IMPORTANT - Fire Safety Law is changing

24 July 2006:

Fire Safety Laws are being made simpler in order to save lives, they come into effect on 1st October 2006.

The changes are:

- The law will emphasise preventing fires and reducing risk

- It will be the businesses responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone who uses the business premises, and in the immediate vicinity

- Fire certificates will be abolished

Who is affected:

- Those responsible for business premises

- Employers

- Those self-employed with business premises

- Charities or voluntary organisations

- Contractors with a degree of control over premises

What those affected have to do:

- Those affected must carry out a fire risk assessment of their premises.

Help available:

- There are five key steps to conducting a fire risk assessment; an easy-to-use checklist is available from the Department for Communities and Local Government

- Guides are available for different business sectors from the Department for Communities and Local Government

For further information:

Contact: The Department for Communities and Local Government
Website: [www.communities.gov.uk/fire]