Commercial and residential accommodation

Commercial and residential accommodation should be separated by at least one hour fire protection or have a fire alarm within the commercial premise linked to the residential accommodation.

Reducing the Dangers

  • fit an alarm to provide early warning of fire throughout the building
  • keep escape routes clear from combustible material and other obstructions
  • never wedge open fire doors or remove door closing devices (a fire door can only protect you if it is kept closed)
  • protect/separate staircases with fire resisting construction to ensure your exit route is safe

What must I do?

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – makes you responsible for taking steps to protect the people using your premises from the risk of fire.

You must:

  • Carry out a fire risk assessment
  • If necessary, improve your fire safety measures
  • Keep the risks, and your fire safety measures under review

Follow the 5 key steps:

  1. Identify fire hazards
  2. Identify people at risk
  3. Evaluate remove or reduce and protect from risk
  4. Record, plan, inform, instruct and train
  5. Review your fire risk assessment regularly