Government Announces New Steps to Improve Fire Safety
The government has recently announced new regulations to boost building safety across the UK.
As a result, building owners could now be at risk of hefty fines for various offences.
More over, limitless fines will be handed out to those who obstruct or impersonate fire inspectors and those who breach the fire regulations.
The New Regulations
The new measures will form part of the legislation in the Building Safety Bill and will amend the existing Fire Safety Order 2005.
The new regulations will now include a requirement for fire risk assessments to be recorded for each building. They will also include the requirement to improve how safety information is handled throughout a buildings lifetime.
Boost For Fire and Rescue
Further to this, the government has also given a cash boost to Fire and Rescue authorities. A further £10 million added to the the existing £6 million Covid Contingency fund.
Benefits of the Latest Measures
The recently announced measures will:
- Improve the quality of fire risk assessments and the competence of those who complete them
- Ensure that vital safety information is preserved and available over the lifespan of all regulated buildings
- Improve cooperation and coordination amongst people responsible for fire situations making it easier to identify who they are
- Strengthen enforcement action, with anyone impersonating or obstructing a fire inspector facing unlimited fines
- Strengthen guidance issued under the Fire Safety Order. This will ensure that failure to follow it may be considered in court proceedings as evidence of a breach or of compliance
- Improve the engagement between Building Control Bodies and Fire Authorities in reviewing plans for building work
- Require all new flats above 11 metres tall to install premises information boxes
