Fire Alarm System Regulations
Fire Alarm System Regulations
There are a number of fire alarm system regulations that all businesses must adhere to. We've summarised the key regulations below.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The legislation around fire alarm systems in the UK is covered by The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
This applies to commercial premises and the communal areas of residential buildings.
Each building must have a responsible person for fire safety, this is usually the landlord, employer, owner or occupier. They are responsible for both ensuring fire safety measures are installed and that they are appropriately maintained.
Fire Risk Assessment
The first step in fire safety is to commission a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) by a qualified assessor. This is a comprehensive identification of the potential fire risks and severity of the risks.
Once the report is produced, the next step is to mitigate each risk that is highlighted. This is best achieved by systematically working through an action plan, which your fire protection company will help you with.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 stipulates that you must carry out an FRA annually.
BS5839
In addition to this, the British Standard for fire alarms BS5839 provides recommendations for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire alarm systems.
If the FRA identifies deficiencies in the fire detection and alarm system, BS5839 provides technical guidance for how a fire alarm system should be designed, installed, commissioned and maintained. To ensure the BS5839 recommendations are implemented in your building, it is important to use a fire alarm company that is BAFE registered.
Insurance
Finally, it is always important that you confirm your fire protection measures are sufficient with your insurance company. They will often demand that their customers comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and BS5839.
They may also offer lower premiums to customers who take a thorough and ongoing approach to their building’s fire safety.