The Statutory Legislation Fire Safety order 2004 received Parliamentary approval on 7^th June 2005, and has come into force since October 2006. The Order reforms the Law relating to Fire Safety in virtually all non-domestic premises and repeals the 1971 Fire Precautions Act, with regards to Certification and existing primary Legislation.

In principle it requires employers or any person who has control of the premises, to protect the safety of employees and non-employees, to take such fire precautions as may be required to ensure that the premises are safe. It also sets out a duty to undertake and carry out a risk assessment.

By adopting a fire risk assessment , the responsible person(s) will need to look at how to prevent fire from occurring in the first place, by removing or reducing hazards and risks (ignition sources) and then at the precautions to ensure that people are adequately protected if a fire were still to occur. Therefore the main emphasis of the changes will be to move towards fire prevention. An action plan is included within the report.