A fire safety audit is an examination of the business premises and a fire safety inspector will provide one with relevant documents to see how your premises are being managed in terms of fire safety.
The audit will include checking what processes and documentation that one has already in place
When visiting the premises, a fire inspector may talk to the employees to get their understanding of fire safety and awareness to which they should be trained too. The visits for a fire safety audit are usually prearranged, and the audit will include checking what processes and documentation that one has already in place and advice accordingly.
Following fire safety regulations
A legal requirement is to have ‘responsible persons’ for a building, for example, the owner, manager, or health and safety officer, have a responsibility to ensure that the fire safety regulations are upheld.
Failing to comply with this, can earn the business owner large fines or even a prison sentence. When it comes to fire safety, being prepared for a fire is better than having any form of damage control.
expectations from a fire safety audit
Completing a thorough inspection of any commercial business, a fire safety audit is a thorough inspection of any non-residential premises. It will be carried out by a fire safety inspector, sometimes the official title can vary.
As mentioned, the audit could involve talking to employees about their understanding of the fire safety procedures on the premises. The necessary documentation can include:
- A fire risk assessment
- Records of any fire drills and staff fire training
- List of dangerous substances on the premises
- Proof that the fire prevention systems have been regularly maintained and tested
- Documentation detailing what to do in the event of a fire including any fire evacuation procedures.
Depending on the business the amount of documentation can vary dramatically. From an IT company to a chip shop, every business is unique. No matter the industry, every office design needs to incorporate the latest fire safety and prevention methodology. The advice will be to look up the local fire safety laws and get up to date with any recent changes that may affect the business. This will help to get ahead of the game and ensure that one is following the letter.
After a fire safety audit
Depending on the score following the outcome of the audit, depends on what happens next. If the fire safety officer finds a complete breach of the fire safety regulations, it is up to the fire safety inspector about how they respond.
The officer can use emergency powers to restrict the use of the building until the problems have been resolved
If the matter is of a serious nature, the officer can issue an enforcement notice. This notice will set out a strict deadline for when the work has to be completed. The officer can use emergency powers to restrict the use of the building until the problems have been resolved.
If the mistake is minor, they may take a more informal approach by discussing the mistakes and the responsible persons to rectify them straight away. If one is unsure how safe the business is, it may be worth booking a fire safety check with Cooke & Bern to get all the relevant documentation, and they will be able to advise on fire safety systems that may be of use to the business.
