UK: Norwich Union welcomes fire safety reform guidance

Norwich Union has welcomed the new guidance covering major fire safety reform for businesses, which comes into effect from October this year.

But its success will depend on a concerted publicity campaign, the company says.

The fire safety regulatory reform order will consolidate 79 pieces of legislation relating to fire safety and impact on all non-domestic premises in England and Wales. The main issue for employers and buildings owners will be the abolition of fire certificates, as well as a requirement to carry out a fire risk assessment and act on the findings.

Norwich Union property risk manager Allister Smith says: “The most crucial aspect of delivering the reform was always going to be good publicity and guidance, to ensure that those not aware of the changes, or even the existing requirements, are brought up to speed. Hopefully this much needed communication exercise will be fully underway soon.”

Several guides are now available to download from the Department for Communities and Local Government website. They cover offices and shops, factories and warehouses, sleeping accommodation and educational premises.

Guides for residential, transport and healthcare premises and facilities, as well as theatres and cinemas and some others are not yet available, but are expected to be published in July.

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For further information, please contact:
Clare Schofield at Staniforth on 0161 919 8021/ 07971 609839 or Sally Leeman at Norwich Union on 01603 684225/ 07800 699670.