Posted By Paul Leadbetter Vicky The short answer is - Yes but the long answer is too long to post here as there exceptions and exemptions. I suggest that you talk to your local Fire Authority who would be happy to explain the circumstances when a Certificate is needed. Alternatively, I am sure that you will find an explanation in any decent H & S reference book. Paul

Posted By Jonathan Breeze Would like to re-enforce what previous respondents have said & add that while not all sites have a fire certificate, all sites must have a fire risk assessment. If you do have a fire certificate, then don't forget to add the details to your risk assessment. Interestingly, a contact of mine in the fire services says he forsees a time when fire risk assessments completed by the employer will replace the fire certificate completed by the fire services. But until then you must apply for a fire certificate if you have more than 20 employees or more than 5 situated in a building on a floor other than at ground level (I think - it's been a long time). Check with your local fire authority for the definitive answer. Jon

Posted By Stuart Nagle Vicky. The legal requirement to apply for a Fire Certificate for certain premises fitting the criteria is still in force. If your workplace comes into this criteria you must still at this time make an application for a Fire Certificate. The facts are that Fire Certificates are being phased out in favour of Fire Risk Assessment, but this has not happened yet!! The move to Fire Risk Assessment is a double edged sword. At present the Fire Authorities carry out an inspection based on receipt of your application for a Fire Certificate. They may grant a Fire Certificate (with various requirements or none), refuse one pending improvements or exempt you from having to have a Fire Certificate (if your arrangements are good enough). The fee's earnt by this method are minimal, and do not cover the expense of inspections and examination of drawings etc...etc... So, Fire Risk Assessment... lets look at the pro's and con's. You have to do it, you may do a good job or you may do a poor job, but whatever job you do you can be sure that there will be something you have overlooked that can be picked up on a fee paying visit...and that will generate another fee paying visit to see if its done... and there may well be a number of visits over a period of time (each fee paying) to get it sorted. Fee paying I hear you say, what fee's you cry...Ah, well it has not come yet, but where Government is looking at changing a service you can bet that fee payments to cover or subsidise the costs of running the service will not be far behind. You can bet your bottom dollar this has not escaped their notice and WILL be included at some future date once the law is changed and Fire Risk Assessment by employers/occupiers is the basis for premises approval. Also, just to add insult to injury, at present an average Fire Certificate holder could expect a visit from the Fire Authority about every 5 to 6 years. With Fire Risk Assessment and the need to regularly review assessments, this could, if taken at face value mean increased inspections (more fee's) on say an annual or bi-annual basis !! for all manner of workplaces.... Reading between the lines, this is a good opportunity for Government to let employers foot a considerable proportion of the cost of pay and improvements in the Fire Service....!!!!!!!

Posted By Stuart Nagle Sean. I don't think there is likely to be an 'open' piece of legilsation that would allow a commercial organisation to undertake the inspections, or this would certainly price the Fire Authority (as a good employer) out of the market !! I knoew a lot of fire service personnel, including inspectors in area offices undertaking inspection work, and in my personal opinion these chaps are definitely not overstretched !! I see an increase in inspections resulting in the need for improved management of the workload of course, but whether it would overload the service is in my opinion dubious, as the move generally for service improvements and changes in working conditions would in effect make more personnel available to cover more work if this was required. Without turning this into a political debate, current working practice of 2 days on, 2 nights on and then four days off, certainly gives room to manouvre in terms of manning for any preceived increased in workload, including inspections.