Hi, could you help with the above, whilst I am aware that there is a workplace fire drill requirement, schools and nurseries etc - would there be such a requirement for HMO's or student accommodation (private blocks) etc. There is next to nothing about this on the net. Whilst a practice drill is a best practice - is it a legal requirement for such buildings and if so how would it be managed (there would be no staff on the site etc) ?

The legal requirement is article 21 of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and require the Responsible person to train all his employees what to do in the case of fire, which includes practice drills.

Only the common areas of  HMO's or student accommodation (private blocks) are subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 therefore the Responsible Person does not have control over the tenants, other than give them sound advice, but in a workplace he/she does.

It is the Housing Act that controls the whole of the premises in residential situations.

Fire drills are not normally considered appropriate in residential sleeping risk such as HMO's and flats, even when a fire alarm system is fitted. The main requirement is that the evacuation strategy (evacuate or stay put)  is clearly communicated to and understood by all residents.

Hi please can you let know. if it is illegal to have a system in our apartments that used to go off for testing every Monday at 5 pm but has not been tested for 3-4 months Is this legal Please can you let me know.

If a fire alarm is necessary, which I must assume, it is, as you have one, then it needs to be tested in accordance with article 17 of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 then it is in contravention of this order.

Should there be a document sent to students in a student accommodation, detailing when fire drills will be carried out and how often and also what to do?

 

They certainly should be told what to do if an alarm sounds. With drills there are opposing schools of thought, both with their own pros and cons, that you either pre-warn everyone or pre-warn no one or only selected key personnel, it depends what the outcomes you want are - to test compliance and existing knowledge of what to do or to educate and inform by rehearsing it as a pre planned and notified event.

Best practice is 6 monthly, the minimum is usually annual (but intervals are not prescribed anywhere unlike with older legislation) and for 24/7 premises, particularly where staffing to manage an evacuation will differ at night a night drill (or simulation with key staff if an actual full drill would be too disruptive) is also usually expected as well