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New Fire Safety Regulations - Important for Churches
What is regarded as the biggest change in fire safety laws became effective on 1 October 2006. The legislation replaces much of the current fire safety legislation affecting Churches and workplaces. The following, supplied by a Synod of the United Reformed Church and suitably amended for our Synod, is a very simplified outline of the way this legislation will affect Churches.
Posted on Nov 8, 2006
NEW FIRE SAFETY LEGISLATION
What is regarded as the biggest change in fire safety laws became effective on 1 October 2006. The legislation replaces much of the current fire safety legislation affecting Churches and workplaces. The following, supplied by a Synod of the United Reformed Church and suitably amended for our Synod, is a very simplified outline of the way this legislation will affect Churches.
The Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006
This legislation comes into effect on 1st October 2006 and replaces much of the current fire safety legislation effecting Churches and workplaces. The following is a very simplified outline of the way this legislation will affect Churches.
FOR CHURCHES THE LAW APPLIES TO:
• All Church premises including shops, offices and workshops controlled by the Church
• The Church as an employer
• Premises occupied by charities and voluntary organisations
• Temporary assembly places outside and in other premises
• Premises where people sleep, apart from single domestic premises
• Manses Attached to relevant buildings
THE REGULATIONS DO NOT APPLY TO:
• Single family houses
• Manses occupied by a single family (although it is advisable to include them)
THE MAIN CHANGES:
• The Church is now required to manage the fire safety of all of its relevant premises.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO?
• The Trustees will expect the local Church to take responsibility for their own premises and activities
• Firstly the Church must appoint a RESPONSIBLE PERSON who will ensure that the requirements of the act are properly carried out.
• Appoint a suitably COMPETENT PERSON to carry out a FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT for all relevant premises and when required temporary premises. This Risk Assessment may identify significant findings which need attention.
• The RESPONSIBLE PERSON is required to ensure that all significant findings are suitably addressed within a timescale related to their severity.
• Addressing the significant findings may require alterations to the building or revised occupation and premises management procedures.
• The RESPONSIBLE PERSON is required to carry out further Fire Risk Assessments at regular intervals.
WHEN DO YOU NEED TO DO IT?
• The legislation comes into force on 1st October 2006 and at that time the Church will be expected to have understood its responsibilities and agreed how to approach the various requirements.
FIRE SAFETY AND THE FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT:
• To protect the buildings occupants from the effects of fire:
o Ignition sources and the fuels which may allow a fire to develop should be removed or carefully managed.
o Escape routes must remain free from fire, or more commonly smoke for sufficient time to allow all occupants to escape. This will require an early warning and protection of escape routes particularly if they are long or complex and if they are the only routes available.
o Churches should aim to evacuate all occupants within 2 minutes of a warning. Extended evacuation times may require the addition of control measures such as automatic detection and warning installations, fire resisting enclosures and doors, smoke control and good escape signage will increase the evacuation times.
o Portable fire fighting equipment should be provided and serviced annually, but only used if the operator is sure that they can extinguish the fire using one extinguisher.
• The Risk assessment looks at these issues, identifies where people are at risk and compares the situation against current standards or recommended practice. This will produce a written record of SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS describing ways in which the premises do not comply.
• The significant findings may be simply addressed by adjustments or alterations.
• If this is not practical many risks can be reduced to an acceptable level by carefully managing the way the building is used, or providing additional help to those most at risk.
• Where a solution is not apparent the COMPETENT PERSON will need a good working knowledge to undertake assessments of risk and suggest suitable controlling measures.
• The FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT procedure is set out in the documents below.
MANAGING THE PREMISES /MAINTAINING FIRE SAFETY:
• The RESPONSIBLE PERSON should ensure that the fire safety management tasks are carried out, these will usually include maintenance of equipment, compiling an evacuation plan and ensuring all users and visitors are suitable trained.
WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION?
• The PLATO website (basic information)
• www.communities.gov.uk/fire
• GOOD INTRODUCTION: A short guide to making your premises safe from fire. Available from Department for Communities and Local Government.
Or www.firesafetyguides.communities.gov.uk
• RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDANCE: Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Small and medium places of assembly. (If any areas have a capacity exceeding 500, refer to large places of assembly). Versions also available for Residential/Sleeping accommodation and Offices and shops. Available from Department for Communities & Local Government.
Or www.firesafetyguides.communities.gov.uk
HOW THE SYNOD CAN HELP?
• The Synod Finance & Property Committee will be looking at issues regarding fire safety with a view to publishing further guidelines for churches.
