Office Safety Requirements 2022

In order to ensure businesses adhere to the very latest in fire safety technology and innovations, office fire safety requirements change every year.

So, make sure your business doesn’t get left behind.

Keep reading to find out what fire safety rules and regulations you need to be aware of and have in place, in order to ensure your office is fire safe.

Office Fire Safety Requirements [for 2022]

There are certain safety requirements that a business needs to comply with, as a minimum.

In the UK, businesses must follow the government’s fire safety rules. Otherwise, they put the safety of their staff at risk and, if an inspection shows that they are lacking in this area, could face a serious fine.

A key example of this is The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (also known as the FSO).

This single piece of legislation is designed to make it easier for businesses to understand and follow fire safety regulations, as it combined all of the previous fire safety laws into this one single order.

The FSO applies to any workplace, amongst other property types (but it excludes domestic residences).

The individual that is responsible for the business premises is also the one who is responsible for adhering to the Fire Safety Order.

The main requirements that the FSO asks of the individual responsible for office fire safety are:

• To ensure a fire risk assessment is completed – either by themselves, or by a suitable appointed individual
• Reduce the risk from fire in the workplace as much as is reasonable and practical. Then, to address any remaining risks, put appropriate fire precautions in place
• If flammable or explosive materials are either being used or stored in the workplace, implement additional fire safety measures
• Consider any employees or visitors to the site who may be at an increased risk. For example, someone in a wheelchair, who would not be able to use the standard emergency exit route
• Create a clear emergency exit procedure (which includes details about fire doors and fire exits). Then, continue to review this process, based on findings from your fire safety drills.

In summary, the three key rules for any business with an office is that fire alarms need to be installed, staff need to have the means to put a fire out in easy use, and businesses need to conduct both fire risk assessments and fire safety training sessions for their staff.

Who is Responsible for Fire Safety in an Office?

The FSO states that a business needs to nominate a ‘responsible person’ to be in charge of office fire safety.

According to the FSO, this is “the person who is ultimately responsible for ensuring the fire safety measures are completed.”

Usually, the employer or the business owner (for small businesses) or the office manager (for multi-site businesses) will be the nominated individual.

Alongside this, the nominated office fire safety manager may also need to appoint people to help assist with their responsibilities. But, whether or not this is necessary will depend on the size of the organisation.

It is this person’s job to manage and enhance office fire safety, as much as is realistic, practical and reasonably possible. Their primary duties are to ensure that fire doors and fire exits are in full working order, and that a complete fire risk assessment has been conducted, and is revised regularly.

Fire Safety Requirements within your Office Infrastructure

There is also numerous fire safety equipment that you need to incorporate within your office infrastructure.

UK fire safety laws dictate that businesses need to ensure their sites have the following in place:

• Suitable fire exits
• Suitable fire doors
• Clear and visible fire signage (for fire escapes and equipment)
• Emergency lighting
• Fire extinguishers
• A PAT testing schedule for all electrical equipment
• A regular schedule of fire equipment maintenance

If an inspector finds that one of these points is not met, then you risk being fined.

Do we need a Fire Risk Assessment?

In short, yes absolutely.

Not only is this the best way to ensure your site is legally compliant, but it will keep your entire office consistently following the highest possible safety standards.

The requirements of the FSO state that the person in charge of fire safety must ensure that fire safety risk assessments and fire management plans are created and put in place.

But, if they are someone who is not familiar with fire safety experience, this can be a pretty daunting task. Particularly when you consider that, the larger the size of the office, the more complex the fire risk assessment requirements are.

So, if they are not well versed in fire safety – which is commonly the case amongst typical business owners, employers and managers – it is always best to seek the assistance of a professional.

At Target Fire Protection, we have extensive fire safety experience, having worked with countless businesses across Manchester, Rochdale and throughout the North West. We work with fire safety managers across the country, to implement thorough, dependable fire safety risk assessments.

All commercial properties require a fire risk assessment – call our team and book your appointment.

What’s more, we can also provide you with all the equipment required. This means that, through one quick call to us, you can have complete fire risk safety assessment and management plans in place; determine your site’s evacuation plan; fit your escape routes with legally-compliant fire signage; install fire safety equipment; and implement a regular maintenance schedule for your equipment.

If you want to find out more about our specialist office fire safety service, don’t hesitate to get in touch.