Fire safety is a legal, operational, and moral obligation for every organisation in the UK. It ensures that employees, visitors, and contractors are protected, and that businesses operate in line with national safety standards.
In practical terms, fire safety means understanding the fire risks within a workplace, putting the right prevention measures in place, preparing for an emergency, and ensuring that all building users know how to respond safely.
For UK companies, fire safety isn’t optional. It is governed by legislation such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Building Safety Act 2022, both of which place clear responsibilities on businesses to manage fire risk proactively.
In most UK workplaces, the legal responsibility for fire safety falls on the Responsible Person. This is typically the employer, business owner, managing agent, or anyone who has control of the premises.
The Responsible Person must ensure that fire risks are identified and reduced, that systems are maintained, and that staff know what to do if a fire occurs.
For higher-risk buildings — especially residential and mixed-use structures — the Accountable Person or Principal Accountable Person has additional duties. These include maintaining a “golden thread” of safety information, ensuring structural and fire safety risks are monitored continuously, and providing clearer reporting to residents and regulators.
While the Responsible Person holds legal accountability, they may appoint trained individuals — known as competent persons — to carry out practical tasks such as fire risk assessments, equipment checks, or staff training.
Managers also play a key role by enforcing daily safety standards. Ultimately, fire safety is a shared effort, but responsibility always sits with senior leadership or whoever controls the premises.
Fire safety responsibilities cover several areas that ensure the building remains safe and compliant at all times.
Every company must conduct and regularly review a fire risk assessment. This identifies hazards, evaluates the level of risk, and sets out the measures required to protect people. It must be carried out by someone competent and documented clearly for audit purposes.
Businesses must ensure that alarms, fire extinguishers, signage, emergency lighting, and suppression systems are installed, maintained, and fit for purpose. Equipment must be inspected regularly, and faults must be addressed without delay.
Employees must receive suitable fire safety training. Evacuation routes and assembly points should be clearly communicated, and fire drills carried out regularly. Businesses are also required to keep accurate fire safety records, from equipment servicing to training logs.
Despite clear legal requirements, many organisations still struggle to maintain consistent fire safety standards. Fire risk assessments are often carried out once and left untouched, even when buildings, occupancy, or operational activities change, allowing avoidable risks to develop over time. Compliance issues also arise when alarms, extinguishers, or other fire safety systems are not properly maintained, creating gaps that can lead to fines, insurance complications, and genuine safety threats. Even the strongest fire strategy becomes ineffective without properly trained staff, yet many businesses lack structured, up-to-date training that ensures people know exactly how to respond in an emergency.
"Compliance protects people — but it also protects continuity, reputation, and insurance validity."
said Karl Konicz COO at Circle UK Group
Circle UK Group provides fire safety support for businesses across the UK, helping organisations meet all legislative duties with confidence. Our services include fire risk assessments, fire alarm solutions, emergency lighting, Waking Watch, evacuation planning, and ongoing maintenance. Circle UK Group delivers structured, reliable Waking Watch solutions across London and the UK, supporting property managers, housing providers, and commercial landlords who require trusted oversight during periods of increased fire risk. We work with business owners, facilities teams, and Responsible Persons to ensure every building is safe, compliant, and prepared — protecting both people and operations.