Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
gordon j  
#1 Posted : 10 June 2014 16:27:23(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
gordon j

Hi everyone Pretty basic question for which I need some assistance/ advice I have a colleague who works in an accountants office. They hold a Fire Certificate which was awarded some years ago...5 I believe. The building is listed and is over 3 storeys in a high street. Regular risk assessments are conducted as and when required. They are written/ documented and communicated to the workforce... The question is does a Fire Certificate have a valid period of validity or do they need to update/ renew the certificate? Any assistance greatly appreciated Thanks guys
JJ Prendergast  
#2 Posted : 10 June 2014 16:42:10(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
JJ Prendergast

If you mean a Fire Certificate issued under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 - it is no longer required/valid. The legislation has been repealed.
Psycho  
#3 Posted : 10 June 2014 16:43:50(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Psycho

In October 2006, the 'Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005' came into effect in and replaced over 70 pieces of fire safety law. The changes made replaced the need for fire certificates, which have now been abolished and no longer have legal status you however do need fire risk assessment fire log book, proof of maintenance, training etc to comply with the order inless your fire certificate is your fire certificate of insurance and i would say you need one of those
mssy  
#4 Posted : 10 June 2014 17:22:55(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
mssy

Hi You call this document a Fire Certificate, but then go on to say its around 5 years old. As others have said, Fire Certificates disappeared more than 7.5 years ago, and most fire authorities stopped issuing new certificates a while before that. So if this document is less than 8 years old, its not likely to be a fire certificate. Have a look at the legislation it refers to and if it states The Fire Precautions Act 1971, or the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 - then its out of date. In addition to what Psycho says below, an number of commercial organizations issue 'fire certificates' such as insurers, fire alarm companies and extinguisher maintenance firms. Don't mistake these documents as a statutory document. Lastly - on a (somewhat pedantic) point of order: There is no specific legal requirement in the Fire Safety Order to keep a fire log book or maintenance/training records. However, the Resp Person may have to satisfy an enforcing authority that maintenance and training has been carried out, and it would be very difficult without such records.
BJC  
#5 Posted : 11 June 2014 14:37:40(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Guest

It was another cost cutting error by those in charge to dispense with the Fire Brigade Fire Certs.
gordon j  
#6 Posted : 12 June 2014 09:38:17(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
gordon j

Thanks guys...great advice which will definitely help. I have not had sight of the said document but will advise my colleague accordingly Cheers and thanks again!!!
jay  
#7 Posted : 12 June 2014 09:58:05(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jay

The Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 had no requirement for Fire Authorities to provide certificates, but introduced, for the first time an explicitly duty on Employers and those in charge of buildings etc to undertake fire risk assessments. Therefore we had a dual system under Fire Precautions Act 1971 that required Fire certificates to be issued and fire assessments etc under the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 . The net result was that Fire Authorities stopped issuing Fire Certificates except for high risk premises. The RRFSO, in my view was the obvious outcome. There is nothing wrong in having a regulatory system, whether it is for Health & Safety or for Fire Safety, that those who create risks are primarily responsible for controlling them--and for the high risk activities, there is a permissioning regime from the enforcement body. i.e. COMAH, Offshore, Pipelines, Railways, Nuclear etc, provided that the enforcement bodies are adequately resourced.
Users browsing this topic
Guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.