New Campaign For Fairer Enforcement of Fire Regulations

6th October 2008

Categories: Rules, Regulations & Licenses

New 'Fire Safety Sense' Campaign Seeks Fairer Enforcement of Fire Regulations

A new campaign, 'Fire Safety Sense' has been launched to seek fairer and more standardised enforcement of the fire regulations that came into effect at the end of October 2006.  The campaign, which is backed by some high profile tourism organisations including the Tourism Alliance, South West Tourism and Tourism South East, was launched after draconian interpretation of the regulations in some areas forced many small businesses to implement expensive fire safety measures or even close down

Malcom Bell, Chief Executive of South West Tourism, the westcountry's regional tourism organisation, was quoted in the Western Morning News as saying, "The loss of business through the fire safety rules could lead to a loss of about £100 million to the [region's] economy as people go to stay elsewhere."

Campaigners say the problems are not with the regulations themselves, which were in fact intended to deregulate this part of the industry, but with the way some Fire Services are intepreting and enforcing them.

The regulations include the requirement for businesses to carry out Fire Risk Assesssments, and then implement measures to reduce the identified risks.  The regulations also stipulate using general fire safety precautions such as smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, blankets and fire doors. 

The local Fire Service is responsible for auditing the assessments and measures businesses take, with each Fire Service free to interpret the regulations as they see fit.  In some areas this has led to micro and small businesses being asked to implement expensive measures, like hardwired smoke alarm systems and low level LED escape lighting, more commonly associated with bigger businesses -  with heavy penalities if they fail to do so. 

The campaign website www.firesafetysense.com lists a number of case studies and responses from operators affected by harsh measures, which clearly highlight the problems and strength of feeling.

If you're interested in the Safety Regulations and how they affect businesses, see this page of the Tookit:  Fire Safety.

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