The Responsible Person (RP) is the individual legally accountable for fire safety—usually the employer, building owner, or facilities manager.

Yes because the rules changed on 1 October 2023. Every business, regardless of size or number of employees, must now have a written record of their Fire Risk Assessment and fire safety arrangements.

The law requires your FRA to be "suitable and sufficient." What that means in practice is usually an annual review, but we’ll discuss a specific schedule tailored to your risk level when we conduct the assessment.

You must update your assessment immediately if any of the following occur:

• Building Changes: You alter the layout, such as adding partitions or extensions.

• Operational Shifts: You change how the building is used (e.g., a shop floor becoming a storage area).

• Incident Follow-up: You have had a fire, a "near-miss," or an equipment failure.

• New Hazards: You introduce new machinery, hazardous chemicals, or high-draw electrical equipment.

• People Changes: You significantly increase staff numbers or hire people with disabilities who require specific evacuation plans.

We calculate this based on your floor area and the specific "class" of fire risks present (e.g., electrical, chemical, or wood/paper). We follow BS 5306 to calculate the coverage. Proper placement is important because

• it ensures you have the right tool for the specific risks in your industry, such as deep-fat fryers or server rooms in offices.

• it prevents overspending on unnecessary equipment

Under BS 5306, fire extinguishers must be serviced by a competent person every 12 months. Depending on the type (Water, Foam, Powder, or CO2), they will also require an "extended service" or pressure test every 5 to 10 years.

We’ll talk you through this when we install and send reminders accordingly, to help you stay on top of these requirements.

Yes, we can. This way you can consolidate safety providers. You get one point of contact, one set of paperwork, and a consistent standard of safety across your entire facility.

The penalty increased in 2023 with the new legislation - the maximum level of fine for offences increased from Level 3 (£1,000) to Level 5 (Unlimited) fine, or up to two years in prison. There is also the "Prohibition Notice," which can force your business to close until issues are resolved.

Proactive compliance is significantly cheaper than the cost of a forced closure or a legal battle, so we recommend making arrangements sooner rather than later.