Fire Safety Compliance: Court Cases, Skills Gaps and What Employers Must Do

Fire safety remains one of the most serious obligations facing property owners, landlords and employers. Recent legal proceedings and industry warnings about a growing skills gap in fire risk assessment make this an area that cannot be left to chance.

Major Prosecution: The Beechmere Retirement Village Fire

Beechmere retirement village fire Crewe — The Beechmere fire required 70 firefighters at its height

In August 2019, the Beechmere retirement village in Crewe — a large timber-frame development of 132 self-contained apartments — was almost completely destroyed by fire. More than 150 residents lost their homes and possessions. While no lives were lost, the impact on residents was described as “significant.”

The fire was one of the largest ever attended by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, requiring 70 firefighters at its height.

Six Organisations Face Charges

Your Housing Group — the ‘responsible person’, facing 16 charges under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Avantage (Cheshire) — which procured the design and build process and operated the scheme.
Morgan Sindall Property Services — contracted for repairs and maintenance.
WSP UK — provided the building’s fire strategy.
Total Fire Group — conducted fire risk assessments in 2017 and 2018.
Mac Roofing and Contracting — carried out roofing works in the days before the fire.

This case shows that fire safety liability can extend across the entire supply chain — not just the building’s primary operator.

The Growing Gap Between Building Complexity and Competence

A deeply concerning trend was highlighted at IOSH’s Fire Risk Management Conference: the gap between the complexity of modern buildings and the competence of those assessing their fire risk is widening.

Fire engineer Andrea White of AW Fire drew a stark comparison. A 1960s concrete block was essentially non-combustible — any fire would be contained to the flat of origin. Modern buildings often use materials that behave very differently in a fire. Many assessors trained on older building types may lack the expertise needed for contemporary structures with cladding or lightweight timber frames.

Building fire safety complexity gap — Modern buildings require assessors with specialist competence

🔍 Questions to Ask Your Fire Risk Assessor

What qualifications and accreditations do you hold?
Do you have experience with buildings of this type and construction method?
Are you a member of a recognised body such as IFSM or IFE?
When was the last assessment, and has anything changed since?

✅ Your Legal Obligations Under the Fire Safety Order 2005

Carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.
Implement measures to minimise risk and ensure safe evacuation.
Maintain fire safety equipment and keep escape routes clear.
Provide fire safety information and training to all employees.
Review and update the assessment regularly, especially after building changes.

Need support with fire safety assessments or staff training? Contact Ryder Partnership →