Northern Ireland

[Gasmeter]

Has anyone had any indication of when the NI version of the order will come into force and if it is true that the guides are to be rewritten for NI and why?

[nearlythere]

The FS NI Order 2006 is in place but has yet to be commenced. First it has to go for public consultation which is a requirement under  Section 75 of the NI Act 1998. This lasts 12 weeks so in reality it would be around 16 weeks from consultation to commencement. It has not gone for public consultation as yet.
Despite the origins of guidance, be it NI or GB, they all seem to be of similar standard.

[AnthonyB]

The draft NI Order is more similar to the Scottish one than the E&W one, so will be more like their slightly different system if unchanged. Til then it's still fire certificates & workplace risk assessments, ah the nostalgia!

[nearlythere]

The Fire & Rescue Services (NI) Order 2006 came into operation in July 2006 but will be subject to various Commencement Orders.
 
The resulting Fire Safety Legislation will be "The Fire Safety (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2006. These Regulations are due to be released for consultation shortly. This consultation will last for a period of 12 weeks.

Therefore, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) does not expect the new regulations to be commenced until at least 4 months from the date of this correspondence.

Fire Certification will cease under the new legislation and all workplaces will be required to have in place a suitable and sufficient risk assessment that must include all matters relating to fire precautions. All aspects of Fire Certification (including application) remain until then.

NIFRS' role will be to carry out periodic inspections of workplaces and, whilst doing so, audit any significant findings of fire risk assessments and enforce the relevant legislation where required.