Fire Risk Assessment

The Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 came into force in November 2010.

The regulations impose a duty on the employer or any other person who may have control of any part of a premises (e.g. the occupier, owner or managing agent) to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment of those premises. The aim of the Fire Risk Assessment is to assess fire risks to the property and persons employed in or visiting the premises. A Fire Risk Assessment is for guidance and will be tailored to meet the requirements of your workplace. The legislation does not specifically require that the fire risk assessment is carried out by a competent person, however, if as a result of a failure to properly carry out a fire risk assessment, an occupant of the building (or even someone in the immediate vicinity of the building) is put at risk of death or serious injury in case of fire, an offence is committed, which can lead to a heavy fine or, in serious cases imprisonment.

Legislation codes of practice applicable to a typical fire risk assessment:

• The Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006
• The Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
• Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
• Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• The Disability Discrimination Act (1995)
• Building Regulations 1991 Part B
• Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
• BS 5839-1 2002 Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
• BS 5266-1 1999 Emergency Lighting
• The Health & Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996