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The national standards body of the United Kingdom has revised a standard that helps reduce the fire risk in non-domestic buildings and housing premises.
The British Standards Institution revised and published PAS 79, Fire Risk Assessment in two parts.
‘PAS 79-1, Fire risk assessment – Part 1: Premises other than housing – Code of practice’ gives recommendations and corresponding examples of documentation for "undertaking, and 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 is applicable to peer-to-peer rented accommodation to the extent that such property falls within the scope of the relevant fire safety legislation and to premises used solely for the short-term letting of flats (with letting periods ranging from one day to six months).
'PAS 79-2, Fire risk assessment – Part 2: Housing – Code of practice' gives 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 fire-risk assessments that are outside the scope of fire safety legislation but are designed to protect residents of blocks of flats, sheltered housing and extra care housing in the event of a fire in their own flat.
BSI brought together "a wide range of experts in fire safety, fire-risk assessment and the housing sector to reach consensus on the guidance and recommendations".
It is intended to be used by those who carry out fire-risk assessments as a voluntary code of practice. The BSI said that it "should not be quoted as if it were a specification".