Fire enforcement notice
received.

Improvement Notice

An improvement notice specifies the respects in which the inspector believes you are failing to comply with the Fire Safety Order and the action required to achieve compliance. The notice will specify a timescale — usually at least 28 days from the date of service, though it can be longer.

You can appeal an improvement notice to a First-tier Tribunal within 21 days of service. The notice is suspended during the appeal unless the tribunal decides otherwise. However, this does not mean you should ignore the underlying issue — the tribunal will want to see evidence that you are taking fire safety seriously.

Prohibition Notice

A prohibition notice is more serious. It is issued when the inspector believes there is a risk to the life of relevant persons in or around the premises. It can prohibit or restrict the use of all or part of the premises with immediate effect — meaning your business or premises may be closed immediately, without any appeal period first.

A prohibition notice can only be lifted by the Fire and Rescue Service that issued it, or by a tribunal. To have it lifted, you need to demonstrate that the risk that led to its issue has been addressed. A fire risk assessment and remedial action plan are essential to this process.