WIREDGOV

New Fire Safety Help for B&Bs, Guest Houses and Self Catering Properties

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT News Release (271) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 18 November 2008

An easy to use booklet to help small accommodation providers comply with fire safety rules was launched by Fire Minister Sadiq Khan today.

'Do you have paying guests?' will give the hospitality industry practical advice; including a five-step action plan for reducing fire risks in small establishments.

Fire safety regulations introduced in 2006 required those responsible for small hospitality businesses to carry out a fire risk assessment for the first time.

The booklet published today addresses the specific difficulties that B&Bs, guest houses and self catering properties have faced understanding the new rules and encourages compliance.

There is no 'one size fits all' approach to fire safety and this guide provides a range of cost effective ways to deliver an adequate level of protection.

Communities and Local Government have worked in partnership with the B&B Association, VisitBritain, Farmstay, the Regional Tourist Boards and the Chief Fire Officers Association, to develop an easily digestible guide.

It includes a five step action-plan to help carry out a risk assessment:

* think about how a fire could start on your premises and how quickly it could spread
* think about who is at risk
* make a plan to keep people safe by removing fire hazards wherever possible and then putting in place measures to detect a fire and ensure, if one does start, that everyone can escape safely
* make a note of your plan and train for the worst
* keep your plan updated to reflect any changing circumstances or risks

Fire and Rescue Services will also benefit from the information, allowing them to prioritise fire safety while taking an appropriate and proportionate approach to enforcement.

Fire Minister Sadiq Khan said:

"It's plain common sense that every business should have an adequate level of fire safety, especially where people who may not be familiar with their surroundings are sleeping.

"But we recognise concerns raised by this sector of the hospitality industry that small B&Bs and others are finding it harder than big hotels to know what to do, and what may represent an adequate level of fire safety.

"That's why we've worked closely with the sector and the Chief Fire Officers Association to develop straightforward and practical information for owners on how to protect themselves, their guests and their business."

The guidance, which will be made available primarily through industry channels, also provides owners with an overview of their legal responsibilities, a handy checklist of issues to consider as part of the risk assessment and Q and A.

Notes to editors

1. To read 'Do you have paying guests?' go to http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/fire/payingguests

2. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order was introduced in October 2006 replaced over 70 separate pieces of fire legislation. It streamlined the legislation and bought all fire safety responsibilities together in a single Order. Under the Order, all those responsibility for non-domestic premises are required to carry out a fire safety risk assessment and put in place adequate measures to manage the risk.

3. The Order abolished the requirement for businesses to apply for a fire certificate and extended the requirement, under the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, as amended, for businesses with more than 5 employees, to carry out a workplace fire risk assessment to cover all those with responsibility for non-domestic premises. Although many businesses had been covered by the previous legislation the introduction of the Order placed a new responsibility to carry out a fire risk assessment on the owners of premises with fewer than 6 bedrooms and 5 employees.

4. The Government believes that those with responsibility for individual premises are best placed to understand the risks in their premises and ensure that they are actively managed to protect lives. The Order is not prescriptive about what fire safety measures are required. It is for the responsible person to decide what prevention and protection arrangements are appropriate and adequate to mitigate the identified risks. The publication of this booklet seeks to ensure that this specific sector is aware of its duties to provide a fire safe environment and has some support to consider what practical fire safety measures may be acceptable.

5. Fire and Rescue Authorities are the primary enforcing authorities for the Order and are expected to develop appropriate risk-based inspection regimes with the context of their Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP). Like CLG, CFOA are keen to support the sector to put in place those fire safety measures which adequately protect lives and to ensure that, wherever possible, the cost of implementing improved fire safety is commensurate with the risk. A key aim of the leaflet is to ensure that fire safety officers are equipped to take a pragmatic and proportionate approach to audit and enforcement in these types of premises.

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