The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 

(1) Where necessary (whether due to the features of the premises, the activity carried on there, any hazard present or any other relevant circumstances) in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, the responsible person must ensure that—

(a)the premises are, to the extent that it is appropriate, equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and with fire detectors and alarms; and

(b)any non-automatic fire-fighting equipment so provided is easily accessible, simple to use and indicated by signs.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) what is appropriate is to be determined having regard to the dimensions and use of the premises, the equipment contained on the premises, the physical and chemical properties of the substances likely to be present and the maximum number of persons who may be present at any one time.

(3) The responsible person must, where necessary—

(a)take measures for fire-fighting in the premises, adapted to the nature of the activities carried on there and the size of the undertaking and of the premises concerned; 

(b)nominate competent persons to implement those measures and ensure that the number of such persons, their training and the equipment available to them are adequate, taking into account the size of, and the specific hazards involved in, the premises concerned; and

(c)arrange any necessary contacts with external emergency services, particularly as regards fire-fighting, rescue work, first-aid and emergency medical care.

(4) A person is to be regarded as competent for the purposes of paragraph (3)(b) where he has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable him properly to implement the measures referred to in that paragraph.

The Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations are now in force

As an Employer you should now be aware of The Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 These Regulations took effect on the 1 December 1997. This legislation was amended by The Fire Precautions (Workplace) (Amendment)  Regulations 1999 which came into force on the 1 December 1999. And also

The Management of Health and Safety Regulations  1999

Now every organisation with five or more employees must now undertake an assessment of the fire risks in the same way that you undertake Health and  Safety assessments in order to maintain a safe working enviroment.  

These  requirements include:

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  Carrying out a fire risk assessment
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  The provision of firefighting and fire detection equipment
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  The provision of adequate means of escape (MoE)
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  The production of an effective fire action plan
•  
  The training of all staff - fire safety awareness
•  
  The training of fire wardens
• The maintenance and recording of all provisions

Failure to comply with this Act is an offence!