Fire Safety Compliance in the South West: What You Need to Know

Ensuring your business complies with fire safety regulations isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about protecting lives, your property, and your reputation. Whether you run a shop in Exeter, a restaurant in Plymouth, or an office in Bristol, fire safety compliance is a legal requirement under UK law, including here in the South West.

What Fire Safety Law Covers

In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (often called the Fire Safety Order) sets out fire safety law for almost all non-domestic premises. This includes offices, shops, schools, warehouses, hotels, restaurants, and community buildings, basically any place where people work, visit, or stay.

The legislation places responsibility on the person in control of the premises, known as the “Responsible Person”, to take practical steps to reduce the risk of fire and ensure people can escape safely. Depending on your business, that could be a director, employer, owner, landlord, or facilities manager.

Core Fire Safety Responsibilities

As a Responsible Person, you have a number of ongoing duties:

●     Fire Risk Assessment: You must carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment to identify hazards, people at risk, and what you need to do to keep everyone safe. This isn’t a one-off task — risk assessments should be reviewed at least annually and whenever there are changes in staff, use of the building, or layout.
●     Fire Safety Measures: Based on the assessment findings, you must put in place and maintain appropriate fire safety measures, including fire detection systems, alarms, escape routes, signage, and firefighting equipment like extinguishers.
●     Staff Training & Information: Staff should be informed about the risks you’ve identified and trained on what to do in an emergency. Many businesses also choose to appoint and train fire wardens.
●     Evacuation Planning: You need a clear evacuation strategy, with safe, unobstructed escape routes and regular evacuation drills to help ensure everyone knows what to do if the alarm sounds.

Why Fire Risk Assessments Matter

A Fire Risk Assessment is the foundation of fire safety compliance. It looks at how fire could start on your premises, who might be harmed, and what you can reasonably do to reduce risks. Legally, every business must have one.

In the South West, where historic buildings, diverse premises, and mixed-use sites are common, getting this right can be particularly important. Many businesses now use qualified professionals to ensure their assessments meet government standards and remain up to date.

Regional Changes and Updates

Fire safety law continues to evolve following major national reviews, including changes introduced through the Building Safety Act 2022, which now requires Responsible Persons to record fire risk assessments and safety arrangements in writing. These changes strengthen accountability and transparency for businesses of all sizes.

Stay Compliant, and Stay Safe

Fire safety compliance may sound complex, but the goal is simple: reduce risk and protect people. Regular reviews, up-to-date equipment, thorough training, and documented procedures not only help you meet legal obligations, but they also give staff and visitors confidence that your workplace is safe.

If you’re unsure whether your business meets all the fire safety requirements in the South West, professional fire safety services can bring clarity and peace of mind. With expert support for risk assessments, alarms, extinguishers, signage, and training, your business can remain compliant and fire-ready, year after year.