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As a result of theintroduction of the 17thEdition of the WiringRegulations, it has beennecessary to revise theseries of Guidance Notespublished by the IEE toaccompany the WiringRegulations so that theircontent relates to thecurrent requirements ofboth BS 7671 and relevantstatutory legislation.Since BS 7671 was last

amended (in March 2004)significant changes haveoccurred in a number ofStatutory Instrumentswhich have a directinfluence on its content.One such change was theintroduction of theRegulatory Reform (FireSafety) Order in 2005.This article briefly

introduces this Order andsummarizes some of therequirements therein whichhave an influence on thoseinvolved in electricalinstallation andmaintenance. It also looks at

in particular therequirements forfirefighters’ switchescontained in both the Orderand BS 7671: 2008 tohighlight the relationshipbetween the statutory andnon-statutory requirementsthey contain respectivelyrelating to this topic.

THE REGULATORY REFORM(FIRE SAFETiY) ORDER 2005The Regulatory Reform(Fire Safety) Order 2005(henceforth referred to asthe Order) has a directinfluence on many otherpieces of primary andsecondary statutorylegislation, requiringmodifications and, in somecases, partial or fullrevocation of therequirements therein. Itreplaces fire certificationunder the Fire PrecautionsAct 1971 with a general dutyto ensure, so far as isreasonably practicable, thesafety of employees and ageneral duty, in relation to

non-employees to take suchfire precautions as mayreasonably be required toensure that premises aresafe.The Order came into

effect fully in October 2006and has an effect on over 70pieces of fire safetylegislation. It applies to non-domestic premises inEngland and Wales,including any communalareas of blocks of flats orhouses in multipleoccupation and places anumber of legal obligationsand responsibilities uponthe individual identifiedtherein as the responsibleperson.The responsible person

has duties placed upon themto:� carry out a risk

assessment to confirmthat any fire safetyprecautions in placewithin the premises areadequate (article 9). Italso requires this riskassessment to be

regularly updated� take the necessary

general fire precautions(article 10)

� make arrangements forplanning, organisation,control, monitoring andreview of preventativeand protective measures(article 11)

� ensure that premisesunder their control areadequately equippedwith fire-fighting and firedetection / alarmequipment (article 13)

� maintain theaccessibility of escaperoutes to emergencyexits at all times;confirm that emergencyexits lead as directly aspossible to a place ofsafety; ensure thatemergency doors openoutwards; and confirmthe adequacy ofprovision of indicationsigns and emergencylighting arrangements(article 14)

� put in place and keep up

The RegulatoryReform (Fire Safety)Order 2005,BS 7671: 2008 andrequirements forfirefighters’ switchesby Jon Elliott

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a suitable maintenanceregime to ensure anyequipment provided forthe purposes of firesafety remains functional(article 17)

� appoint competentpersons to assist themto comply with theirduties under this Order(article 18)

� put in place and provideadequate safety training(article 21)

Of course, the Order alsoplaces a duty on employeesto take reasonable care andto co-operate with theiremployer in relation to theduties placed upon them.Article 23 requiresemployees to:� take reasonable care for

the safety of themselvesand of other persons whomay be affected by theiracts or omissions at work;

� co-operate with theiremployer as regards anyduty or requirementimposed by or under anyprovision of the Order, sofar as is necessary toenable that duty orrequirement to beperformed or compliedwith; and

� inform their employer orany other employee withspecific responsibility forthe safety of fellowemployees—

(i) of any work situationwhich they wouldreasonably considerrepresented a serious andimmediate danger to safety;and(ii) of any matter theywould reasonably considerrepresented a shortcomingin the employer’s protectionarrangements for safety, inso far as that situation ormatter either affects the

safety of the employee orarises out of or inconnection with theiractivities at work, that hasnot previously beenreported to the employer.

PROVISON OFFIREFIGHTERS’ SWITCHESThe Order contains anumber of statutoryrequirements relating tofirefighters’ switches forluminous tube signs, etc. Weshall consider these inconjunction with the non-statutory requirements of537.6 of BS 7671: 2008. Note,provision of firefighters’switches is also consideredin IEE Guidance Note 2 -Isolation & switching andGuidance Note 4 - Protectionagainst fire.Article 37 (4) of the Order

states that a firefighters’switch must be so placedand coloured or marked as

to satisfy such reasonablerequirements that a fire andrescue authority mayimpose so that it is readilyrecognisable by andaccessible to firefighters.However, article 37 (5) statesthat if a firefighters’ switchcomplies in position, colourand marking with thecurrent edition of the IEEWiring Regulations, fire andrescue authorities shouldnot impose any furtherrequirements pursuant toparagraph (4).BS 7671:2008 contains a

number of requirementsrelating to firefighters’switches which aresummarized below.

1. A firefighters’ switchshould be provided on thelow-voltage side of a circuitthat supplies� any exterior electrical

installation, or� an interior discharge

lighting installation (notincluding a portableluminaire of rating notexceeding 100 W) thatoperates at a voltage inexcess of low voltage(537.6.1 refers).

It should be noted at thispoint that in relation to theprovision of firefighters’switches, installations incovered markets, arcades orshopping malls areconsidered to be exteriorinstallations, while atemporary installation in apermanent buildingintended for hostingexhibitions is not.

2. Wherever practicallypossible, every exteriorinstallation covered by the

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requirements of 537.6.1above within a singlepremises such as, forexample, a covered market,should be controlled by asingle firefighters’ switch tosimplify the process ofmaking dead all circuitstherein operating a voltageexceeding low voltage.Further, any internalinstallation subject to therequirements of 537.6.1 ineach single premises shouldbe controlled by a singlefirefighters’ switch, thisswitch being independent ofa firefighters’ switch for anyexterior installation of thesame premises; 537.6.2 refers.

3. Any firefighters’ switchprovided should:� in the case of an exterior

installation, be outsidethe building and beplaced adjacent to theequipment it controls.Alternatively whereswitch and equipmentare not adjacent to eachother, notices should beplaced adjacent to boththe switch, indicatingwhat it controls and theequipment controlled,indicating the location ofthe appropriate switch

� for an interiorinstallation, the switchshould be placed in themain entrance of thebuilding or otherlocation agreed to by thelocal fire authority

� in all cases, the switchshould be in aconspicuous position thatremains accessible to fire-fighters. The switchshould be mounted at aheight not more than2.75 m from the ground orthe standing beneath theswitch

� where more than oneswitch is providedon any building, noticesare required clearlydescribing the installationor part thereof whicheach switch controls(537.6.3 refers)

4. Any firefighters’ switchprovided should be soplaced to facilitate operationby a fire-fighter and:� be coloured red� be accompanied by a

durable notice with thewording as shown below.The lettering should bein 36 point

� have its ON and OFFpositions clearly markedsuch that it is legible to aperson standing in aposition to operate theswitch

� have its OFF positionuppermost

� be so constructed suchthat it cannot beinadvertently switched tothe OFF positionIt is worth mentioning at

this point that the topic offirefighters’ switches is agood example of the

simplified structure of theWiring Regulations. Whilstall requirements relatingspecifically to such switchescan now be found in 537.6,previously in the 16thEdition it would have beennecessary to have consultedregulations 476-03-05, 476-03-06 and 476-03-07 to determinein which installations suchswitches were required, howthey should be arranged andwhere they should be locatedand Regulation 537-04-06 forrequirements relating to theswitch itself and itsidentification and labelling.

SUMMARYThe Fire Safety (RegulatoryReform) Order 2005 is

probably the single mostinfluential statutoryinstrument in the field ofprotection against fire. Itsintroduction hasconsolidated the general firesafety precautions of a largenumber of pieces oflegislation, many of whichhave been modified by theOrder and some of whichhave been partially or fullyrevoked. It has introduced arisk assessment drivenapproach to consideringwhether fire precautionswhich have been providedare adequate and it hasplaced far greater emphasison the need to plan,organize, control, monitorand review any preventative

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or protective measuresrelating to the fire safety ofa building.Article 37 of the Order

contains a number ofspecific requirementsrelating to the selection andinstallation of firefighters’switches. These wereconsidered in conjunctionwith the requirements forfirefighters’ switches in537.6 of BS 7671: 2008.The relationship between

the statutory requirementsof the Order and the non-statutory requirements ofthe 17th Edition relating tofirefighters’ switches shouldbe noted. The Ordercontains the broad and non-

specific requirement thatsuch a switch “must be soplaced and coloured ormarked as to satisfy suchreasonable requirements thata fire and rescue authoritymay impose so that it isreadily recognisable by andaccessible to firefighters”.In contrast, 537.6 of

BS 7671 contains a numberof clear and specificrequirements on when suchswitches are required,where the switches shouldbe installed, at what heightthey should be installed,what colour they should be,how they should beidentified, in what positionthe switch should be when

OFF and indeed contains arequirement to provide ameans to preventinadvertent re-closing.Although the detailed

requirements of BS 7671 areof themselves non-statutory,article 37 (5) of the Ordermakes it clear that “if afirefighters’ switch compliesin position, colour andmarking with the currentedition of the IEE WiringRegulations, fire and rescueauthorities should notimpose any furtherrequirements…” on suchmatters. It can be seentherefore that meeting therequirements of BS 7671 forthe selection and

installation of firefighters’switches will in itself meetthe relevant statutoryrequirements of therelevant fire safetylegislation.As a result of the

simplified structure of the17th Edition, allrequirements relating tofirefighters’ switches cannow be found in 537.6.The newly revised

Guidance Note 2 Isolationand Switching and GuidanceNote 4 Protection against firewill be available shortly.More information can be

found here:http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051541.htm �