Fire protection

What it means

Fire protection covers a company's duties to prevent fires and prepare to fight them: extinguishers, marked escape routes, fire regulations, alarm instructions, staff training and regular checks. It is governed by the Fire Protection Act and its implementing regulations.

The duties apply to every legal entity and business owner with premises, an office or a warehouse. Their scope depends on how the activity is classified by fire hazard: an office has simpler obligations than production involving flammable substances.

Fire protection is usually handled by a fire protection technician, often the same external provider who covers occupational health and safety. Compliance is checked by the Fire and Rescue Service during inspections, which may be scheduled or unannounced.

How it works in practice

The basis is documentation: a fire statute where the hazard is higher, workplace fire regulations, alarm instructions, an evacuation plan, a fire log and training records. Staff are trained on joining and periodically, and managers undergo separate training.

Extinguishers must be of the right type, visible and accessible, and are inspected at regular intervals by a qualified person. Fire doors, hydrants, emergency lighting and clear escape routes, which must never be blocked by goods, are checked as well.

When renting premises, the contract should state who is responsible for common parts of the building and who for the tenant's space. After a fire, insurers examine whether duties were met, and neglect can reduce payouts under property insurance and liability insurance.

What to watch out for

The most common findings in inspections are overdue extinguisher checks, blocked escape routes, missing training and outdated documents. Fines are significant, and serious breaches can lead to the premises being temporarily closed.

When a fire causes injury, investigators establish who breached their duties. Besides the company, the director and managers may be held responsible, so fire protection should not be treated as a formality to sign off now and then.