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.
Fire Safety training should be continuous, commencing with induction training on the first day of appointment of new staff and continuing in the form of regular refresher training.
Thereafter, staff should receive sufficient training at regular intervals (at least once a year) to make sure that they remain familiar with the fire precautions for the workplace and are reminded of the action to be taken in an emergency. Training should be more frequent where there is a high turnover of staff or where there is a high risk of fire.
In so far as the responsibilities are applicable to their role, all staff, including part-time staff, security staff, cleaning staff, and contractors, should be trained and instructed in:
- Basic fire prevention
- Good housekeeping
- Risk awareness
- Smoking policy
- The fire routine
- The terms, conditions and restrictions of any licence
- Actions to be taken upon discovering a fire or upon hearing the fire alarm
- Knowledge of the escape routes, refuges and exits, especially those not in regular use
- Raising the alarm, including the location of alarm indicator panels
- Action to be taken upon hearing the fire alarm
- Arrangements for calling the fire and rescue service
- Special provisions for assisting disabled people
- Location of fire fighting equipment
- Selection and use of fire fighting equipment, including hand fire fighting equipment (in larger premises it might be appropriate to train specific staff in this respect, rather than all staff)
- The importance of fire doors and the need to close all doors at the time of a fire and on hearing the fire alarm
- Process shut-down and shutting down non-essential equipment, stopping machines and processes and isolating power supplies, where appropriate
- Evacuation procedures (this includes reassuring any members of the public, escorting them to exits, and encouraging them to get well clear of the building
- Incident reporting procedures, including for “near miss” events and false alarms.
Any members of staff who have particular responsibilities in respect of fire safety, including supervisory roles, should receive detailed instructions in their own duties and appropriate refresher training at least once, and preferably twice, in each period of twelve months.
Note: Persons with particular responsibilities are likely to include:
- Department heads
- Fire marshals of fire wardens
- Fire fighting teams in large workplaces
- Floor supervisors
- Central control room staff
- Security staff (including night security patrols)
- Attendants
- Stewards
- Kitchen Staff
- Engineering and Maintenance staff
- Receptionist and telephonists
Got a question about Fire Safety Training? 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 891 999
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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