In England and Wales, if you’re an employer, owner, landlord or occupier of business or other non-domestic premises, you’re responsible for fire safety and are known as the ‘responsible person’.
As the responsible person, there are certain things you must do by law under the Fire Safety Order, which is enforced by your local fire and rescue authority.
The Fire Safety Order also applies if you have paying guests – eg if you run a bed and breakfast, guest house or let self-catering property.
Your responsibilities
As the ‘responsible person’ you must:
- carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment of the premises
- tell staff and/or their representatives about the risks you’ve identified
- put in place, and maintain, adequate and appropriate fire safety measures to remove or reduce the risk to life
- plan for an emergency
- provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training