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.
Legal guidelines state that a Fire Safety Risk Assessment can be carried out by a “competent person“. This does not necessarily mean you have to use a qualified Fire Risk Assessor. However, it is essential that the person conducting the Fire Safety Risk Assessment is competent to carry out the task and has access to relevant information and support.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) requires that a Fire Safety Risk Assessment be carried out by the “Responsible Person” in virtually all non-domestic premises.
Anyone who has control of the premises or anyone who has a degree of control over certain areas or systems may be a “Responsible Person”. For example, it could be:
- An employer
- A managing agent or owner of shared premises
- The occupier such as self-employed persons or voluntary organisations
- Any other person that has some control over part of the premises
The Regulatory Reform Order is a risk assessment-based regime.
As a “Responsible Person“ you must manage any fire risk on your premises, to do this you must:
- carry out a Fire Safety Risk Assessment of the premises and review it regularly
- tell staff or their representatives about the risks you’ve identified put in place, and maintain, appropriate fire safety measures
- plan what to do in the event of a fire emergency
- provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training
Businesses employing more than five people also have a responsibility to record the substantive findings and resulting actions identified and taken as a consequence of the Fire Safety Risk Assessment. This legally enforceable requirement is imposed on both the “Responsible Person” and or any other person deemed as having control over part of the premises. Each needs to carry out their own Fire Safety Risk Assessment.
In order to assist responsible person(s), the Government has produced a series of downloadable guides, each typically 150 pages thick and applying to different premises categories. The responsible person(s) should read and imbibe the appropriate guide and produce a Fire Safety Risk Assessment specific to the building(s) for which they are responsible.
The Government has categorised premises into 11 different types and produced a guide for each category to assist ‘responsible persons’ in understanding and fulfilling their responsibilities.
The premises types are detailed below.
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Animal Premises and Stables
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Means of Escape for Disabled People
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Open Air Events and Venues
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Transport Premises and Facilities
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Factories and Warehouses
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Healthcare premises
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Residential Care Premises
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Theatres, Cinemas and Similar Premises
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Large Places of Assembly
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Small and Medium Places of Assembly
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Educational Premises
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Sleeping Accommodation
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Offices and Shops
What is the penalty for not having a Fire Safety Risk Assessment?
Fire Safety Risk Assessments should be carried out at regular intervals so that you can identify and remedy any fire hazards, and ensure your premises are compliant with fire safety legislation. The penalty for not having a Fire Safety Risk Assessment and, in particular, not having implemented the correct fire safety precautions, is prosecution resulting in severe fines, or in cases of extreme negligence, a prison sentence.
Got a question about Fire Safety Risk Assessments? Need a 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
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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