STK Fire Risk Assessments
For your peace of mind, STK Fire and Risk Management has 8 Fire Risk Assessors who are individually trained to the highest technical standard. As importantly they have each 30 years of experience within and subsequently outside the Fire Service. At least 10 years of that has been writing highly respected fire risk assessments. But never complacent they must annually demonstrate Continued Professional Development in all the sectors we support such as Schools Health Trusts Industrial, Retail and Public Assembly. This is an expectation of the highly coveted BAFE SP205 3rd Party accreditation for Fire Risk Assessments.
At STK Fire and Risk Management Ltd we ensure that all of our Fire Risk Assessors are qualified and trained so as to be able to provide you with suitable and sufficient fire risk assessments that accurately reflect the risks in your premises.
Fire Risk Assessment – The Legal Position
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the Order) applies to virtually all premises and covers nearly every type of building, structure and open space.
Although there are a small number of exclusions such as transport, the Order applies to almost all premises which do not constitute a single private dwelling, including the common areas of multi-occupied residential buildings.
Under the Order, anyone who has control of premises or anyone who has a degree of control over certain areas or systems may be a ‘responsible person’.
The law therefore directly affects anyone who is:
responsible for business or premises to which the public have access (for example employers, owners or occupiers); or
a contractor with a degree of control over any premises.
The Order places a general duty on the responsible person
to ensure the safety of all relevant persons on their premises
ensure the safety of all other persons who may be affected by fire at their premises
to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and
to implement appropriate and adequate fire safety measures
to minimise the risk to life in the event of a fire to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable.
Appointing a Consultant to Carry Out a Fire Risk Assessment
When you appoint a Fire Risk Assessor to conduct a risk assessment on your behalf, you have delegated a very important task to them but you cannot delegate the responsibility which the Order places upon you to ensure that a “suitable and sufficient” fire risk assessment is eventually produced.
This legal duty will remain with the Responsible Person therefore the choice of who you get to do this important work for you is just as important as the work itself.
Before choosing a competent person to carry out a fire risk assessment on your behalf it may be useful to ask some of the following questions to help you decide if they are capable of producing a fire risk assessment for your premises that is “suitable and sufficient” and fit for purpose.
Ask the consultant if they have 3rd party accreditation and if so, who with?