Key Fire Risk Assessment Guidelines: A Comprehensive Guide
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Fire Risk Inspections: Ensuring Safety and Compliance
A fire risk assessment should help you identify all your premises' fire hazards and risks. You will then be able to decide whether the risks identified are acceptable or whether you need to take steps to reduce or control them. Please take a look at the following for some general fire safety guidance.
Main Areas to Consider
Fire Hazards
ARSON
Focus on vulnerable locations around your premises such as areas prone to vandalism, insecure openings like letter boxes, and hidden areas. When looking for security gaps, consider whether existing measures effectively deter arsonists and are sufficiently robust to limit fire spread.
COOKING
All cooking equipment can be deemed to be a potential source of ignition. This includes gas-fired equipment with a naked flame, deep-fat fryers, and electrical equipment such as toasters, griddles, and microwaves.
There can also be an abundance of fuel sources within kitchen environments, such as oils and fats, food products, the facility's gas supply, and even fat or grime deposits in or around equipment.
DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES
Work that involves storing, using, or creating chemicals, vapours, dust, etc., that can readily burn or
explode is hazardous. Many substances found in the workplace can cause fires or explosions. Typical substances include flammable chemicals, petrol, cellulose paint thinners and welding gases, engine oil, grease, packaging materials, dust from wood, flour and sugar.
ELECTRICAL IGNITION SOURCES
Identify any sources of ignition, from heat or flame. All premises will contain ignition sources; some will be obvious, such as cooking equipment or open flames, whilst others may be less obvious, such as heat from chemical processes or electrical equipment.
HOUSEKEEPING
Good housekeeping will lower the chances of a fire starting, so the accumulation of combustible materials in all premises should be monitored carefully. Good housekeeping is essential to reduce the chances of escape routes and fire doors being blocked or obstructed. Keep waste material in suitable containers before it is removed from the premises. If bins, particularly wheeled bins, are used outside, secure them in a compound to prevent them from being moved to a position next to the building and set on fire. Never place skips against a building. They should normally be a minimum of 6m away from any part of the premises.
LIGHTNING
Annual lightning protection equipment inspections are essential for safeguarding structures, their contents and the lives of their occupants. As such, yearly maintenance is a vital part of any system's longevity,
efficiency, and safety and is recommended annually by both the current British BSEN 62305, first published in 2006 and revised in 2011.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT FIRE HAZARDS
Every environment is different, and there are a variety of reasons why fires break out, although many are due to negligence and could be prevented with more care and attention. One of the best ways to protect your premises against fire is to educate your staff on the causes of fire, encourage them to be vigilant, and report any potential fire hazards so they can be dealt with swiftly.
OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS
Contractors working on-site can pose an increased fire risk due to work processes undertaken within the premises. In larger commercial sites, contractors may be given an initial safety briefing of the premises about potential risks and hazards. Ensure all equipment brought onto the site by a contractor is sufficiently maintained. Where hot works are undertaken, consideration may be given for a Hot Works Permit system.
PORTABLE HEATERS AND HEATING INSTALLATIONS
Poorly maintained portable electrical heaters can cause employees to suffer an electric shock when switching them on. Consideration should be given to placing heaters close to combustible materials and trailing leads. Fixed heating systems, such as central heating systems, should be covered by annual service contracts to ensure regular maintenance and safety checks.
SMOKING
Smoking is a leading cause of fires, and an appropriate degree of control needs to be exercised. The hazards of illicit smoking need to be recognised, and controls should, therefore, be implemented.
Fire Protection Measures
AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS
Automatic fire suppression systems control and extinguish fires without human intervention. Examples of automatic systems include fire sprinkler systems, gaseous fire suppression, and condensed aerosol fire suppression. Periodic or regular servicing is essential to keep the systems in good working order at all times.?
EMERGENCY ESCAPE LIGHTING
Emergency lighting is lighting for an emergency situation when the main power supply is cut, and any normal illumination fails. The loss of mains electricity could be the result of a fire or a power cut, and the normal lighting supplies fail. Emergency lighting is designed to ensure occupants can easily escape to safety.
FIRE SAFETY SIGNS AND NOTICES
Fire safety signs and signage systems form an integral part of a building's overall fire safety strategy and are fundamental to communicating good fire safety management information. Clearly visible and unambiguous signage is essential for speedy escape, particularly in public buildings where occupants might be unfamiliar with the building layout.
FIXED SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Examples of systems are gaseous, foam, and powder fire-fighting systems and hypoxic air fire-prevention systems. Periodic or regular servicing is essential to keep the systems in good working order at all times.
MANUAL FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPLIANCES
The provision of suitable fire extinguishing appliances can help restrict the development and spread of small fires in their early stages. Extinguishers are usually located adjacent to fire alarm call points so people can actuate the fire alarm before picking up an extinguisher.
MEANS OF ESCAPE FROM FIRE
You need to consider the means of escape from fire carefully if persons with mobility, visual or hearing disabilities are present within the premises, as well as sleeping occupants and persons who may be unable to react quickly.
MEANS OF GIVING WARNING IN CASE OF FIRE
Arrangements for warning all occupants during a fire must be adequate and fail-safe. Fire alarm systems, smoke detectors, hand bells, or a single shout may be suitable depending on the size and complexity of the premises. A fire starting in any location should not go undetected and reach a size that could cause persons to become trapped.
MEASURES TO LIMIT FIRE SPREAD AND DEVELOPMENT
To reduce the risk to people if there is a fire, you need to consider how to control or restrict the spread of fire and smoke. The smoke and gases overcome most people who die in fires. It is essential to ensure that, in the event of a fire, the rate of fire growth is restricted in its early stages.
Management of Fire Safety
PREMISES INFORMATION BOX
Relevant, up-to-date, and practical information must be provided and available at the affected building to assist in formulating fire-fighting tactics and reduce firefighters' risks.
PROCEDURES AND ARRANGEMENTS
For larger premises, a written Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan should be in place. This plan should include the action to be taken by all persons/staff in the event of a fire and the arrangements for calling the fire brigade. For small premises, a General Fire Notice could take the form of a simple fire action sign posted in positions where staff and relevant persons can read it and become familiar with its contents.
RECORDS
It is imperative that records for fire system testing, training, fire drills, etc., are kept. A fire log book would assist building owners, managers, and other responsible persons in coordinating and maintaining a fire safety record-keeping system.
TESTING AND MAINTENANCE
The Fire Safety Order 2005 states that fire equipment must be subject to a suitable maintenance system and maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order, and in good repair. All maintenance work should be carried out by competent contractors specialising within their field. Routine testing of fire systems should be documented and stored in a fire log book.
TRAINING AND DRILLS
Staff members should be provided with frequent training so all employees are familiar with the site's general fire safety, and there should be regular evacuation drills. You are required to carry out this fire training, and it is recommended that you keep a record of the results of that training. Regular drills should be carried out using varying escape routes, assuming the normal evacuation route is not available.
Fire Door Inspections
FIRE DOORS GENERALLY
BS9999 recommends six-monthly inspections of fire doors and includes guidance on some of the primary inspection criteria, but remember that you are responsible for ensuring that an adequate inspection and maintenance routine is in place.
Conclusion
PAS 79 fire risk assessments provide a structured approach to identifying and managing fire risks in the UK. By following this framework, you can ensure compliance, improve safety, and reduce potential hazards. A thorough assessment helps protect lives, property, and businesses, making fire safety a top priority.