PAS 79 has been split into two parts:
one on non-domestic premises and the other focused on housing
PAS 79-1:2020
Fire risk assessment – Part 1: Premises other than housing.
Gives recommendations and examples of documentation for carrying out fire risk assessments of non-domestic premises
PAS 79-2:2020
Fire risk assessment – Part 2: Housing
Does the same, but this time for housing premises and parts of housing premises for which fire risk assessments are required by legislation. Recommendations are also provided for fire risk assessments outside the scope of legislation, but designed to protect residents of blocks of flats, sheltered housing and extra care housing in the event of a fire in their own flat.
What is PAS 79-1:2020 about?
PAS 79, which was last revised in 2012, provided generic fire risk assessment guidance. However, the housing sector wanted more housing-specific recommendations to be developed. It was therefore decided to revise PAS 79, updating the existing PAS and renaming it as Part 1, and introducing a new, housing-specific, Part 2.
Consequently, PAS 79-1:2020 gives recommendations on how to carry out fire risk assessments that will protect the occupants of non-domestic premises, e.g. employees, contractors, visitors and members of the public, while the new PAS 79-2:2020 gives recommendations for domestic premises.
*info has been taken from the BSI website:
Why should you use PAS 79-1:2020?
This PAS gives recommendations and corresponding examples of documentation for undertaking and recording the significant findings of fire risk assessments in non-domestic premises and parts of non-domestic premises for which fire risk assessments are required by legislation.
In the case of mixed-use premises, comprising, for example, shops or offices on lower levels of the building, with flats on the uppermost levels, PAS 79-2:2020 is applicable in relation to the flats.
The objectives of PAS 79-1:2020 are to:
- Provide organizations and their advisers with a methodology that can help them meet their legislative responsibilities to undertake fire risk assessments
- Provide a framework for the assessment of fire risk
- Promote better understanding of fire risks and fire safety by organizations and non-fire specialists
- Enable common relevant terminology to be adopted by those who carry out fire risk assessments
- Provide an understanding of the principles and scope of fire risk assessments
- Establish a pragmatic, holistic and risk-proportionate approach towards assessment of fire prevention measures, fire protection measures and management of fire safety, for the purpose of conducting fire risk assessments, based upon a fundamental understanding of fire safety principles
- Establish a satisfactory basis for documentation of fire risk assessments
- Provide a benchmark for a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment
- Promote a consistent approach to carrying out and documenting a fire risk assessment that is likely to be satisfactory to enforcing authorities
- Dispel misconceptions as to the nature and scope of a fire risk assessment
