FireFire SafetySafety

Fire risk assessmentFire risk assessment

Colin de Jongh

Health and Safety Manager

Regulatory Reform OrderRegulatory Reform Order(Fire Safety)(Fire Safety)

Enacted 1Enacted 1stst October 2006 October 2006 Fire certificates cease to have effectFire certificates cease to have effect New duty holder “Responsible New duty holder “Responsible

Person”Person” Must carry out a fire risk assessmentMust carry out a fire risk assessment

Responsible PersonResponsible Person

The person who has to any extent The person who has to any extent the control of :the control of :

A workplace – the employer, A workplace – the employer, managers, supervisors etc.managers, supervisors etc.

The premises – owner, occupier The premises – owner, occupier or agentor agent

Responsible PersonResponsible Person

Must appoint competent person(s) to Must appoint competent person(s) to assist with fire safety measuresassist with fire safety measures

Take general fire precautions to ensure Take general fire precautions to ensure safety of employees and other relevant safety of employees and other relevant personspersons

Does not apply to domestic premises, Does not apply to domestic premises, ships at sea, vehicles, fields or woods, ships at sea, vehicles, fields or woods, mines etc.mines etc.

Does apply to external events.Does apply to external events.

General Fire PrecautionsGeneral Fire Precautions

Reduce the risk and spread of fireReduce the risk and spread of fire Ensure means of escape at all timesEnsure means of escape at all times Fire fighting measures on premisesFire fighting measures on premises Fire detection and warnings of Fire detection and warnings of Action in the case of fireAction in the case of fire

Training and instructionTraining and instruction Measures to mitigate the effectsMeasures to mitigate the effects

Any questions?

Main causation of fires Main causation of fires (12 months Jan 05 to Dec 05)(12 months Jan 05 to Dec 05)

1.1. Deliberate ignition - 53Deliberate ignition - 53

2.2. Electrical - 34Electrical - 34

3.3. Cooking - 13Cooking - 13

4.4. Friction, heat and sparks - 12Friction, heat and sparks - 12

5.5. Smoking materials - 11Smoking materials - 11

6.6. Naked light - 4Naked light - 4>£250K

OrganisationsOrganisations (12 months Jan 05 to Dec 05) (12 months Jan 05 to Dec 05)

1.1. Dwellings - 27Dwellings - 27

2.2. Local/national government – 25Local/national government – 25

3.3. Hospitality & food and drink Hospitality & food and drink industry - 13industry - 13

4.4. Retail – 12Retail – 12

5.5. Chemical Industry - 11Chemical Industry - 11

6.6. Education - 9Education - 9>£250K

Fire safety risk assessmentFire safety risk assessment

1.1. Identify the fire hazardsIdentify the fire hazards

2.2. Identify the people at riskIdentify the people at risk

3.3. Evaluate, remove or reduce, and Evaluate, remove or reduce, and protect from riskprotect from risk

4.4. Record, plan, inform, instruct, and Record, plan, inform, instruct, and traintrain

5.5. ReviewReview

Any questions?

1.1. Identify the fire hazardsIdentify the fire hazards

Identify:Identify: Sources of ignitionSources of ignition Sources of fuelSources of fuel Sources of oxygenSources of oxygen

The fire triangleThe fire triangle

Sources of ignitionSources of ignition

ARSONARSON Smokers materialsSmokers materials Naked flamesNaked flames Electrical, gas, Electrical, gas,

portable heating portable heating equipmentequipment

Hot processes- Hot processes- paint stripping, paint stripping, weldingwelding

Lighting equipmentLighting equipment

Sources of fuelSources of fuel

Flammable liquid Flammable liquid based productsbased products

Packaging materialsPackaging materials Waste productsWaste products StationaryStationary Soft furnishings and Soft furnishings and

furniturefurniture Some construction Some construction

materialsmaterials

Sources of OxygenSources of Oxygen

The air around usThe air around us Air conditioningAir conditioning Some chemicals Some chemicals Oxygen supplies – Oxygen supplies –

cylinder storagecylinder storage Pyrotechnics Pyrotechnics

Any questions?

2. Identify the people at 2. Identify the people at riskrisk

Employees Employees especially those especially those who work alonewho work alone

Vulnerable peopleVulnerable people ContractorsContractors Young peopleYoung people Other people in the Other people in the

immediate vicinityimmediate vicinity Fire fightersFire fighters

3. Evaluate, remove, 3. Evaluate, remove, reduce, and protect from reduce, and protect from

riskrisk

Evaluate the risk of a fire occurring:-Evaluate the risk of a fire occurring:- AccidentallyAccidentally By act or omissionBy act or omission DeliberatelyDeliberately

3. Evaluate, remove, reduce, 3. Evaluate, remove, reduce, and protect from riskand protect from risk

Evaluate the risk to peopleEvaluate the risk to people

Fire is spread by:Fire is spread by: ConvectionConvection ConductionConduction RadiationRadiation Contact or direct heatContact or direct heat

Smoke movement through a Smoke movement through a buildingbuilding

Why do we close fire doors?Why do we close fire doors?

Why we do close fire doorsWhy we do close fire doors

Evaluating the risks to Evaluating the risks to peoplepeople

Consider:Consider: Fires on lower floors can affect escape Fires on lower floors can affect escape

routes for those on upper floorsroutes for those on upper floors Fires developing in unoccupied spaces Fires developing in unoccupied spaces

which people have to passwhich people have to pass Spread of fire or smoke via vertical shafts Spread of fire or smoke via vertical shafts

and service or ventilation ductsand service or ventilation ducts Fires in service rooms affecting hazardous Fires in service rooms affecting hazardous

materialsmaterials

Remove or reduce the hazards Remove or reduce the hazards - sources of ignition- sources of ignition

Replace potential sources of ignition with an Replace potential sources of ignition with an alternativealternative

Replace naked flame and radiant heaters Replace naked flame and radiant heaters with fixed convector heaters or central with fixed convector heaters or central heatingheating

Separate ignition sources and fuelsSeparate ignition sources and fuels Check areas after hot work has taken placeCheck areas after hot work has taken place Take precautions to avoid arsonTake precautions to avoid arson

Remove or reduce the hazards Remove or reduce the hazards - sources of fuel- sources of fuel

Ensure flammable materials, liquids Ensure flammable materials, liquids and gases are kept to a minimum and gases are kept to a minimum and stored properlyand stored properly

Do not keep flammable solids, liquids Do not keep flammable solids, liquids and gases togetherand gases together

Remove combustible waste dailyRemove combustible waste daily Store waste materials securely away Store waste materials securely away

from buildings.from buildings.

Remove or reduce the hazards Remove or reduce the hazards – sources of oxygen– sources of oxygen

Close all doors, windows and other Close all doors, windows and other openings when not required for openings when not required for ventilationventilation

Shut down inessential ventilation Shut down inessential ventilation systemssystems

Do not store oxidising materials next to Do not store oxidising materials next to heat sources or flammable materialsheat sources or flammable materials

Control use of oxygen cylindersControl use of oxygen cylinders

Remove or reduce the hazards Remove or reduce the hazards – to people– to people

Ensure that any risks remaining to Ensure that any risks remaining to people are controlled people are controlled

Provide systems to warn people and Provide systems to warn people and allow them to escape in the event of allow them to escape in the event of firefire

Provide adequate exits for the Provide adequate exits for the number of people presentnumber of people present

Fire detection and warning Fire detection and warning systemssystems

System will depend on the size and System will depend on the size and layout of the buildinglayout of the building

It should provide adequate warning in It should provide adequate warning in the event of a firethe event of a fire

Automatic or manual?Automatic or manual? You may/will need special You may/will need special

arrangements for people with arrangements for people with disabilitiesdisabilities

Fire-fighting equipment and Fire-fighting equipment and facilitiesfacilities

Can reduce the risk of a small fire Can reduce the risk of a small fire (waste paper bin) developing into a (waste paper bin) developing into a larger onelarger one

Controlling a fire in the early stages Controlling a fire in the early stages can reduce the risk to peoplecan reduce the risk to people

There should be enough portable There should be enough portable extinguishers suitable for the riskextinguishers suitable for the risk

They should be sited throughout the They should be sited throughout the premises at suitable locationspremises at suitable locations

Fire-fighting equipment and Fire-fighting equipment and facilitiesfacilities

Co2Co2 Foam Foam Powder Powder WaterWater

Fire-fighting equipment and Fire-fighting equipment and facilitiesfacilities

Class A fire – rule of thumb Class A fire – rule of thumb one one water extinguisher for every 200mwater extinguisher for every 200m²² minimum 2 per floorminimum 2 per floor

Additional risks – appropriate type & Additional risks – appropriate type & number of extinguishers. See BS number of extinguishers. See BS 5306-8 5306-8

Other facilitiesOther facilities

Can include:Can include: Access for fire engines and fire-fightersAccess for fire engines and fire-fighters Fire-fighting shafts and liftsFire-fighting shafts and lifts Fire suppression systems – sprinklersFire suppression systems – sprinklers Smoke-control systemsSmoke-control systems Dry or wet rising mains and fire-fighters inletsDry or wet rising mains and fire-fighters inlets Information and communication systemsInformation and communication systems Fire-fighters switchesFire-fighters switches

Escape routesEscape routes

Escape routes should be:Escape routes should be: SuitableSuitable Easily, safely and immediately usable at all Easily, safely and immediately usable at all

timestimes Adequate for the number of peopleAdequate for the number of people Free from any obstructions, slip or trips Free from any obstructions, slip or trips

hazardshazards Available for access by the emergency Available for access by the emergency

servicesservices

Escape routesEscape routes

Suitable:Suitable: Fire resistant constructionFire resistant construction Escape routes should not go through Escape routes should not go through

other occupiers premisesother occupiers premises Doors should open in the direction of Doors should open in the direction of

traveltravel Be fitted with vision panels if over 60 Be fitted with vision panels if over 60

peoplepeople

Emergency evacuation of Emergency evacuation of persons with mobility persons with mobility

impairmentimpairment Do not use lifts unless alternative power Do not use lifts unless alternative power

supplies and protected from smokesupplies and protected from smoke Take to refuge and wait for assistance or Take to refuge and wait for assistance or

begin staged evacuationbegin staged evacuation – provide – provide communications.communications.

You must have plans to evacuate without You must have plans to evacuate without assistanceassistance

Consider use of evacuation chairsConsider use of evacuation chairs Provide buddy system for those with visual Provide buddy system for those with visual

impairmentimpairment Visual alarms in cases of hearing impairmentVisual alarms in cases of hearing impairment

Emergency escape lightingEmergency escape lighting

Provided on all escape routes to assist Provided on all escape routes to assist in evacuation and should cover:in evacuation and should cover:

Exit doors and escape routesExit doors and escape routes Intersections of corridorsIntersections of corridors Outside each final exit and external Outside each final exit and external

escape routes and stairwaysescape routes and stairways Changes in levelChanges in level Fire equipment and alarm call pointsFire equipment and alarm call points

Signs and noticesSigns and notices

Comply with British Comply with British or European or European standardsstandards

Not mixed Not mixed Be fire resistantBe fire resistant

British StandardBritish Standard

European StandardEuropean Standard

Installation, testing & Installation, testing & maintenancemaintenance

Installed by competent personsInstalled by competent persons Maintained in line with Maintained in line with

manufacturers guidancemanufacturers guidance Tested weekly Tested weekly Inspected quarterlyInspected quarterly Records kept for inspectionRecords kept for inspection

Any questions?

4. Record, plan, inform, 4. Record, plan, inform, instruct & traininstruct & train

Fire risk assessment – recorded available Fire risk assessment – recorded available for inspectionfor inspection

Actions prioritised and implementedActions prioritised and implemented Evacuation plans developed, implemented Evacuation plans developed, implemented

and tested – at least twice annually or once and tested – at least twice annually or once per termper term

Employee groups informed of resultsEmployee groups informed of results Employees, visitors, contractors given Employees, visitors, contractors given

adequate training and instructionadequate training and instruction

5. Review5. Review

Review risk assessments, plans etc:Review risk assessments, plans etc: When changes occur – changes to When changes occur – changes to

work processes, alterations to the work processes, alterations to the building or work patternsbuilding or work patterns

Introduction of new equipment, Introduction of new equipment, hazardous substances, significant hazardous substances, significant increase in peopleincrease in people

At least annuallyAt least annually

We don’t want to end up like this

Or this

Any questions?