section of the Ecclesiastical Insurance website or the Church Safety website Fire Safety Under the Fire (Scotland) Act, it is a legal requirement that every public building, including churches and church halls, should have a Fire management plan and evacuation strategy. The vestry should assess the risks and develop a working document for the congregation and users. The diocesan property committee and the church insurer’s can assist with advice (especially for the care of clergy in housing provided by Vestries and when letting property). There is not a legal requirement for full compliance with current building regulations unless the church needs a public entertainments licence, or substantial alterations are taking place. So far as fire safety assessments are concerned, please consult the document, Health and Safety Guidance notes, available on the Diocesan Website under downloads and the above under Risk Assessments. If an Entertainment licence is required, charges should also contact their local Fire Brigade who will be happy to inspect and advise. Hall users Finally, there should be a separate, section which covers particular rules that may have to be applied to the use of hall premises by outside groups. Whether this section will be required will depend on the nature and use made of the particular Charge's accommodation. Such rules do not need to be part of the policy statement but should be issued as a separate document to hall users or referred to in any letting agreement. Clearly, it is important that all users are aware of their fire safety responsibilities and further, that this may be a requirement, to ensure that there are no insurance contraventions.
section of the Ecclesiastical Insurance website or the Church Safety website Fire Safety Under the Fire (Scotland) Act, it is a legal requirement that every public building, including churches and church halls, should have a Fire management plan and evacuation strategy. The vestry should assess the risks and develop a working document for the congregation and users. The diocesan property committee and the church insurer’s can assist with advice (especially for the care of clergy in housing provided by Vestries and when letting property). There is not a legal requirement for full compliance with current building regulations unless the church needs a public entertainments licence, or substantial alterations are taking place. So far as fire safety assessments are concerned, please consult the document, Health and Safety Guidance notes, available on the Diocesan Website under downloads and the above under Risk Assessments. If an Entertainment licence is required, charges should also contact their local Fire Brigade who will be happy to inspect and advise. Hall users Finally, there should be a separate, section which covers particular rules that may have to be applied to the use of hall premises by outside groups. Whether this section will be required will depend on the nature and use made of the particular Charge's accommodation. Such rules do not need to be part of the policy statement but should be issued as a separate document to hall users or referred to in any letting agreement. Clearly, it is important that all users are aware of their fire safety responsibilities and further, that this may be a requirement, to ensure that there are no insurance contraventions.
Property-Guidance-Handbook-with-photos-Apr-2017.docx