Businesses may do own fire risk assessments

Fire safety regulations which came into force last October scrapped traditional certificates and allowed non-domestic premises, including hotels, to carry out their own risk assessments. The aim was to "simplify and consolidate" existing legislation, and shift the onus of fire prevention from the authorities to employers.

Premises may do own fire risk assessments Last Updated: 4:02am BST 20/08/2007 Fire safety regulations which came into force last October scrapped traditional certificates and allowed non-domestic premises, including hotels, to carry out their own risk assessments. The aim was to "simplify and consolidate" existing legislation, and shift the onus of fire prevention from the authorities to employers. # Hotel blaze survivors tell of chaos and panic However, some fire officers have expressed concern over the "self certification" system which is expected to be examined in the investigation into the blaze in Newquay. advertisement Under the new regulations, owners or managers of premises carry out their own fire risk assessments, and are required to keep a record for inspection. Fire officers carry out spot checks. VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, said all operators had to carry out an assessment, irrespective of the number of people for whom they were providing accommodation. In smaller premises, the operator could probably do their own assessment, but in large, complex premises a trained professional was more likely to be needed, it advised. Those who do the assessment are liable for anything that is found to be incorrect or if anything goes wrong. Magistrates are able to impose fines of £5,000 while a Crown Court can hand out unlimited fines and up to two years in jail. One of the worst hotel fires was on Boxing Day in 1969 when 11 died in Saffron Walden, Essex. That blaze prompted the Fire Precautions (Hotels and Boarding Houses) Order 1972 after which premises providing lodgings for more than six were required to have a fire certificate.

 

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