This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Fire safety changes
01/10/2006
Legislation to improve fire safety in non-domestic premises in Scotland comes into force today.
Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act requires anyone who manages, operates or has safety obligations for non-domestic premises to take steps to prevent and minimise the impact of fire. This includes owners, employers, employees, managers and other occupiers.
Fire certificates will also be abolished under the new system - with existing certificates becoming invalid. Instead, the new fire safety regime will be based on the principles of risk assessment and the requirement to both prevent fire and reduce its detrimental effects, to protect human life.
More than 162,000 booklets providing guidance to the owners and users of premises have already been issued across Scotland to help prepare for these changes.
Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry welcomed the improvements.
"We are determined to reduce the number of people killed as a result of fire in Scotland - deaths which all too often could have been prevented. Replacing Scotland's outdated fire legislation with new laws which focus on fire prevention and safety from harm caused by fire is central to that.
"Last year the Fire (Scotland) Act was introduced to provide the legislative framework for reform of the Fire and Rescue Service. Safety is at the heart of the new legislation - safety in the home, the workplace and the community. And today, the final part of those reforms will come into force to ensure that everyone plays their part to reduce the risk of fire and the number of fire casualties in non-domestic premises - public or private.
"No-one can afford to be complacent about fire safety because complacency kills. Help us and the Fire and Rescue Service ensure that non-domestic premises are as safe as they can be and reduce the number of lives tragically lost to fire in Scotland each year."
Previous fire safety legislation in Scotland has been replaced by the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005. That Act generally relates to non-domestic premises and Part Three imposes a range of responsibilities on the owners and occupiers of such properties.
The 32 page, booklet - 'Are you Aware of Your Responsibilities' - has been distributed to more than 162,000 organisations across Scotland. This provides information and guidance about responsibilities under the new legislation and also features a Frequently Asked Questions section.
Further information is also available from the new dedicated website which has been set up at www.infoscotland.com/firelaw
The new legal duties relating to non-domestic premises seek to achieve safety through seven general requirements, each of which is covered by the booklet:
- Carrying out a fire safety risk assessment of the premises
- Identifying the fire safety measures necessary as a result of the fire safety risk assessment outcome
- Implementing these fire safety measures using risk reduction principles
- Putting in place fire safety arrangements for the ongoing control and review of the fire safety measures
- Complying additionally with the specific requirements of the fire safety regulations
- Keeping the fire safety risk assessment and outcome under review
- Record keeping
In addition to the guidance booklet, work is currently underway on a series of detailed sector specific guides. These will cover fire safety in a range of premises including: care homes, offices and shops, sleeping accommodation, factories and warehouses, places of assembly and entertainment, hospitals, educational premises, outdoor events, and the transport network. The first guide is in respect of care homes and is available on the firelaw website. Each of the other guides will be published on the website once completed.