Fire: Responsibilities, obligations, risks and liabilities

This paper seeks to draw attention to some of the basic, but sometimes less well understood, aspects that underpin fire safety and its management within buildings. It explores the issue of fire safety and how it should be ‘designed into’ all buildings at the outset of ‘concept’ design through detailed design and building, whether an initial development or a refurbishment of an existing property. The paper considers good practice and notes that fire safety can be affected by some not-so-obvious elements of location, design and finishes. It highlights the necessity for accurate and current information in what is now referred to as the ‘golden thread’ and notes some of the relevant points for insurers and valuers. Explanation is provided in regard to some of the statutory duties on persons and the competencies that all those working in this sector should have, noting that behaviours in application of knowledge and activity are as important as the knowledge and simple execution of the task. Reference is also made to some of the contractual issues presented to the landlord and tenant in regard to some leases and other tenure arrangements, and the need for detailed inventories is identified. The paper further considers some of the most important matters relating to management of fire safety in occupation and explains the differences between the four common ‘types’ of fire risk assessment used.