These changes came into enactment on 1st October 2023. The ones that are relevant to schools are outlined below:

• Articles 9 (Fire Risk Assessment) and 11 (requirement to record) Civica meets both articles as it produces the Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) along with the assessor’s name, and actions required with timelines. The Premises manager must check their actions upon receipt of a new FRA and it must be reviewed and updated regularly. For each action, click edit and note what you are doing into the comments box e.g., “Emailed Coombers for a quote for a new fire detector”. Actions must be prioritised according to severity, you can use the RAG system (red, amber, green) to organise these. A blocked fire exit would need immediate action and would be labelled as red, whereas an intumescent seal replacement on a fire door will need quotes from a competent contractor and this action could be labelled amber. Another FRA action example could be that the weekly fire checks are not being carried out and logged, this could be a green action to download the F10 forms and start completing them regularly. Premises managers also need to complete the Fire Risk Assessment Questionnaire (annual review) each year on Civica.
• New Article 22 (A1) – Information to other responsible persons (RP) If you are leasing your premises to an external provider or club (e.g., the village badminton club) that uses the school after hours, they must be provided with a copy of your FRA, the action plan, and your Fire Emergency Action Plan (FEEP). Here is a template letter that can be used to send to your contact who organises the club.
• Article 27 – Unlimited fines for non-compliance Failure to comply with any of the articles above could attract unlimited fines for non-compliance.

Learn more:

YouTube recording of Civica training
PDF help sheets for Civica for maintained schools
Template letter for external provider/club using your premises
F10 Fire Forms 
Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan Template
Fire safety responsibilities under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022

Email contact for issues relating to the use of the system: systemsandperformance@somerset.gov.uk Email contact for health & safety issues: CHSU@somerset.gov.uk