How is the Fire Safety Order Enforced?

Lancashire Combined Fire Authority has a statutory duty to enforce fire safety legislation and to reduce the risk of fire causing death, serious injury and property related losses in the community. This is achieved through a risk based fire safety inspection strategy which prioritises the demand for our services and forms a fundamental element in the Authority’s fire risk reduction strategy. By prioritising the inspection of premises presenting higher risk, Lancashire Combined Fire Authority is able to target available resources where they can be most effective.In order to prepare the inspection programme, the generic level of risk presented by occupancy types is considered. The risk to individual occupants is of concern to Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service but it is the overall potential for loss of life or serious injury that will be the major determinant of risk for the purposes of the inspection programme.

The risk-based inspection programme encompasses very low to very high risk premises using the following methods:

  • Re-inspections – a fixed term inspection
  • Post-Fire Inspections – following up after a fire
  • Peak Risk Inspections – inspecting at the time of greatest risk
  • Targeted inspections –in order to assess a particular risk
  • Sampling inspections –to confirm an expected level of risk or to quantify an unknown risk.

The assessment of risk in a building and its subsequent inclusion within the inspection programme will be influenced by considerations in addition to the legal responsibilities of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. These considerations include, at a national or local level:

  • the strategic importance of a particular property or business;
  • the potential loss of heritage;
  • potential environmental damage; and,
  • the need to assess likely fire fighting operations

The level of risk in both individual buildings and generic building types will be determined by assessing the structure, occupancy, contents, and the standard of fire safety management. After initial assessment of premises an inspection frequency will be determined including the option not to carry out a fixed term inspection. Subsequent inspections will reappraise the levels of risk and inspection priority.

In addition to fixed term inspections under the risk based fire safety inspection programme, Fire Safety Departments also have responsibility for the following: 

  • Statutory consultations: -in response to regulatory requests from other enforcing authorities.
  • Promoting fire safety: -by statute, fire and rescue authorities must make provision for the promotion of fire safety in its area.
  • Requests for advice: – by statute, fire and rescue authorities must make provision in their area for the giving of advice on request about how to prevent fires and restrict their spread in buildings and other property.
  • Following a complaint: -where a substantive complaint is made about a premises or its management and it is felt necessary to investigate the complaint further.

To view advisory notes which provide information for your use when preparing for a fire safety audit click here.

To view a summary of the Inspecting Officer’s powers and an explanation of the enforcement action Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service may take to rectify any deficiencies click here.