Updated Fire Safety Guidance for Business Owners of Non Residential Premises in Scotland

August saw the publication of updated guidance on fire safety for non-residential commercial, industrial, transport, assembly, educational, day care or entertainment premises from the Scottish Government.

The guidance supersedes and amalgamates a number of individual Scottish Government guides, and introduces a substantial number of editorial changes in the revision aimed at improving duty-holders’ understanding.

The guidance has been developed for duty-holders to help meet their requirements under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, and covers existing non-residential premises without sleeping accommodation such as offices, shops and entertainment venues [see below].

The guides superseded are:

• Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Educational and Day Care for Children Premises: February 2008
• Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Places of Entertainment and Assembly: December 2007
• Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Factories and Storage Premises: February 2008
• Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Offices, Shops and Similar Premises: February 2008
• Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Transport Premises: February 2008.

The full guidance is available to read here.

The guide does not apply to premises used for overnight sleeping accommodation and does not apply to premises used for child-minding, for which other guidance has been produced.

Much of the guidance in this document relates to buildings, however, the requirements of fire safety law also apply to other structures, external areas and open air sites.

The list below is a summary of the general requirements imposed – it is not intended to be comprehensive. Guidance on complying with these general requirements is set out in the guidance:

• assessing the risk from fire in respect of the premises
• identifying the fire safety measures necessary as a result of the assessment of risk
• implementing these fire safety measures, using risk reduction principles
• putting in place fire safety arrangements for the ongoing control and review of the fire safety measures
• complying additionally with the specific requirements of the fire safety regulations
• keeping the fire safety risk assessment and outcome under review
• record keeping.

The S₂ Partnership has a dedicated team of fire safety experts, providing fire risk assessments, training, guidance, fire engineering and fire safety management systems to a range of organisations to meet legal obligations. The S₂ Partnership works with clients to develop robust fire safety solutions, providing just the right support to each individual business to protect lives, buildings and businesses.

For further assistance on assessing and reducing fire risks, please contact our specialist team

Source: Gov.Scot