Your Legal Duties and Where to Start
The Responsible Person and Your Legal Duties
If you are responsible for a workplace, business, or any non-domestic building, you have legal duties under fire safety law. This page explains who is responsible, what needs to be done, and how to begin managing fire safety in a simple, structured way.
Our goal is to help you understand what the law expects, avoid common pitfalls, and create a safer environment for everyone who uses your building.
Who Is the Responsible Person?
Every premises must have at least one Responsible Person. This is the individual (or sometimes organisation) in control of the premises. They are accountable for ensuring that fire safety measures are in place, maintained, and suitable for the type of building and its use.
You may be the Responsible Person if you are:
- The employer in control of the workplace
- The owner, landlord, or managing agent of a building
- The occupier or tenant with control over part of a building
- A director or partner responsible for health and safety within a business
If more than one person shares responsibility, cooperation and clear communication are essential. Everyone involved must coordinate their fire safety actions to prevent gaps in compliance.
What the law requires
The key legislation for England and Wales is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, supported by updates under the Building Safety Act 2022. Equivalent legislation applies in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In practice, this means the Responsible Person must:
- Carry out a Fire Risk Assessment to identify hazards and risks
- Record significant findings and act on them promptly
- Provide and maintain suitable fire detection and warning systems
- Ensure safe escape routes and emergency lighting
- Provide fire-fighting equipment such as extinguishers where needed
- Train staff and carry out regular fire drills
- Keep all equipment and procedures properly maintained
Failure to meet these duties can lead to prosecution or enforcement action. However, understanding the basics and taking consistent action will keep you compliant and, more importantly, protect lives.
Getting started – your first 30 days
If you’re taking on fire safety for the first time, begin with these practical steps:
- Identify the Responsible Person – make sure the role is clear and documented
- Arrange a Fire Risk Assessment by a competent, third-party certified assessor
- Review your fire alarm system – confirm it works correctly and is regularly serviced
- Check your escape routes – ensure exits are clear, unlocked, and well signposted
- Train your team – everyone should know what to do if an alarm sounds
- Create a simple fire log book – use it to record checks, drills, and maintenance visits
Start small but be consistent. Fire safety is an ongoing process, not a one-off task.
When to Get Professional Help
Some tasks, such as a detailed fire risk assessment or system maintenance, must be carried out by competent professionals.
Look for companies or individuals that hold third-party certification from recognised schemes such as BAFE or LPCB. This proves they have been independently assessed and are qualified to perform fire safety work.
By using certified experts, you protect your business and demonstrate due diligence in meeting your legal duties.