Step 1: Understanding Our Legal Responsibilities

As the new owners of the building, we became the Responsible Persons under UK fire safety law. That meant:

• Carrying out a fire risk assessment to identify hazards and risks.
• Reviewing all existing fire safety measures to see if they met the required standards.
• Ensuring compliance with key fire and other safety regulations, including: The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Building Regulations 2000 Electricity at Work Regulations Health and Safety at Work Act BS 9999 – Fire Safety in the Design, Management and Use of Buildings
• Meeting the requirements of our insurer to ensure coverage for fire-related risks.

Step 2: Appointing a Fire Risk Assessor

While we have strong in-house knowledge of workplace safety, we knew that fire safety compliance is highly technical.

We appointed an experienced, fully qualified Fire Risk Assessor to work alongside our Operations Director, Ian Rowe, who took on the role of Responsible Person.

Key considerations when choosing our Fire Risk Assessor:

• Due diligence & reference checks – Ensuring they had the right credentials.
• Experience with industrial/commercial premises – Not all buildings have the same risks.
• Ability to produce a detailed, written report – With actionable recommendations.

Step 3: The Fire Risk Assessment Process

The detailed, written fire risk assessment report covered:

• Building Type & Occupancy Construction materials, security, location, and usage. Who works there, when, and any specific risks (e.g. lone workers).
• Fire Safety Systems & Equipment Electrical safety – EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) Gas safety – Gas Safe Non-Domestic Inspection Record Fire alarms – BS 5839-1 standard compliance check Emergency lighting – BS 5266-1 compliance check Fire extinguishers – Type, placement, and maintenance status.
• Fire Hazards & Risk Factors Ignition sources – PAT testing, extension leads, electrical safety. Kitchen and heating risks. Housekeeping & waste management.
• Escape Routes & Emergency Planning Fire exit locations & signage. Evacuation procedures & assembly points. Training of fire marshals and staff.

The assessor’s report referenced multiple fire safety standards, including:

• BS 5839 – Fire alarm systems & emergency communication.
• BS 5266 – Emergency lighting requirements.
• BS 5306 – Fire extinguishing equipment.
• BS 8214 & BS EN 1634-1 – Fire doors & smoke control.

Step 4: Turning the Fire Risk Assessment into an Action Plan

Once we received the report, we built an action plan to address gaps, improve systems, and document fire safety procedures.

Key actions included:

• Upgrading fire detection systems Installed a new L3 fire alarm system with 24-hour monitoring. Added smoke detection under mezzanine floors & escape routes. Ensured fire doors automatically fail-safe into the open position.
• Improving fire safety equipment Replaced all portable fire extinguishers. Installed missing fire extinguisher and escape route safety signage. Upgraded emergency lighting for compliance. Installed a fire blanket in the kitchen as an additional fire suppression measure for cooking-related risks.
• Enhancing fire safety procedures Wrote and implemented a Fire Evacuation Policy. Conducted a full practice fire drill. Introduced weekly fire alarm testing & fire safety audits.
• Managing hazardous substance storage Installed a dedicated COSHH cupboard for cleaning materials to ensure safe, compliant storage of hazardous substances such as chemicals and cleaning agents.
• Staff training & compliance Trained five fire marshals. Developed a visitor & contractor fire safety policy. Created a policy for personal electrical equipment (e.g. phone chargers must be PAT tested).

Step 5: Implementation, Routine Checks & Long-Term Compliance

Fire safety isn’t one-and-done - it requires ongoing management, regular testing, and documented compliance.

We implemented weekly, monthly, and annual checks, including:

• Weekly fire alarm testing.
• Weekly inspections of all fire extinguishers (checking placement, signage, and damage).
• Regular emergency lighting checks.
• Annual fire risk assessment reviews.