Angus has been involved in developing and writing British and International Fire & Safety standards since the mid-1980s. The list of standards that he has participated in is impressive and includes BS5839-1, BS8629, EN54-18 and ISO7240-2. Angus utilises his extensive experience to provide an authoritative perspective on the key issues that affect the Fire & Security Industry today.
A fire on a construction site can lead to severe or even fatalities injuries, major structural damage, destruction of machinery, equipment, or materials, and untimely delay in project completion. Most fires can be prevented by designing out risks, taking simple precautions, and by adopting safe working practices.
For a fire to start, three things are needed: a source of ignition, a source of fuel and oxygen.
Examples of sources of ignition on construction sites are: heaters, lighting, naked flames, electrical equipment, welding or grinding, cigarettes, matches and anything else that can get very hot or cause sparks, old live electrical cables
Examples of sources of fuel on construction sites are: flammable liquids (petrol, paint, varnish, white spirit etc), wood, paper, plastic, rubber or foam, liquefied petroleum gas, acetylene, loose packaging materials, waste rubbish, furniture and insulation.
It is important to control or eliminate sources of ignition and have precautions in place should a fire start. A "responsible person " has a duty to assess the risk from fire and put measures in place that provide adequate protection against the risk of fire.
8 Fire Prevention Fire & Safety Tips for Construction Sites
- Complete your Fire Risk Assessment
If you employ five or more people you must record the significant findings of your Fire Risk Assessment and the actions you have taken
- Provide Fire Training
Make sure your induction includes fire safety and you have enough fire marshals etc - Secure your Site
Make sure you have a secure site, especially at night and weekends4. - Install Alarms and/or Boundary Lighting
In high-risk areas, you may need to install fire and intruder alarms and /or boundary lighting - Consider a Security Patrol
Some sites may need a site security patrol - Plan for Storage and Waste
Reduce the storage of materials and waste on-site. Ensure any materials and waste are kept in designated secure areas - Manage Hot Works
Stop hot work at least 1 hour before the end of the shift, with fire checks at 30-minute intervals - Provide Fire Extinguishers
A Fire Extinguisher could put out a small fire and stop it spreading and becoming a major emergency on your site. Always have Fire Extinguishers readily to hand throughout the site.
Got a question about different types of Fire Extinguishers? Need Fire Alarms or Fire Risk Assessment? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
Following the recommendations of BS5839 Part 1 2017 (Fire Alarm British Standard), it is a mandatory requirement to have an up to date, clear and accurate Fire Alarm Zone Chart adjacent to your Fire Alarm Control Panel and any repeater panels you have in your premises.
The purpose of the Zone Chart is to assist persons responding to an alarm to quickly identify the specific location in the building and to help the Fire Brigade understand the building layout before they enter.
When the Fire Alarm System is installed, the building is divided into Fire Zones. Any Manual Call Point (Red Box) or Fire Detector that is fitted will trigger a particular zone when activated.
The Zone Chart shows the division of each zone area with a ‘You are Here’ arrow to identify the position of the Fire Alarm Panel. The view of the building should be orientated in relation to the Fire Alarm Panel position to minimise confusion.
What is involved in producing a Zone Chart?
- Hard copy
- Or preferably AutoCAD (dwg) format
You have a legal duty of care to dispose of waste legitimately and safely via a licensed waste carrier. Failure to do so can result in prosecution, even if you have outsourced the disposal to a third party.
The Fixfire® Extinguisher Recycling Process is your reassurance that any Fire Extinguishers we remove from your premises have been disposed of in a safe and legal manner. 97% of each processed Fire Extinguisher is recycled.
Our contracted Extinguisher Recycling Unit (ERU) is a dedicated facility offering a service for the safe processing and recycling/disposal of fire extinguishers. The facility operates closely with the local Water Authority and the Environment Agency to develop safe, efficient and environmentally friendly processes, ensuring that ISO14001 certification is upheld.
Got a question about Fire Extinguisher Disposal? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
False Fire Alarms remain a huge concern within the education sector- interrupting already carefully scheduled, planned and well-prepared lessons or even causing major disruption and distress to exams.
Clearly, these false alarms cause significant inconvenience and disruption to students, staff, and visitors. They compromise everyone’s safety in the school and present a significant risk to the local community since the Fire Brigade will prioritise the school over other emergency callouts.
Solutions you should consider:
The first and most straightforward way is to use anti-tamper products.
Fixfire® supplies a wide range of solutions designed to protect Fire Alarm Devices from inadvertent damage or deliberate misuse/vandalism.
Products include:
- Local plastic cover flaps which attach directly to manual call points.
- The stopper consists of a clear, tamperproof, tough polycarbonate cover, frame and spacer that retrofits over a break glass call point. When lifted to operate the break glass unit, its optional battery powered integral sounder emits a piercing 96dB (at 1m). Immediate attention is drawn to the area and a prankster will either run or be caught!
- A range of steel web stoppers designed to protect fire detectors and warning devices. They are constructed from heavy-duty galvanised steel rod which is plastic-coated for durability and external use.
- A range of polycarbonate enclosures are available for the protection of devices such as fire alarm control panels and associated control equipment. The enclosures combine tough rugged construction with stylish design and offer excellent protection with a key lock for authorised access.
We also provide anti-tamper devices for fire extinguishers and associated products.
KeyCall® is a patented anti-ligature Fire Alarm and Access Control call point. It is designed to use the same key as the doors, providing simple operation for staff whilst eliminating nuisance activations by service-users.
KeyCall® has been developed by Fixfire® specifically for approved applications where standard versions would be vulnerable to abuse.
It is one of the best solutions for SEN schools and it is also compatible with a wide range of Conventional and Addressable Fire Alarm Systems.
Got a question about False Fire Alarms? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
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