The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

requires churches to undertake an assessment of all fire risks.

Has your church got one ready to show the Fire Officer when he visits YOUR church?

To know your responsibilities, the church should have obtained

a copy of the Government guide entitled

Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Small and Medium Places of Assembly

Shout FIRE! FIRE!

Is this what a member of your congregation would do if they discovered a fire on you church premises?

Your church should have devised an emergency plan and have it displayed in a fire action notice where people come in or congregate.

This plan should say how to raise the alarm if you discover a fire, and also what everybody should do if they hear the alarm. The church should also have a record of training that has been given to door stewards and leaders of organisations.

Since Oct 2006, church premises have been included in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and it is the responsibility of the church leadership to comply with the law. Initially, this requires developing a fire risk assessment that can be provided by a private company at a cost of £250 or more. A better option is that the church officers take the responsibility for providing this themselves with assistance as necessary. The reason for this is that the management would then ‘own’ the findings and be the best people to remove or reduce the risk of fire in years to come.

Can you say yes to each of the following questions?

• Does your church and hall have portable fire-fighting equipment? Have your door stewards and leaders of organisations had training in how to use them?

• Have you a means of warning others of a fire at the church that can be heard everywhere in your building?

• Have you agreed what should be done if someone discovers a fire and what others should do on hearing of a fire? Have you a written notice detailing this?

• If the power failed at night, can all users of the building leave the premises safely?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, valuable information is available from the Government guidebook ‘Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Small and medium places of assembly’ which can be purchased at a cost of £12. Every church should have a copy and it can be ordered from http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/fire/firesafetyrisk7

The London Baptist Association bookkeeper is a member of the Institute of the Fire Engineers with a fire safety background. He is available to give advice to churches and can be contacted at the LBA office on 020 7692 5592 or by email on: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Fire cannot be ignored – nor can the law. Please ensure that your church gives this urgent consideration if it has not already done so.