Posted By shaun mckeever
Yep.

Generally most of the currently published guidance documents only reiterate what was already available before. I would imagine the same applies to the so far unpublished guidance documents. The guidance notes are just that - guidance. Nothing prescriptive. The RR(FS)O is about functional requirements such as ensuring that there is adequate means of escape or ensuring there is adequate means for giving warning in case of fire. The basic principles in the existing documents can still give guidance in those premises where the guidance has not been published. The guidance documents are aimed at persons who are unfamiliar with fire safety requirements and are generally intended to assist those carrying out assessments on relatively low risk workplaces. Where the workplaces are more complex or high risk then the guidance notes may not be sufficient and further advice ought to be sought from elsewhere.

Posted By David J Jones
Hi DFP,

I went to a seminar in Stirling a couple of months ago where the "south of the border" RRFSO was outlined in some detail (if that's not an oxymoron!), but the position with our legislation was, at that time, still very unclear due to a lot of internal wranglings in various organisations directly involved in laying the foundations of the legislation.

The seminar presenters agreed with my observations that, in preparation, if I look to the English/Welsh legislation as a framework for what to do/not do, the basics will be covered.

Not much help in specifics but something to consider.

Posted By DJ
Charles,

One error in your posting. The 'Healthcare' guidance (10) for hospitals is not yet available.

Regards.

DJ

Posted By ivorfire
I believe that Parliment only set the target of 8 of the guides and not the whole 11 guides.

Much have been said about the guides, but it may be worth stating the fundalemental princple, that the guides are basically designed for the responsible persons (RP)of small to medium sized busniess enough information for the RP to decide if they are doing the fire risk assessment or get some one else in, to do it.

Larger businesses and usually more complex buildings etc and will probably use existing arangements for fire risk assessments. Nothing therefore changes?

When examining the guides it is also worth remebering that the industry standards will also be applicable as referenced in the rear of the guides. Therefore, e.g. for fire alarm sysems BS 5839 will still be the bench mark. Likewise for healthcare premises HTM's etc will apply. (Once all these are issued). And of course the old familar Approved Document B will still be about.

As an "enforcer", I would not loose too much sleep over the slow to appear guides, unlike me who is now going to bed!!!

Hope this helps.