The Crucial Changes in Fire Safety Management After Grenfell: What You Need To Know
The devastating Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017 raised serious concerns about fire safety in high-rise residential buildings, leading to a complete review of fire safety legislation. The resulting changes have brought about a significant impact on fire safety management in both residential and commercial buildings.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO) of 2005 was the primary legislation in place for managing fire safety in buildings. It required the designated “responsible person” for a workplace to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of fire and ensure the safe evacuation of occupants. However, the Grenfell Tower tragedy highlighted the need for more comprehensive fire safety regulations, specifically for high-rise residential buildings.
To address these concerns, an independent review was conducted by Dame Judith Hackett, resulting in the Fire Safety Act of 2021. This act makes several amendments to existing legislation and introduces new requirements for both residential and commercial buildings. Let’s take a closer look at the changes and what they mean for fire safety management.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO)
The RRO was enacted in 2005 and replaced previous fire safety legislation to provide a more streamlined approach to managing fire safety in buildings. Under this order, the “responsible person” had several duties, including carrying out a fire risk assessment, providing fire safety training, producing an emergency plan, and conducting regular inspections and maintenance of fire detection and firefighting equipment.
Part Three of the RRO addressed enforcement and outlined various measures that could be taken by enforcing authorities, such as issuing improvement notices and prohibition notices. These were meant to improve compliance with fire safety regulations and prevent incidents like Grenfell from happening.
However, despite its effectiveness in managing fire safety in commercial buildings, the lack of specific regulations for high-rise residential buildings proved to be a significant issue after the Grenfell tragedy.
The Fire Safety Act of 2021
Following Dame Judith Hackett’s review, the government introduced the Fire Safety Act of 2021, which aims to improve fire safety in high-rise residential buildings. This act makes several amendments to the RRO and introduces new regulations for both residential and commercial buildings.
One of the most significant changes is the extension of the “responsible person” concept to include anyone with control over a building, not just employers in workplaces. This means that multiple responsible persons can exist within a single commercial building, such as landlords and tenants, each with their respective duties and responsibilities.
The Fire Safety Act also introduces a new requirement for all residential buildings to have an evacuation plan in place. Residential buildings with ten or more units must also have a building safety information sheet, highlighting key fire safety information for residents.
Another significant change is the requirement for all high-rise residential buildings to have an external wall fire review carried out every five years. This review will assess the safety of the external walls and fire doors in accordance with strict guidelines.
Additionally, the Fire Safety Act gives fire and rescue services more power to enforce fire safety measures, including conducting inspections and issuing enforcement notices.
Preparing for the Changes
With these changes in place, it’s essential for those responsible for managing fire safety in buildings to be aware of their new duties and responsibilities. This includes landlords, tenants, and designated responsible persons for both residential and commercial buildings.
The first step is to ensure compliance with existing fire safety measures under the RRO and make necessary improvements if needed. This includes conducting regular fire risk assessments, providing appropriate training for staff, producing emergency plans, and maintaining all fire detection and firefighting equipment.
It’s also crucial to familiarize yourself with the new requirements under the Fire Safety Act, especially if you’re responsible for a high-rise residential building. Conducting external wall fire reviews and putting evacuation plans in place should be a top priority.
It’s also advisable to keep up to date with any future changes and amendments to fire safety legislation, as failure to comply can lead to serious consequences.
Conclusion
The Grenfell tragedy was a wake-up call for the government to make significant improvements to fire safety legislation, especially for high-rise residential buildings. The introduction of the Fire Safety Act of 2021 brings about crucial changes that aim to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
It’s essential for those responsible for managing fire safety in buildings to familiarize themselves with the changes and take appropriate action. Compliance with fire safety measures is not just a legal obligation but also a crucial step in ensuring the safety of occupants in buildings.
As we continue to learn from past incidents, it’s clear that effective fire safety management is vital in preventing tragedies and protecting lives. By staying informed and proactive, we can make sure our buildings are as safe as possible.
