Fire risk assessments for shared buildings such as flats above a shop or a restaurant, a multi-let office, or even a mixed use development such as a bar and restaurant with offices above are more complex than for single tenancy properties.
Who Holds the Legal Duty
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 the responsible person is defined as the person who has control of a premises or part of it. In a shared building such as a mixed use development the person who manages the building (landlord or managing agent) would be classed as the responsible person for the common parts. However each business tenant would also be a responsible person for the part of the premises that they occupy. Both of these people would have a legal duty to ensure that the fire safety measures for their part of the building are implemented and that a fire risk assessment is carried out.
Common Areas Need Their Own Assessment
The assessment of common areas must be for each area separately i.e. Stairways, Lift Lobby, Bin Stores, Shared Plant Rooms, Entrance Halls etc. The individual business tenants’ assessments for their individual areas of use will not include the assessment for the common areas.
Coordinate With Other Occupiers
Stock stored in corridors and propping of fire doors by tenants can have a major effect on other occupants in the building. It is therefore sensible to contact other tenants prior to the fire risk assessment and note any changes to the use of shared areas in writing.
Check Shared Escape Routes and Fire Doors
In your assessment of all shared escape routes you need to be able to walk the full length of the route to the final exit without any obstructions or problems. For all fire doors in common use areas check for correct operation as self closing, correct signage and any visible damage. A fire door that does not close fully can allow massive amounts of smoke into a stairwell within minutes.
Reflecting Multiple Uses in One Document
Assessments for mixed use buildings such as a restaurant and offices in a building in Milton Keynes should identify the different occupancy types and the specific risks associated with the ground floor restaurant and the offices above. For Fire Risk Assessment Milton Keynes, see https://isefireproducts.co.uk/fire-risk-assessments/milton-keynes/.
By ensuring the assessment is structured in the correct way initially, it will save time in the long run. Whether the building changes hands, or a new tenant moves into a unit, having the correct information stored within the assessment in the correct format will be of great benefit.
