MacRoberts Real Estate Law e-update 30/01/08

FIRE!

For virtually all business and commercial premises in Scotland, the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 now apply. This new regime is enforced by local authorities and Health and Safety Executive.

Owners and tenants in charge of such properties (which include for example premises occupied by charities and voluntary organisations and even homes licensed as Houses in Multiple Occupation) must:

• carry out a fire safety risk survey of their premises;
• reduce those risks highlighted in the survey;
• regularly review the risk assessment and consequential steps taken; and
• where there are five or more employees, keep detailed records of all of this.

The following should be considered when carrying out such safety reviews:

• the special requirements of young or old persons or others;
• minimising risks which cannot be wholly avoided;
• developing a wholly integrated fire preventive policy and system with best available technology; and
• provision of clear signs and information.

These measures (as for example with those in respect of access for persons with disabilities) are geared to engender greater social awareness and a less blinkered impersonal form-filling approach.
Needless to say the enforcement authorities have power to impose penalties on those who infringe these new requirements.

If you require any further information please contact Gordon Thomson or Laurence Fraser on 0141 332 9988

© MacRoberts 2008