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Fire Risk Assessment – Home (Residential) Based Office
Rank: New forum user
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I’m currently reviewing a safety file which has raised a question.
Does a small business need to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment on a home based office?
The residential property is being used for the dual purpose of a home and registered office, and this is basically a spare bedroom that only the business owner uses (no meetings, staff etc.).
Can you also signpost me to the specific element of the regulations that you base an answer on.
Thanks for any help offered.
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Rank: Forum user
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Afternoon
Have a look at the link below.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/workers/home.htm
Although it does not specifically state fire risk assessment it does state the employer should carry out a risk assessment of work activities and take appropriate measures. Also have a look at The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 - section 6.1(a) and 31.10 (they relate to domestic premises).
Hope this helps a little.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rank: Super forum user
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The RRFSO only applies to workplaces and the common parts of domestic dwellings. The regulations require the 'responsible person' to carry out the FRA and in the scenario provided I believe this would be the home owner. Given the nature and location of the office, I don't think completing a FRA is worth the time and trouble. Hopefully you have more important tasks to deal with.
Meaning of “responsible person”
This sectionnoteType=Explanatory Memorandum has no associated
3. In this Order “responsible person” means—
(a) in relation to a workplace, the employer, if the workplace is to any extent under his control;
(b) in relation to any premises not falling within paragraph (a)—
(i) the person who has control of the premises (as occupier or otherwise) in connection with the carrying on by him of a trade, business or other undertaking (for profit or not); or
(ii) the owner, where the person in control of the premises does not have control in connection with the carrying on by that person of a trade, business or other undertaking.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I work from a purpose-built office within my home. I have done my own assessment of the fire risks inherent in the property and of those introduced by my business. The results are filed in my head and I concluded that the present arrangements were perfectly adequate.
When I applied for a Premises License (different business), the enforcing fire authority was content with this approach.
The likelihood of fire occurring in the home is of course greater than in an office but given that there are no smokers, nor deep fat frying, nor open fires, regularly serviced gas boiler and fairly recently renewed electrical wiring, I sleep well.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Under RRFSO reg 9(6) you only have to record the RA where you have 5 or more employees. Therefore, IMHO, you could do a mental RA. If you decide to record it, I would suugest that you use the template provided by your local fire brigade free on their website
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