BS 5588 part 12(fire safe management) confirms cur- rent best practice' when it argues that fire safety management is best achieved through the appointment of a single individual who is made responsible for all fire safety matters within the organisation. Experience shows that where the responsibility for fire safety is spread throughout an Organisation, break down in communication and control results in the ineffectual management of fire safety BS 5588 confirms the view that if the role of the manager responsible for fire safety is illdefined the standard of management is likely to be poor.