Fire Safety Law
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (“the Fire Safety Order”) is the main legislation that controls fire safety in all premises in England.
The government introduced a number of industry specific guides to help owners of businesses to comply with fire safety law. For holiday lets where holiday property sleeps 10 or fewer, has no open plan combined living spaces and is over one or two floors, then the below government document applies to you.
Making your small paying guest accommodation safe from fire
This law guidance means that owners of self-catering holiday properties must carry out a Fire Risk Assessment which can be done either by the cottage owner or an experienced Fire Risk Assessor. Its purpose is to prevent fires, reduce risk, and to ensure the safety of everyone who uses the premises or who is in the immediate vicinity.
If your holiday property sleeps more than 10, has open spaces (to include combined escape routes dining kitchen and living areas) and is more than two floors then the following government document applies to you.
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
A fire risk assessment is an organised and methodical look at your premises. It involves considering the activities that are likely to be carried out, recognising the likelihood that a fire could start, spread and cause harm to those in and around the premises.
A fire risk assessment document demonstrates compliance of the fire safety law with the legal obligation to identify risks and to ensure that appropriate precautions are in place.
The 5 Key Fire Risk Assessment Steps
Hazard Identification
How could a fire start in your holiday accommodation? What could catch fire and how quickly would fire spread?
Who is at Risk?
You, your cleaner, your holiday guests, workmen and even the people who live near your property.
Keeping People Safe
What will you do in the event of a fire? How will a fire be detected and what other measures can you put into place? How will you ensure people can escape in an emergency?
Record and Document
Keep a written record of all your findings and plans and keep it in a safe place as well as providing a copy for your guests,
Maintain and Review
Review and update your document regularly. Things change over time and you ned to highlight new or changed risks with plans.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Ignite South West have the experience and knowledge to create your fire risk assessment for your property.
