Fire Safety Law - Compliance is vital to avoid prosecution

Prosecutions continue for those failing to meet their obligations under Fire Safety Law.Hefty fines have been imposed on an Erdington social club for failing to comply and Norwich Magistrates Court imposed a £10,250 fine against a city landlord for breaching safety laws. The owner of a Blackpool hotel was convicted of six breaches of fire safety regulations and ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £9,000.

Following a blaze which saw 125 people evacuated and a further two rescued by aerial ladder, the Loretta Hotel in Llandudno was fined £12,000 plus £6,500 costs,for fire safety breaches. A Nelson mill owner is amongst the latest prosecutions, ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £2,450, for failing to meet fire regulations and a Colchester Restaurateur has recently been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £15,000 in costs in a prosecution brought by Essex Fire Authority, which has set a new precedent.

To help avoid prosecution it is essential that the Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety Law) is conformed to. As part of this the government recommends that only approved contractors are appointed, to carry out fire safety work. These contractors can independently prove competence through schemes such as BAFE (British Approval for Fire Equipment). BAFE is a non profit making organisation, dedicated to improving standards in fire protection and operates independent third party schemes of approval for fire protection systems.

Allianz Cornhill, Norwich Union, Royal & SunAlliance and many other insurers are backing BAFE as part of their requirement to ensure that fire safety systems and services are installed and maintained annually by companies registered with BAFE, or are approved by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB).

Assured Fire & Security is BAFE accredited and can prove competence in Fire Safety.
For further information please call 0845 402 3045.