Unlimited fines for those who breach fire safety regulations

Posted 4 years ago

In an effort to strengthen fire safety in Britain, the Government has announced new regulations to boost building safety and £16 million for fire and rescue authorities.

The Home Office has stated that fines will be given to anybody “caught obstructing or impersonating a fire inspector as well as to those who breach fire safety regulations under the Fire Safety Order”.

These new measures come into force as part of the Building Safety Bill.

The new measures also aim to improve the quality of fire risk assessments, ensuring that those who complete them are competent, and make it easier to identify and coordinate with people responsible for fire safety.

The measures highlight the importance of adequate Fire Safety Training, providing employees with the information they need to comply with fire safety regulations.

Speaking about the new measures in place, Fire Minister Lord Greenhalgh said:

Everyone should be safe in the buildings where they live, stay or work.

Our new measures will improve fire safety and help save lives but will also take firm action against those who fail in their duty to keep people safe.

Here are what the new measures will look to achieve at a glance…

• Improving the quality of fire risk assessments and the competence of those who complete them
• Ensuring vital fire safety information is preserved over the lifespan of all regulated buildings
• Improving co-operation and co-ordination amongst people responsible for fire safety and making it easier to identify who they are
• Strengthening enforcement action, with anyone impersonating or obstructing a fire inspector facing unlimited fines
• Strengthening guidance issued under the Fire Safety Order so that failure to follow it may be considered in court proceedings as evidence of a breach or of compliance
• Improving the engagement between Building Control Bodies and Fire Authorities in reviewing plans for building work
• Requiring all new flats above 11 metres tall to install premises information boxes.

The Home Office intends to lay regulations before the second anniversary of the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 1 Report, which is October this year.

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