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Cambridgeshire Fire & Resue Service

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Fire safety law changes sees new duties for businesses and building owners

29/09/2023

This month sees new fire safety legislation that gives new additional duties for responsible persons in businesses and building owners.  

From October 1, amendments to the Fire Safety Order, the primary fire safety legislation in England and Wales, take effect. These amendments are set out in section 156 of the Building Safety Act and include some key changes for those with a business and owners of buildings.   

The main changes introduced by the legislation are: 

  • Written fire risk assessment and fire safety arrangements 
  • Enhanced requirements for cooperation and coordination 
  • Provision of information to residents  

Station Commander Wayne Pringle, from the Fire Protection team at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The new legislation poses responsibilities on more small businesses than before, so there will be many owners that will be impacted and need support to ensure they are complying.  

“Our team has been working hard to reach businesses around the county that will be impacted by the legislation changes. Our crews have also been out engaging with local businesses to help them understand the new obligations they might have. We’ve also been speaking with the owners and managing agents for the residential buildings in the county that will be impacted by the changes.” 

As well as the team and crews visiting the impacted businesses, another key way people can find out how they are impacted is by attending a free fire safety session. 

Wayne continued: “We regularly host workplace fire safety sessions, which are at some of our stations and online. These are a great introduction for business owners and responsible persons to find out more about fire risk assessments and their obligations under the Fire Safety Order. This helps businesses to comply with the regulations as the responsible person must be competent to complete a fire risk assessment, having had the right training and experience.” 

More information about the workplace fire safety sessions, and the new laws impacting businesses and building owners, can be found in our Business Safety section.

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