CEO Warns of Cowboys as New Fire Regulations Imminent

31 August 2010

Pubs of Ulster CEO Colin Neill has issued a statement warning licensees to exercise extreme caution when appointing consultants to undertake Fire Risk Assessments!

Forthcoming new Fire Safety Regulations will place responsibility for the �Fire Risk Assessment� of premises firmly with the licensee. Employers, owners, managers and landlords will be responsible for ensuring that fire risk assessments are carried out by a competent person. It is likely that the majority of licensees will choose to out-source this work rather than have it undertaken in-house. However Pubs of Ulster has become increasingly concerned at the number of so called experts coming out of the woodwork to take advantage of this new requirement. Many such providers are not just under-qualified and lack the experience needed, they have little or no public liability insurance. To address the situation Pubs of Ulster has secured the services of Rea Fire Safety, who will deliver Fire Safety Regulations information sessions. These are being held immediately before each County Association AGM and are open to all licensees. Rea Fire Safety have also been secured as a Pubs of Ulster Key Service Provider. This relationship will provide members with free consultation and preferential terms. Notes: Forthcoming new Fire Safety Regulations will be introduced Part 3 (Fire Safety) of the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. These regulations will become known as The Fire Safety (Northern Ireland) Regulations. It is expected that these Regulations will become law in 2010. The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) has created a Register of Fire Risk Assessors and Auditors. It was appropriate for the IFE, as the leading professional body in the field of fire, to take this initiative to ensure that anyone having need of the services of a fire risk assessor can refer to the Register and thereby verify the credentials of their choice of assessor. For more information on choosing a fire risk assessor go to www.ife.org.uk