Revised PAS 79 Code of Practice published by BSI to help reduce fire risk

Last revised back in 2012, PAS 79 has always provided generic fire risk assessment guidance. However, professionals operating within the housing sector were particularly keen to see more housing-specific recommendations being developed. On that basis, the decision was taken to revise PAS 79, updating the existing PAS and renaming it as Part 1, while at the same time introducing a new housing-specific Part 2.

Hence, the new PAS79 document has been published in two parts, specifically PAS 79-1:2020 Fire Risk Assessment Part 1 – Premises Other Than Housing – Code of Practice and PAS 79-2:2020 Fire Risk Assessment Part 2 – Housing – Code of Practice.

PAS 79-1:2020 is aimed at fire safety professionals with knowledge of the principles of fire safety and who are either responsible for one particular organisation’s fire safety assessment or otherwise work for consultancies providing fire risk assessments as a service.

PAS 79-1:2020 outlines recommendations and corresponding examples of documentation for undertaking – and, importantly, recording the significant findings of – fire risk assessments in non‑domestic premises and parts of non-domestic premises for which fire risk assessments are required by legislation.

It’s directly applicable to peer-to-peer rented accommodation to the extent that such accommodation falls within the scope of the relevant fire safety legislation and also to premises used solely for the short-term letting of flats (with letting periods ranging from one day through to six months).

The key objectives of PAS 79-1:2020 are to:

*provide organisations and their advisors with a methodology that can assist them in meeting their legislative responsibilities in terms of conducting fire risk assessments

*provide a framework for the assessment of fire risk

*promote better understanding of fire risks and fire safety by organisations and non-fire specialists

*enable common relevant terminology to be adopted by those who transact fire risk assessments

*provide an understanding of the principles and scope of fire risk assessments

*establish a pragmatic, holistic and risk-proportionate approach towards the assessment of fire prevention measures, fire protection measures and the management of fire safety for the purpose of conducting fire risk assessments, all based upon a fundamental understanding of fire safety principles

*establish a satisfactory basis for the documentation of fire risk assessments

*provide a benchmark for a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment

*promote a consistent approach towards carrying out and documenting a fire risk assessment that’s likely to be satisfactory in the eyes of the enforcing authorities

*dispel misconceptions as to the nature and scope of a fire risk assessment

What’s new about PAS 79-1:2020?

The full revision of PAS 79 introduces several principal changes. First, PAS 79-1 is a Code of Practice, whereas PAS 79:2012 was a guidance document. PAS 79:2012 was already written in the form of a Code of Practice. The change in status is simply designed to recognise this, duly noting that guides are not usually of such a nature as to sustain a reliable claim of compliance.

In addition, the scope now excludes blocks of flats, sheltered housing, extra care housing, supported housing and certain houses in multiple occupation (ie those falling within the scope of the relevant fire safety legislation), all of which are now covered in PAS 79-2:2020 (more of which anon).

The technical content has been subject to amendment in light of the experience gained in the use of PAS 79. There’s new guidance on the consideration to be given to external wall construction and cladding, as well as recognition of pre-occupation fire safety assessments – itself a term now defined in this PAS – and a clarification to avoid confusion between these assessments and the fire risk assessment to which this PAS refers.

Further, there’s even greater emphasis placed on the competence of fire risk assessors and reference to future competence standards. It’s also noted that fire safety specialists with experience only in the design of new buildings might not possess an appreciation of standards against which older buildings were designed and the possible continued acceptability of such standards. In addition, changes to – and the publication of various new – British Standards have been taken into full account.

PAS 79-2:2020 explained

PAS 79-2:2020 Fire Risk Assessment Part 2 – Housing – Code of Practice outlines recommendations and corresponding examples of documentation for undertaking – and recording the significant findings of – fire risk assessments in housing premises and parts of housing premises for which fire risk assessments are required by legislation.

Recommendations are also provided for those fire risk assessments that are outside the scope of fire safety legislation, but are nonetheless designed to protect the residents dwelling in blocks of flats, sheltered housing and extra care housing in the event of a fire in their own flat.

It’s worth noting here that the BSI brought together a wide range of experts specialising in fire safety and fire risk assessment, as well as those resident in the housing sector, in order to reach consensus on the guidance and recommendations contained within.

The intention for PAS 79-2:2020 Fire Risk Assessment Part 2 – Housing – Code of Practice is that it should be used by those who conduct fire risk assessments as a voluntary Code of Practice. It should not, however, be quoted as if it were a specification.

The prime objectives of PAS 79-2:2020 are to:

*present to housing providers and their advisors a methodology that can help them in meeting their legislative responsibilities to undertake fire risk assessments

*provide a framework for the assessment of fire risk

*promote better understanding of fire risks and fire safety in the housing sector by housing providers and non-fire specialists alike

*enable common relevant terminology to be adopted by those who conduct fire risk assessments

*provide an understanding of the principles and scope of fire risk assessments

*establish a pragmatic, holistic and risk-proportionate approach towards the assessment of fire prevention measures, fire protection measures and the management of fire safety for the purpose of conducting fire risk assessments in housing, all based on a fundamental understanding of fire safety principles

*establish a satisfactory basis for the documentation of housing fire risk assessments

*provide a benchmark for a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment

*promote a consistent approach towards carrying out and documenting a fire risk assessment that’s likely to be satisfactory to enforcing authorities

*dispel misconceptions as to the nature and scope of a fire risk assessment

What’s new about PAS 79-2:2020?

The new Part 2 of PAS 79 is based on PAS 79:2012, but introduces several principal changes. In parallel with PAS 79-1:2020, PAS 79-2 is a Code of Practice, whereas PAS 79:2012 was a guide. PAS 79:2012 was already written in the form of a Code of Practice. The change in status is again simply designed to recognise this truism, noting that guides are not usually of such a nature as to sustain a reliable claim of compliance.

The scope of this new Part 2 of PAS 79 comprises blocks of flats, sheltered housing, extra care housing, supported housing and certain houses in multiple occupation (ie those falling within the scope of the relevant fire safety legislation). Fire risk assessment procedures for other non-housing premises are addressed in Part 1 of the revised PAS 79.

Guidance on fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats – published in England by the Local Government Association – has been taken into account, along with the equivalent guidance for high-rise blocks of flats in Scotland as published by the Scottish Government.

Guidance produced by the National Fire Chiefs Council on fire safety in specialised housing has also been taken into consideration, along with equivalent guidance published in Scotland (again by the Scottish Government).

For blocks of flats, sheltered housing and extra care housing, recommendations are provided for Types 2, 3 and 4 fire risk assessments, as defined in the Local Government Association guidance and the National Fire Chiefs Council’s guidance. However, for these housing premises, this PAS is primarily concerned with the Type 1 fire risk assessment required for compliance with the relevant fire safety legislation in England and Wales.

The technical content has been subject to amendment in the light of experience in the use of PAS 79:2012. There’s new guidance within on the consideration to be given to external wall construction and cladding. There’s also due recognition of pre-occupation fire safety assessments, a term now defined in this PAS, and a clarification to avoid confusion between these assessments and the fire risk assessment to which this PAS directly refers.

Again, there’s even greater emphasis placed on the competence of fire risk assessors and reference to future competence standards. Again, it’s also noted that fire safety specialists with experience only in the design of new buildings might not possess an appreciation of standards against which older buildings were designed and the possible continued acceptability of such standards.

There’s a new and more detailed discussion of the ‘Stay Put’ strategy normally adopted in blocks of flats and maisonettes. This term, as well as the converse strategy of simultaneous evacuation, is now defined in the revised PAS. A warning is included in respect of the potential risk posed to residents if a ‘Stay Put’ strategy is inappropriately abandoned.

Reference is made to evacuation alert systems for use by the Fire and Rescue Services in blocks of flats and maisonettes (which are themselves the subject of BS 8629). Reference is also made to person-centred fire risk assessments in specialised housing, although specific recommendations in relation to these fire risk assessments are outside the scope of this PAS.

*The revised PAS 79 is available for download: PAS 79-1 and PAS 79-2