Is a Fire and Rescue Primary Authority right for your business?

摘要

Primary Authority (PA) has recently been extended to apply to fire and rescue authorities (FRAs), although it should be noted that the concept of a 'lead authority'1 has been embraced and worked towards by FRAs and the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) for many years. Questions and challenges are likely to face those FRAs already involved in a partnership but for those not yet involved or which act as an enforcing authority to the partnerships that already exist; the questions and challenges may be greater still. The principles are straight forward enough. A business or organisation builds a relationship with an FRA for the purpose of providing the business with a single point of contact for fire safety matters and sound advice on how best to comply with fire safety regulations. This, in theory, allows the business to invest in regulatory activity with confidence and in a consistent manner throughout England2. All other FRAs must take note of the relationship and abide by the rules of the scheme.