Business fire safety awareness tool from the NFCC

This interactive tool to help small business owners understand their legal duties for fire safety in the workplace.

As a new owner or manager of a small business, the fire safety law for the workplace can seem quite daunting. This tool has been designed to give a fun and interactive experience and at the same time give you a general overview of your responsibilities following a fire risk assessment on your premises.

As you work your way around your workplace, correcting the identified issues and making it safer, you will be tested on your general fire safety knowledge.

Click the below image to go straight to the tool.

Risk Assessments 

A fire risk assessment should be carried out and reviewed regularly.

You can find out more about your responsibilities and what’s involved in a fire risk assessment on gov.uk.

We have also developed a range of templates and guides to help you, just click the image below.

Emergency Plans 

Every business is at risk of disruption from a variety of threats, including fire, flood, loss of power or even loss of staff.

80% of organisations without a business continuity plan either never re-open or close within 18 months following a major incident. Almost 1 in 5 businesses suffer disruption every year.

Find out more about your local authority’s continuity plans here.

The Primary Authority Scheme supports economic growth through better regulation and cutting red tape for businesses.

It’s one of the most effective ways for fire safety regulators to improve fire safety standards and support their communities by forming partnerships with businesses, charities and other organisations.

Becoming a Primary Authority partner enables a single Fire and Rescue Service to become your single point of contact for all fire safety regulation advice. It also shows your commitment to working with regulators.

Find out more about the Primary Authority Scheme at gov.uk

Report a concern

If you have concerns about the fire safety of any business premises within Tyne and Wear:

1. Contact the building owner or manager
2. If your concern relates to a block of flats, contact your Local Authority
3. If you’re still concerned, contact us.

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies, the premises will be audited by a Fire Safety Inspector as soon as possible. The urgency of the response will be assessed based on the nature of the complaint and the risk to life.

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 does not apply, the details will be forwarded to the relevant appropriate authority.

Recognising that Tyne & Wear Fire & Rescue Service (TWFRS) are not statutory consultees as a result of the Town & Planning Act 2010. (National Fire Chiefs Council) NFCC advise as best practice, safety measures and risk mitigation, to be developed in collaboration with your local FRS.

TWFRS recognises the use of batteries (including lithium-ion) as Energy Storage Systems (ESS) is a new and emerging practice in the global renewable energy sector. As with all new and emerging practices within UK industry the Service would like to work with the developers to better understand any risks that may be posed and develop strategies and procedures to mitigate these risks.

Find out more information on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Requirements here.

The Fire Safety Act 2021 (the Act) received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021 and commenced on 16 May 2022. The Act amends the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the Fire Safety Order). The Act had previously been brought into force in Wales.

Tyne and Wear welcomes the commencement of the Fire Safety Act in England and Wales, and the Regulations in England. These are important steps forward in strengthening the Fire Safety Order and improving fire safety within our communities.

The Act clarifies that, in addition to general responsibilities under The Fire Safety Order, responsible persons (RPs) for buildings containing two or more domestic premises must manage and reduce the risk of fire for the structure and external walls of the building, including cladding, balconies and windows, and entrance doors to individual flats that open onto common parts.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service will work with our business community to help them understand what the changes mean to them and to help them to fulfil their obligation to comply. Over the coming weeks and months, we will be organising a series of events where we will share our approach to the new legislation.

Find out more here.

We are the Petroleum Enforcing Authority for the storage of petroleum in Tyne and Wear.

We’re also responsible for granting licences to store fireworks. This involves inspecting premises to assess their suitability for explosive storage.

Under the objective of Public Safety, we comment on the fire safety standards of premises that are applying for licences under the Licensing Act 2003.

Licensed Premises 

Under the Licensing Act 2003, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service comments on applications for licenses for premises to provide:

• alcohol
• regulated entertainment
• late night refreshment

To establish whether the Public Safety licensing objective is being met (specifically relating to fire safety), your premises may be audited by our Fire Safety Team before we notify the Licensing Authority of our decision.