The LWF Blog

Fire Safety for Facilities Management Personnel – Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – Part 29

January 20, 2020 2:43 pm

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 28, LWF began to look at means of escape as per the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. In part 29, we consider measures for securing means of escape, before discussing firefighting and fire detection.

The requirements for means of escape in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO) can be found in Articles 14(2) and 14(2)(h). The articles state that:

– Emergency routes and exits must be indicated by signs; and
– Emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in the case of failure of their normal lighting.

The general fire precautions include measures to ensure that means of escape from the building can be safely and effectively used at all times. The measures indicated by the RRFSO need only be implemented where necessary to ensure the safety of any relevant person from fire.

Firefighting and fire detection

Article 13 of the Fire Safety Order gives specific requirements in respect of measures taken to fight fires on the premises and detect fire on the premises. The general fire precautions include measures relating to each area and also address giving warning to building occupants in case of fire.

Article 13(1) of the RRFSO states that where necessary to safeguard relevant people, the responsible person must ensure that the premises are equipped with any appropriate firefighting equipment and with fire detectors and alarms, and that any non-automatic firefighting equipment that is provided is easily accessible, simple to use and indicated by signs.

The term ‘where necessary’ refers to whether the features of the premises indicate necessity, or the activities carried within the premises, or any other relevant circumstances, indicate that such measures are required. The fire risk assessment undertaken as per the RRFSO will indicate risks and areas where measures are required in order to ensure a safe environment for the personnel working within the premises or members of the public who may visit them.

In part 30, LWF will continue looking at firefighting and fire detection as per the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, before considering the managerial requirements of the Order. In the meantime, if you have any queries about your own facilities or wish to discuss this blog series, please contact LWF on freephone 0800 410 1130.

Lawrence Webster Forrest is a fire engineering consultancy based in Surrey with over 25 years’ experience, which provides a wide range of consultancy services to professionals involved in the design, development and construction and operation of buildings.

While care has been taken to ensure that information contained in LWF’s publications is true and correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of this information.