Fire safety duties for commercial building owners explained
A plain English guide to the fire safety duties that apply to commercial buildings, and who the responsible person is.
Quick answer: In most commercial buildings, a responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment, put the right fire safety measures in place and make sure they're maintained. That includes things like fire stopping and emergency lighting.
The law in brief
In England and Wales, fire safety in most non-domestic premises is covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It places duties on a responsible person for each building.
Who the responsible person is
The responsible person is usually the employer, owner, landlord or whoever has control of the premises. In shared buildings there can be more than one, and they need to work together.
What they need to do
- Carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment.
- Put suitable fire safety measures in place.
- Keep those measures maintained and in good working order.
- Make sure escape routes and exits stay clear.
- Give staff the information and training they need.
Where contractors come in
Many of the physical fire safety measures in a building rely on contractors getting things right: fire stopping around services, emergency lighting, fire-rated walls and ceilings. Work carried out during refurbishments can easily affect them.
Acting on your fire risk assessment
Fire risk assessments often flag issues like unsealed gaps, damaged fire-rated construction or emergency lighting faults. Getting these fixed promptly, and keeping a record of the work, is a key part of meeting your duties.
Need a hand?
EMS is a NAPIT registered commercial contractor working across London and the UK. Get a free quote and we'll come back to you quickly.
Related service: Fire & Safety
