Code of Practice for Fire Safety Assessment of Premises and Buildings

Section 18(6) of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 provides power for a person (a fire officer) authorised by a fire authority to require a person having control over premises (building owner or occupier) to:

• carry out a fire safety assessment of the premises and
• notify the fire authority of such assessment

Typically, building owners engage professionals to carry out the fire safety assessment.

It is expected that this code of practice will be of assistance to fire services, in providing standard guidance for building owners and their professional advisors, where the fire service requires a fire safety assessment. Heretofore, there has been no standard methodology for carrying out fire safety assessments; it is expected that provision of the code of practice will introduce a recognised national approach which will assist in this regard.

This code of practice will provide a framework for rigorous assessment of buildings with respect to fire safety. It will provide for clarity and consistency of approach, nationally. It will also help to ensure reasonable and proportionate recommendations will be made to address any fire safety deficiencies identified in buildings.