Compartmentation

Building owners and operators, both new and existing, have a legal duty to ensure their premises are fire-safe, including implementing passive fire protection measures. Local fire authorities conduct visits to assess fire risk evaluations and confirm that adequate fire prevention measures are in place.

If fire safety measures are deemed insufficient, fire safety officers may take action, ranging from informal advice to formal enforcement. These formal notices can impose restrictions on business operations and include:

• Alterations Notice: Issued if the premises pose a significant fire safety risk or if future changes could increase risk.
• Enforcement Notice: Given when a serious, unmanaged fire risk is identified. It outlines required improvements and sets a compliance deadline.
• Prohibition Notice: Enforced when a severe fire hazard demands immediate restriction or prohibition of access to the premises.

Beyond fulfilling legal obligations, effective passive fire protection is essential for securing property insurance and minimizing fire damage. By containing the spread of fire, businesses can recover and resume operations more swiftly, helping to maintain stability and regular trade.

Guidance for new building construction is outlined in Approved Document B of the Building Regulations. Fire safety requirements for existing buildings are specified under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO/FSO).

Additional guidance documents include the Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 05-02, which offers fire safety information for designing new healthcare facilities and extensions. The Building Bulletin 100 serves as a comprehensive design guide for ensuring fire safety in educational establishments such as schools.