Fire Safety Legislation. Helpful information on fire safety classifications and regulations for the United Kingdom. UK Government, “Who's responsible?”
Fire Safety Legislation
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’. UK Gov Link.
There are six main classifications regarding combustible materials.
- Solid materials such as Paper, Textiles, Wood etc.
- Liquids such as Paints, Solvents, Petrol and Diesel
- Gases such as Propane and Butane
- Metals such as Magnesium and Aluminium
- Electrical equipment such as Computers and other Office Equipment
- Fats and Cooking oils
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which came into force on 1st October 2006, applies to the vast majority of premises and workplaces in the UK. There are few exceptions (reference should be made to the legislative text for details on exclusions).
The legislation firmly places the responsibility for compliance on a ‘Responsible Person’. The responsible person must carry out a Fire Risk Assessment, produce a policy, develop procedures (particularly for evacuation), provide staff training and carry out Fire Drills. The responsible person must provide clear Means of Escape, Signs, Notices, Emergency Lighting, Fire Detection & Alarm and appropriate Fire Fighting Equipment.
Merlin offers a comprehensive range of Fire Fighting Equipment, enabling full and complete compliance of needs identified by a Risk Assessment.
Standards relating to fire fighting equipment
Relevant Product Performance Standards:
BS EN 3
Portable Fire Extinguishers
BS 7937
Specification for portable fire extinguishers for use on cooking oil fires (Class F)
BS 6165
Specification for small disposable fire extinguishers of the aerosol type
BS EN 1869
Fire Blankets
Selection, Installation, and Servicing of Fire Equipment including Portable Fire Extinguishers, Hose Reels and Fixed Systems (Water, Gaseous, Foams, Powders)
BS 5306
Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises.
Including…
BS5306, Part3
Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises –
Code of practice for the inspection & maintenance of portable fire extinguishers.
BS5306, Part 8
Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises –
Selection and installation of portable fire extinguishers Code of practice.
Pressure equipment – essential knowledge & the CE mark
The Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999 (“the PER” – SI 1999/2001) implemented the Pressure Equipment Directive (“PED” 97/23/EC) in the United Kingdom and entered fully into force on 29th November 1999. The PER were amended in two respects by the Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/1267) with effect from 30th May 2002. The regulations apply to items with a working pressure above 0.5 Bar (approx 7.5psi). All Pressure Equipment and assemblies sold within the European Community or European Economic Area (EEA) from 30/5/02 had to comply with the PER and consequently carry the CE Mark. Regarding Fire Extinguishers, the CE Mark confirms the safety of the equipment, not the performance, e.g. for Fire Extinguishers it does not confirm the Fire Fighting performance. This can only be satisfactorily confirmed by independent Fire testing and 3rd Party Product Certification, such as BSI or LPCB Product Certification marks.
https://www.gov.uk/workplace-fire-safety-your-responsibilities/who-is-responsible