Fire safety duties for the responsible person
The responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment, put fire safety measures in place and keep them maintained. In England and Wales this duty comes from the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, with equivalent laws in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Who is the responsible person?
Usually the employer, the owner or whoever has control of the premises. In multi-let buildings there can be more than one responsible person, and they must co-operate.
What must be maintained?
Fire alarms, emergency lighting, extinguishers, fire doors, escape routes and any other fire safety measures must be kept in efficient working order. Each has a recognised standard and service interval.
What records should be kept?
A fire logbook recording alarm tests, emergency lighting tests, servicing visits, drills and defects. The fire risk assessment itself must be recorded where five or more people are employed or a licence applies.
What changed recently?
In England, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 added duties for residential buildings with common parts, such as fire door checks and information for residents, and the Building Safety Act 2022 strengthened requirements for fire risk assessors and higher-risk buildings.
Questions
How often should fire doors be checked?
Fire doors should be inspected regularly, typically every six months, and more often in high-traffic areas. In residential blocks over 11m in England, communal fire doors must be checked quarterly.
Can I test the fire alarm myself?
Weekly call point tests are usually done by your own staff. Six-monthly servicing should be done by a competent person.