only the competency of those carrying out the risk assessments but the competency of those who review and 'sign off' the reports before they are issued.
The Institute of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO) maintain high professional standards amongst members.
The Institute of Fire Safety Managers is a professional body of highly respected individuals and companies who all share the same objective.
The IFE assesses knowledge of fire and professional experience, awarding internationally recognised membership grades and fire-related qualifications.
Barns, sheds, greenhouses, farmhouses and stables.
Banks, convention centers, forums, facilities management, garages, hotels, nightclubs, markets, high-rise buildings, resorts, shops, shopping malls, studios, supermarkets, warehouses and restaurants.
Blocks of flats, dormitories, houses, maisonettes, nursing homes, care homes, sheltered housing, town houses, landlords, guest houses, private dwellings, tenants, villas and bungalows.
Archives, colleges, classrooms, gymnasiums, institutions, libraries, museums, art galleries, theatres, concert halls, cinemas, schools, opera houses, universities and boarding schools.
Council, consulates, county, courthouses, embassies, fire stations, borough, general needs, local authority, local government, schemes, supported housing, parliament, police stations, post offices and prisons.
Breweries, factories, foundries and mills.
Barracks, bunkers and castles.
Churches, cathedrals, chapels, mosques, monasteries and temples.
Apartments, arenas, business, bed and breakfast, beauty salons, cafes, bookshops, clinics, clubs, community halls, construction sites, depots, day nurseries, department stores, dental practices, fast-food restaurants, sport stadiums, hairdressers, holiday homes, holiday lets, hospices, hospitals, leasehold properties, pubs, village halls, nuclear premises, ships, open air events, offices, workshops and the workplace.
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