who is the ‘responsible person’?
The term 'Responsible Person' is a legal term and it applies to the person, persons, institution or company that controls the building. The Responsible Person has a legal duty to mitigate the risk of fire within a property.
The Fire Safety Act requires that fire doors to individual flats be inspected as part of a fire risk assessment on any building. From 2023 the ‘responsible person’ must commission a fire risk assessment (including full fire door inspection).
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The ‘responsible person’ must aim to remove or reduce the risks of fire within a building as much as possible.
The ‘responsible person’ is required to conduct a fire risk assessment (FRA). Ratings and locations of fire doors should be included in the FRA.
Providing information to residents
Responsible persons will also be required to provide residents in all residential buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises with information on fire doors. Information should explain the importance of keeping doors closed, how fire door compartmentation works, explain that fire doors and self-closing devices should not be damaged or altered with and that any faults or damage need to be raised.
Residents must receive this information when they move into a multi-occupied residential building and then on an annual basis thereon.
laws & regulations
The responsible person has a legal duty under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The responsible person has a legal duty to mitigate the risk of fire within a property. They must aim to remove or reduce the risks of fire within a building as much as possible. The responsible person is required to conduct a fire risk assessment (FRA). Ratings and locations of fire doors should be included in the FRA.
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1) Article 17 requires the responsible person has ‘a suitable maintenance regime to ensure relevant equipment is kept in an efficient state’. This includes fire doors.
2) Article 18 ‘requires the responsible person to appoint one or more competent persons to assist in undertaking the preventative and protective measures’.
A ‘competent person’ is defined in the Fire Safety Order as ‘someone who has sufficient training and experience to assist the Responsible Person to meet some of their duties.’
These regulations apply to all buildings above or below 11m in height unless they are single domestic premises.
why choose kent fire door inspection
As the responsible person for a building, it's your responsibility to ensure that all fire doors are properly installed and safe. A fire door that isn't properly installed or maintained can be a serious hazard in the event of a fire.
Kent Fire Door Inspection is here to help you meet your legal obligations and keep your building and your residents safe. We provide comprehensive fire door inspection services for people in Kent who are considered 'responsible persons'.