General fire precautions

The Order requires the responsible person to take general fire precautions for the safety of employees and other “relevant persons”, such as members of the public, who are lawfully on the premises or in the vicinity (Article 8). These measures are set out in Article 5 and cover:

• reducing the risk of fire on the premises and the risk of the spread of fire;

• identifying the means of escape;

• making sure the means of escape can be safely and effectively used;

• making sure the premises are equipped with appropriate firefighting equipment and with fire detectors and alarms;and

• making sure there are means for detecting fire and for giving warning in case of fire; and arrangements for action to be taken in the event of fire, including the instruction and training of employees, and mitigating the effects of the fire.

The Order requires fire precautions to be put in place “where necessary” and to the extent that it is reasonably practicable.