The LWF Blog

Lawrence Webster Forrest (LWF) is a specialist fire engineering and fire risk management consultancy whose aim is to give information on best practice in fire safety for facilities management personnel through this blog series. In part 2, LWF continued with an overview of the history of fire safety legislation and discussed the consolidation of legislation into two main branches – one for new builds and major renovations and one for existing buildings. We continue from that point in part 3.

New buildings, major renovations or significant alterations of buildings in England and Wales are required to comply with the Building Regulations 2000. In Scotland, the relevant legislation is the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and in Northern Ireland, the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.

Upon completion of any building work, fire precautions are controlled by a second raft of legislation – the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales, with a similar situation existing in Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, there is a link between the two stages of requirements and the provision is made in the Building Regulations 2000. The requirement is that upon completion of the building work or upon occupation of a building or extension (whichever is earlier), suitable fire safety information is passed onto the responsible person, to operate and maintain the building or extension safety. The requirement for a responsible person and details of their remit are laid out as a requirement in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.

In England and Wales, local authorities are responsible for the building regulations and are enforced by either a building control officer (BCO) or by an appointed private sector inspector (AI). The BCO or AI first consults with the Fire and Rescue Authority regarding various fire precautions. The situation differs in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the Building (Scotland) Regulations are produced by the Scottish Building Standards Agency, while in Northern Ireland, the matter is dealt with by the Department of Finance and Personnel. In Scotland and Northern Ireland there are no private sector building control bodies, such as AI’s and the sole responsibility for enforcement lies with the local authorities.

In part 4, LWF will take a look at the Building Regulations 2000 and consider how it could affect the buildings you work with or in. In the meantime, if you have any queries about your own facilities or wish to discuss this blog series, please contact Peter Gyere in the first instance on 0800 410 1130.