If you are starting your own business then you’ll have probably already discovered that there is a wealth of regulations and rules by which you must stick to in order to operate. When it comes to operating a premises this is even more true, and some of you have been asking us recently what the situation is regarding a fire system. This is what we are going to address today, whether or not you need a fire system, what you have to ensure that fire system consists of, and what the consequences of this will be on the business.
Do You Need a Fire System in Place?
The straight answer here is yes, you absolutely do have to ensure that you have looked into and completed a fire system installation in the premises. The reason for this is that you will simply not be able to open your business for trading if you have not yet received a fire certificate. In order to get this fire certificate you must have a fire safety system in place. Simply put, it is against the law to trade without having your certificate and a fully functioning fire safety system.
Safety of Employees and Staff
Even if you didn’t have to legally ensure that you had a fire safety system in place, this is still something which any business should be looking to do. We have seen time and time again just how important fire extinguishers are, how much help sprinkler systems, fire alarms and blankets can be in preventing injury and death. Sure safety services work with businesses in order to maximize the safety of their staff and any customers which may be in the building. Strictly speaking this is because the law tells them to do it, but beyond that there is basic human decency which dictates that we should make our premises as safe as we possibly can.
Ensuring Total Legal Protection
Whilst it would be completely against the law, some businesses could simply open up and begin trading without gaining a fire certificate first. If this is the case and the business is caught, they would be hit with huge fines and may actually have their trading license taken from them. This however is not the worst case scenario. The worst case scenario is that there is a business in operation which does not have the necessary certificates relating to its fire safety installation. Should a fire break out in one of these places and someone were to be seriously injured or die, then the owner of the business could very quickly find themselves in front of a judge facing some serious charges, which could even include manslaughter. This is a very extreme example of course, but it does go to show just what could potentially happen if businesses fail to meet their legal requirements with regards to fire safety on its premises.
The risks of not having a fire system in place, simply aren’t worth running.
