You need to keep the fire safety measures and equipment in the workplace in effective working order. This includes all fixtures and fittings such as fire doors, staircases, corridors, fire detection and alarm systems, fire-fighting equipment, notices and emergency lighting. You need to carry out regular checks, periodic servicing and maintenance whatever the size of the workplace. Any defects should be put right as quickly as possible.

You, or an employee you have nominated, can carry out checks and routine maintenance work. However, it is important to ensure the reliability and safe operation of fire-fighting equipment and installed systems such as fire alarms and emergency lighting. This is best done by using a competent person* to carry out periodic servicing and any necessary repairs. A record of the work carried out on such equipment and systems will help to demonstrate compliance with the law.

If your premises are covered by a fire certificate, requirements are likely to have been imposed which cover all the equipment you have. Provided you have fulfilled all the requirements of your fire certificate, it is unlikely that you will need to do any more.

* A competent person is someone who has the necessary knowledge, training, experience and abilities to carry out the work.

Checklist

Do you regularly check all fire doors and escape routes and associated lighting and signs?

Do you regularly check all your fire-fighting equipment?

Do you regularly check your fire detection and alarm equipment?

Do you regularly check any other equipment provided to help means of escape arrangements in the building?

Are there instructions for relevant employees about testing of equipment?

Are those who test and maintain the equipment properly trained to do so?

The following table describes good practice for the routine maintenance and testing of fire safety equipment. All other fixtures and fittings, such as fire doors, staircases, corridors and notices to assist safe escape from the workplace, should be regularly checked. Any defects found should be put right as quickly as possible. You can find further information in 'Installation, maintenance and testing of fire precautions and equipment' in Part 3.

In the event of a fire your employees will need to know what to do. You will need to have adequate pre-planned procedures in place (your emergency plan) and ensure your employees are trained in line with those procedures. The procedures will also need to be regularly tested (see Step 4).

In small premises the procedures required may be relatively simple, but in larger, more complex premises they will need to be more comprehensive. In all cases, the emergency plan will need to take account of all people likely to be in the premises at any time (a shop may have a small number of employees but larger numbers of customers).

If you have a fire certificate there will be certain requirements imposed by the certificate concerning procedures and training. Provided you have complied with these requirements, you may not need to do any more.

Checklist

Do you have an emergency plan?

Does the emergency plan take account of all reasonably foreseeable circumstances?

Are your employees familiar with the plan, trained in its use and involved in testing it?

Is the emergency plan made available to all who need to be aware of it?

Are the procedures to be followed clearly indicated throughout the workplace?

Have you considered all the people likely to be present in your workplace and others with whom you may share the building?

If you are in any doubt about your current arrangements, you should refer to the guidance in Step 4 and the information in 'Arrangements for evacuating the workplace' in Part 3.

You should make adequate provision for people with special needs who may be present in your premises. You need to consider both employees and visitors, and take into account not only people who have restricted mobility but also those who have poor hearing, poor sight or any other form of disability. Further guidance is given in 'Disabled people' in Part 3.

In addition to basic, physical fire precautions such as means of escape, there are other things that you can do to ensure a quick and safe evacuation of the workplace. These include:

ensuring good housekeeping;

ensuring escape routes are kept clear;

ensuring suitable security measures to reduce the chance of arson; and

having regular fire safety checks.

Do not store anything in escape corridors, stairways or lobbies, even temporarily, which could cause an obstruction and hinder safe escape from the workplace. Ensure there are no flammable materials, including rubbish and waste, in these areas as they could support the spread of fire, making the escape route unsafe. Further advice is given in 'Reducing fire risks through good management' and 'Means of escape in case of fire' in Part 3.

The risk of arson can be reduced by having good security and by ensuring that any flammable materials stored outside the building do not put the workplace at risk (see 'Reducing the risk of arson' in Part 3).

Although this guidance is about reducing the risks of fire and protecting people against the risk from fire, many of the precautions recommended will also help you protect your workplace and its contents while it is unoccupied. You can do this by ensuring that a full check is carried out to make sure that the workplace is left in a safe condition before it is vacated. This should include checking that:

all windows and doors are closed, including doors held open by automatic release units;

electrical equipment not in use is switched off, and where appropriate, unplugged;

smokers' materials are not left smouldering;

all naked flames are extinguished or left in a safe condition;

all flammable rubbish and waste is removed to a safe place;

all highly flammable materials are safely stored; and

the workplace is secured against unauthorised entry.

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