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.
To ensure Fire Safety Compliance, the first step is to get a Fire Safety Risk Assessment carried out by a competent person. The number of Fire Extinguishers you require depends on many factors which can be identified in your Fire Safety Risk Assessment.
Fire Extinguishers are rated by an indicator of their effectiveness of extinguishing certain classes of fire. In the case of class A (which is paper, cardboard and carbonaceous material), a wooden crib of specific size and length is ignited, and the amount of burning crib that can be extinguished is measured. The ‘basic’ extinguisher for general use is the red 9-litre water, which can extinguish 1.3m of the standard wooden crib fire and is therefore rated 13A.
How to calculate how many Fire Extinguishers you need
To satisfy BS5306 Part 8 2012, ‘A’ rated appliances should be included based on the following design process.
Stage 1
Include appliances at all statutory positions including:
- Storey exits
- Landings on upper floor levels
- Additional positions should it otherwise be necessary to travel more than 30 metres to reach the nearest appliance
Any storey with a floor area less than or equal to 400m2 should have at least two Extinguishers with a class A rating, having a combined minimum total fire rating of 26A.
Following this exercise, a calculation should be carried out to determine the aggregate ‘A’ rating requirement based on the total floor area of the building. The calculation is set out below:
Total Floor area (m²) x 0.065 = Aggregate A rating
In the event that the result of this calculation exceeds the aggregate rating based on Stage 1 then proceed to Stage 2.
Stage 2
Include sufficient supplementary ‘A’ rated appliances to achieve the correct aggregate A rating. This may include doubling up appliances in strategic positions or adding new positions. Alternatively, if appropriate, the size of appliance could be increased e.g. changing from a 6 litre Foam Spray extinguisher to a 9 litre capacity will increase the per appliance ‘A’ rating and may obviate the need to increase the quantity of appliances.
Stage 3
Add appropriate Fire Extinguishers to cover perceived ‘Higher Risk’ areas such as kitchens and plant rooms.
To determine how many Fire Extinguishers you need, you must carry out a Fire Safety Risk Assessment. Finding out what all your potential risks are will give you a starting point for a fire safety plan. The types, sizes and how many of extinguishers you require will differ between business types.
Got a question about Fire Extinguishers? 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
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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