Coopers Fire has investigated the latest fire prevention and protection statistics for England, for the year ending March 2020.
Despite a reduction in fire safety audits carried out year on year, the number of unsatisfactory findings has increased – and the number of prosecutions for offences under the Fire Safety Order of 2005 has gone up by 16%.
More than a third (34%) of fire safety audits carried out last year were unsatisfactory. This highlights a worrying drop in fire safety standards in England, at the same moment the UK entered lockdown.
Fire safety Inspections – Biggest Failures
The following regions reported more failed inspections than passes. In some cases, failed audits were significantly higher than passes.
Lancashire posted THREE TIMES as many fails as passes (337 passes vs. 1081 fails). Only 23% of fire safety audits in Lancashire were satisfactory.
South Yorkshire had more than DOUBLE the number of failed fire safety inspections compared to passes. In Warwickshire, only 18% of fire safety inspections passed – giving a fail rate of 82%.
While many fire safety issues can be resolved and reinspected, some breaches are severe and must be enforced by law.
Most Prosecutions for Breaches of Fire Safety
These areas in England had the highest number of prosecutions for fire safety offences – enforced in the most severe cases.
| County | Number of prosecutions |
| West Midlands | 10 |
| Derbyshire | 8 |
| Greater London | 4 |
| North Yorkshire | 4 |
| Devon and Somerset | 3 |
| Tyne and Wear | 3 |
| Berkshire | 3 |
| Hertfordshire | 3 |
| South Yorkshire | 2 |
| Lancashire | 2 |
Areas with the Most Unsatisfactory Fire Safety Audits
The total number of unsatisfactory inspections is also up year on year. The worst performing areas include Hampshire, where Coopers Fire HQ is located – indicating a greater need for local education and training on the importance of fire safety.
| County | Number of unsatisfactory audits |
| Greater London | 2,486 |
| South Yorkshire | 1,495 |
| Lancashire | 1,081 |
| Devon and Somerset | 677 |
| Greater Manchester | 652 |
| Hampshire | 607 |
| Tyne and Wear | 569 |
| West Midlands | 565 |
| Berkshire | 526 |
| Merseyside | 506 |
Data from gov.uk, 2020 – Contact Coopers Fire for data tables and methodology.
Coopers Fire – Fire Curtains
Coopers Fire pioneered fire safety with the world’s first automatic smoke curtain. Today, Coopers Fire is the world’s leading manufacturer of fire curtains and smoke curtains for all building types. For more information on non-intrusive fire and smoke protection or to enrol in an educational training course, call 02392 454 405 or email info@coopersfire.com.
