Enforcement



The enforcing authority is defined in Article 25. In most cases, this is the local fire and rescue authority, although the HSE has responsibility for construction sites and for ships under construction or repair. The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has responsibility for nuclear power plants, including those under construction.



Sports grounds come under the local authority and Crown properties are covered by Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Fire Services. The enforcing authority can serve “alterations notices” where it believes premises constitute a serious risk (Article 29). It can also serve enforcement and prohibition notices (Articles 30 and 31).



Article 41 imposes the duty to consult with employees and their representatives (see Chapter 4).



Businesses no longer need a fire certificate, but fire and rescue authorities can still inspect premises and ensure that adequate fire precautions are in place.



Hackitt’s recommendations include a new Joint Competent Authority (JCA) comprising Local Authority Building Standards (the proposed new name for Local Authority Building Control), fire and rescue authorities and the HSE (see pages 26-29 and 139-140). This would “oversee better management of safety risks” in higher risk residential buildings (HRRBs) that are 10 stories or more in height, through safety cases, across their entire life cycle.