Fire alarm engineering business prosecuted for fire safety breaches

On 1 December 2020, fire safety officers from the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service inspected the Morvern Care Centre, which is based at 11-13 South Promenade in Thornton-Cleveleys. The fire safety breaches found on-site posed a serious threat to all residents and staff of the Care Home, in turn leading to a Prohibition Notice being issued on the premises.

At the time of the detailed inspection, the Care Home was occupied by 45 elderly and vulnerable residents, as well as members of staff. Across the following two-week period, a co-ordinated multi-agency approach was put in place to relocate the residents at other available care facilities.

The Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service prosecuted Fylde Fire Systems Limited for its failure to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The company entered a guilty plea on 15 October last year.

Trio of offences

The three offences to which Fylde Fire Systems Limited pleaded guilty are:

*failure to ensure the premises were equipped with appropriate fire detectors and alarms, which is contrary to Article 13(1)(a)

*failure to safeguard the safety of relevant persons by ensuring that any facilities, equipment and devices provided in respect of the premises were subject to a suitable system of maintenance, maintained in an efficient state and maintained in an efficient working order, contrary to Article 17(1)

*failure to co-operate with other ‘Responsible Persons’ so far as was necessary to enable compliance with the requirements placed upon them, which is contrary to Article 22(1)(a)

On Wednesday 7 May this year, sentencing took place at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court. Fylde Fire Systems Limited received the following sanctions:

*a fine of £30,000 in addition to a £2,000 victim surcharge for failing to comply with the above articles of the Fire Safety Order

*ordered to pay £18,725 in costs to the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service

Clear message

Ian Armistead, Protection Department Group manager for the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, explained: “This prosecution sends out a clear message that any company or individual with a responsibility for undertaking fire safety duties or works must do so competently and adequately.”

Armistead continued: “Fire safety and protecting those who occupy any regulated premises must always be a priority. In this instance, Fylde Fire Systems Limited failed to protect those individuals who were reliant upon the company for helping to keep them safe from the risk of fire and, ultimately, left the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service with no other option than to take regulatory action.”

Further, Armistead noted: “This outcome also sends a strong message to all fire alarm companies and fire safety professionals alike that they must be competent to perform any type of fire safety duties, and notably so when working in complex and high-risk premises.”

The Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service has reiterated that it will always work in tandem with those who are willing to address fire safety issues.