Parliamentary Fire Safety Arrangements
Primary Fire Safety Legislation & Compliance:
Parliament is bound by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The legislation
requires organisations to assess and manage fire risk in order to reasonably protect
people in case of fire.
Parliament is compliant with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)
Order 2005 through a process of risk assessment and management.
Parliament aspires to improve levels of compliance with the Order and consistently
comply with the recommendations of Sir Alan Bailey’s report ‘Fire Protection Measures
for the Royal Palaces’ and relevant British Standards.
Management of Fire Safety Risk:
Parliament takes the issue of fire safety in terms of personal safety, protection of
heritage and disruption to business, very seriously. Both Houses are committed to the
continuous improvement of fire safety on the Parliamentary Estate through the
assessment and management of fire risks.
Parliament seeks to reduce fire risk through prevention, protection and intervention,
including:
 Dedicated team of fire safety professionals providing fire safety services,
including fire risk assessments, review and approval of works, patrols,
inspections, competent advice, equipment testing and incident response, across
the Parliamentary Estate 24/7/365
 Fire control position manned 24/7/365 with direct communication links with
London Fire Brigade supported with a geographical display system presenting
real time information related to fire alarm systems on the estate
 Dedicated security presence 24/7/365
 Provision of manual emergency fire call points across the estate supplemented
with automatic fire detection and voice alarm systems
 Provision of compartmentation and suppression to key areas of the estate
 Provision of fire safety signage and emergency lighting
 Fire safety procedures and processes including permitting systems for activities
with the potential to introduce a fire risk, stringent contractor requirements and
maintenance schedules for testing plant and equipment
 Provision of fire safety training and information for occupants of the estate, with
supplementary training provided to the fire evacuation controllers and marshals
for each building
 Regular programme of fire drills and exercises
 Monitoring and responding to all false fire alarms
 Risk assessments and mitigation for events and activities on the estate
 Affording London Fire Brigade with regular opportunities for familiarisation with
the estate including a joint annual emergency response exercise
 Extensive programme of fire safety improvement works incorporating mitigations
to be implemented in advance of and as part of any future restoration and
renewal programme
Crown Premises Inspection Group:
The Crown Premises Inspection Group (CPIG), operating within the Office of the Chief
Fire and Rescue Adviser, are responsible for the enforcement of the fire safety in Crown
Premises on a risk assessed basis.
CPIG last inspected the Parliamentary Estate in September 2011, recognising that
attention had already been paid to increasing coverage of automatic fire detection and
voice alarm systems, and compartmentation, and accessibility of fire safety training, but
also identifying a number of improvements that could be made in these areas. These
improvements form part of the Parliamentary fire safety improvement works programme.
Performance:
Through improvements to the management of fire safety a 94% reduction in fire
incidents has been achieved on the estate since 2005/06. This equates to one minor fire
incident reported in 2011/12.
False alarms are more common, in the region of 200-300 per year across the estate.
Since 2005/06 a 54% reduction in false fire alarms has been achieved.
Charlotte Simmonds
Head of Fire Safety & Environment
31 October 2012