Responsible Person in Shared Demise

[Jim Scott]

Jim this could apply in a multi-occ where the RP is in control to any extent of his own workplace not the other workplaces.

Exactly, but there would be more than one 'premises' within the building in that case.

[Messy]

How many fire safety experts does it take to change a light bulb?

That is not meant as offensive to anyone who has kindly added to this thread. But with the hundreds of hours of experience giving their opinions on this one, there must surely be something badly wrong with the FSO if 10 years on there's still so much doubt regarding definitions and application?

[Mike Buckley]

Messy, Fire Safety/Prevention was always referred to as being one of the "dark arts". Get 10 Fire Engineers in a room and give them all the same problem and you will normally get at least 12 different solutions. It is the nature of the beast.

The major issue is the way the legislation is written. The legislation just lays down the requirements and then it is up to interpretation. For example in the actual Building Regulations the legal requirement for the Means of warning and escape is merely "The building shall be designed and constructed so that there are appropriate provisions for the early warning of fire, and appropriate means of escape in case of fire from the building to a place of safety outside the building capable of being safely and effectively used at all times". That is all, every thing else is guidance.

It is the same with the FSO it paints with a broad brush and has to be interpreted for each set of circumstances. On the downside it can be terribly frustrating when trying to sort out a particular issue however on the upside it allows for innovation.

[Messy]

It is the same with the FSO it paints with a broad brush and has to be interpreted for each set of circumstances. On the downside it can be terribly frustrating when trying to sort out a particular issue however on the upside it allows for innovation.

Yes, you are right Mike, despite it's faults, it's worth celebrating the flexible part of the legislation which I would suggest makes our jobs much more enjoyable than the mind numbingly tedious  'joining the dots' prescriptive approach of the FP Act days

[colin todd]

Depends if you "enjoy", in England, dealing with 40 odd FRS x n inspecting officers x a new lot every 3 years, and trying to explain the same things over and over again to some who don't want to listen and think that all fire doors have to be solid timber or they aren't fire doors and want to reinterpret the FSO for their own arguments, which largely relate to enforcement.   

[Mike Buckley]

Come on Colin, if everything was perfect and simple what would it do to your income stream from writing guides, expert witness work etc.? It would also kill off this forum as there would be nothing to argue about!

[Messy]

..... and want to reinterpret the FSO for their own arguments, .   

Mmmmm. I remember somebody doing just this recently at a public presentation - so it can happen to the best of us 

[colin todd]

Buckers, A good friend of mine, who was one of the profession's finest, left the fire safety profession a year or so ago, because he was fed up of explaining to people the same things as he had to explain, 10 and 20 years ago.  Also he was fed up of the small minded of many, and the trials and tribulations of dealing with certain FRS.  You cannot other than be sympathetic to him.

There is plenty of work to be had in sorting out fire safety for people, so I do not need the work of sorting out the mess created by enforcing authorities as a result of lack of training of officers in England, but equally I agree its all part of the job today, so no point in grumbling.  I still think I should have been a vet or a taxi driver, both of which are required by law to be properly trained and qualified to practise their art.