What if I don't comply?

Commercially can you afford not to comply?

Local fire and rescue services and in certain premises the Health & Safety Executive, MoD and local authority environmental health departments will administer the order. Inspectors will be allowed to inspect premises, question people and identify the ‘Responsible Person’ (RP) and the ‘Competent Person’ (CP). If you do not meet the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, the fire authority can issue a formal notice to prevent all or part of your premises being used.

You could face two years in prison and also a heavy fine of £5,000 as well as carrying the moral burden of not appearing to care about your staff, customers and other visitors.This is in addition to having your business or building possibly closed down but certainly its effectiveness seriously compromised.

In the event of a fire at your premises, it is quite possible that your insurance company may dispute making payment if you haven’t got actioned and recorded risk assessments. Do not forget that the current (pre October 2006) fire certificates lose their legal status from 1 October 2006 onwards.