Have You Completed Your Annual Fire Safety Statement?
If you are the owner of a building, you have the responsibility of ensuring that every aspect of the building is safe. You will need to make sure that all structural building maintenance is kept up to date and all repairs are completed to a satisfactory standard. You must also be careful to keep all of the electrical systems properly maintained and ensure that they are as safe as they can be.
Another important aspect of building safety is making sure that your building's annual fire safety statements are filed on time and for that, you will need some outside help. Most aspects of building care you should be able to take care of in-house, or at least under your supervision, but completing your annual fire safety statements means bringing in a fire safety practitioner.
What are annual fire safety statements?
If you have never owned a large building before, then you may be unfamiliar with annual fire safety statements. These are statements which must be submitted to the fire brigade as well as the local council. They confirm that, within your building, all appropriate fire safety measures have been completed. A fire safety practitioner will thoroughly inspect your building and examine each of your fire safety measures. They will confirm whether or not your equipment is still able to operate at the same standard that it could when it was first installed. In addition to the safety equipment, the fire safety practitioner is also required to confirm that all aspects of the fire escape routes have been checked and that they are free of interference and able to be used freely in the event an emergency occurs. They will carefully examine each fire door in the building to make certain that it is working as inspected and that the door remains appropriate for its location. Some types of fire door need to be checked every six months rather than annually, so you must check your paperwork to see what is required in your situation.
Who must complete your annual fire safety statements?
When you need to have a fire safety statement completed, you must choose the right company to complete the form. It is best to try and locate a company that has experience working in a building just like yours so that they will know what to expect and what they will need to look for in each location. Getting the statement completed correctly and on time is vital if you want to avoid the risk of your company receiving a substantial fine.