--- title: "RRO 2005 explained in plain English | SPS Technical" url: https://sps-technical.com/resources/standards/fire-safety-order-2005 description: "The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the main fire safety law for non-domestic premises in England and Wales. It makes a Responsible Person…" lang: en-GB --- RRO 2005 Current edition Law and data protection # Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, explained Reviewed by the SPS Technical team · Last checked 12 October 2026 ## Quick answer The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the main fire safety law for non-domestic premises in England and Wales. It makes a Responsible Person, usually the employer, owner or managing agent, accountable for carrying out a fire risk assessment and for keeping fire safety systems such as fire alarms and emergency lighting maintained. Since 1 October 2023 every business must record its fire risk assessment in full. ## What it means for you - Know who the Responsible Person is for each of your premises. - Have a suitable fire risk assessment, recorded in full, and review it regularly and after changes. - Keep fire alarms, emergency lighting and other fire safety equipment maintained, with records. - Share fire safety information with other Responsible Persons in shared buildings. ## Who it applies to Almost all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, and the common parts of blocks of flats. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own fire safety laws. ## Common questions Who is the Responsible Person? Usually the employer for a workplace, or the owner or managing agent where the premises are not a workplace. There can be more than one in a shared building. Does the law say how often a fire alarm must be serviced? The Order says systems must be maintained in efficient working order. It does not set an interval itself; following BS 5839-1, which recommends a service at least every six months, is the recognised way to meet that duty. Do I have to write down my fire risk assessment? Yes. Since 1 October 2023 every business must record its fire risk assessment in full, regardless of size. ## Official sources - legislation.gov.uk: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541/contents - GOV.UK: fire safety legislation guidance for those with legal duties: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-safety-legislation-guidance-for-those-with-legal-duties This page is a plain-English summary, not a copy of the official document. 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