Property Owners And Landlords In London Should Not Neglect Their Fire Safety Responsibilities

by Heather Hall Heather Hall has led the Coordinating team at LFRA

A Newsagent Manager was given a suspended prison sentence following a serious fire at his shop which injured a resident upstairs and three Fire-fighters.

London Fire Bridge reported on the prosecution of the owner of the Newsagent stating that Fire-fighters were called and initially there were no flames visible outside but there was smoke inside the property, while two Fire-fighters searched flats above. The building was a house in multiple occupation (HMO) and the two Fire-fighters found one casualty on the staircase and got them out, but then returned inside to resume their search.

While searching, conditions rapidly deteriorated and their exit was blocked. One of the two Fire-fighters suffered serious burns, and both needed to be rescued by colleagues through a first floor window.

A post fire inspection for fire safety discovered that the building had no working heat or smoke alarms, no emergency escape plan and no Fire Risk Assessment all of which are breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

As a consequence, both a prohibition notice and an enforcement notice were issued, with the owner prosecuted under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The owner was given 12 months in custody, suspended for two years and was also ordered to pay a fine of £5,000 and costs of £10,000.

London Fire Brigade’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Fire safety stated:” Fire Safety is not something to be taken lightly. The Fire Safety breaches found at this premises meant the residents of the flats above were in obvious danger as there were no working smoke alarms throughout the building and the premises did not have a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment.”

“This was a very serious fire which could have had fatal consequences if it was not for the quick and brave actions of all the Fire-fighters who attended on the night. We want to work with building owners to help them meet their safety responsibilities but where we find breaches which place the public and our Fire-fighters at serious risk, we will do all we can with other relevant agencies to ensure that responsible individuals are prosecuted.”

So, all London Business owners, Landlords and Property Management Companies your first step is to make sure you have a ‘suitable and sufficient’ Fire Safety Risk Assessment for your Building. To find a ‘Qualified’ Fire Safety Risk Assessor you can go to the Institution of Fire Engineers – they have a Register of ‘Approved’ Assessors in your area.

Once the Fire Safety Inspection/Audit has been completed you should then be supplied with a ‘suitable and sufficient’ Fire Safety Risk Assessment. The ‘parts’ included in the Risk Assessment are as follows:

· Fire Risk Assessment

· Fire Safety Emergency Plan

· Fire Safety Policy

· Fire Safety Management Plan – Significant Findings

You should not have to pay extra for the Fire Safety Policy and Emergency Plan they should be included in the price so double check!

If you need some Fire Safety advice or to book a Fire Safety Inspection/Audit, then contact London Fire Risk Assessments they are fully qualified to do the job and included in the IFE’s Register of Approved Assessors. Call now on 01689 890879 or click here to make an appointment.

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