Fire safety compliance guide for South African businesses.

Who this guide is for

It is written for business owners, branch and facilities managers, landlords, body corporates and health and safety officers who are responsible for premises in Johannesburg, Gauteng and the rest of South Africa. The same principles apply whether you look after one site or a chain of stores, restaurants or warehouses. If nobody at your premises can say who is accountable for the fire equipment, that is usually the first gap worth closing.

What the law expects

The Occupational Health and Safety Act places a duty on every employer to provide a working environment that is safe, which includes fire precautions and clearly marked, unobstructed escape routes. In practice that means having the correct fire-fighting equipment for your type of occupancy, keeping it serviced and accessible, displaying the right signage, and being able to produce records when an inspector, insurer or landlord asks for them. Requirements are set out in national legislation and the relevant SANS standards, which are revised from time to time, so we confirm the current revision that applies to your premises when we attend site.

Equipment, servicing and records

Most compliance problems we find are not about missing equipment. They are about equipment that has not been serviced, extinguishers that are blocked by stock or furniture, and documentation that cannot be produced on request. Portable extinguishers need regular inspection and servicing, hose reels and hydrants need flow and pressure checks, and detection, suppression and sprinkler systems need planned maintenance with the results written down. A simple dated service schedule with signed-off records is worth far more than a cupboard full of paperwork.

What gets checked during an inspection

A fire safety inspection or risk assessment usually starts with a walk-through of the premises: occupancy and layout, escape routes and exits, where equipment is placed and whether it is reachable, signage, and the condition of any fixed systems. Findings are normally graded by urgency, and a useful report tells you what must be corrected, what should be improved and by when. Insurers and landlords often ask for exactly that document, so it is worth keeping a current copy on file.

A quick compliance checklist

• The right type and number of extinguishers for your occupancy, correctly mounted and unobstructed
• Serviced extinguishers with current tags, and hose reels and hydrants that pass flow and pressure checks
• Detection, suppression and sprinkler systems on a maintenance schedule with recorded results
• Escape routes that are clear, unlocked and marked with compliant signage
• An up-to-date risk assessment, evacuation plan and equipment register you can hand to an inspector or insurer

Standards and legislation we work to

Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993

The umbrella law placing a duty on employers to provide a safe working environment, including fire precautions and means of escape.

SANS 1475

The standard for the servicing of portable fire extinguishers, covering inspection, maintenance and pressure testing intervals.

SANS 10105

Classification of occupancies and the fire detection and protection measures normally expected for each type of premises.

SANS 10400-T

Fire protection requirements for buildings under the National Building Regulations, including escape routes and fixed fire installations.

SANS 1186

Requirements for safety signs, which determine the fire equipment and escape route signage a premises must display.

This guide is general information rather than legal advice. Standards and regulations change, and the requirements for your premises depend on its occupancy, size and use, so confirm what applies to you before relying on any single item above.