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 legislation in the United Kingdom applies generally to all commercial premises and workplaces, including those managed by voluntary organisations and the self-employed and all premises to which the public have access, including, the common parts, including the external walls, of multi-occupied residential buildings such as flats and houses in multiple occupation.
As an employer, you have a duty to conduct a Fire Risk Assessment under the appropriate Fire Safety legislation.
The Fire Risk Assessment needs to be kept up to date and reviewed on a regular basis, in particular when something changes that could affect fire safety or you have any other reason to suspect that it is no longer valid (e.g. a change in occupancy, in the building, in nature of contents or after a fire).
The ‘Responsible Person’ must ensure the Fire Risk Assessment is adequate.
For your peace of mind, Fixfire® Fire Safety Risk Assessments are conducted by a third-party BAFE accredited Fire Risk Assessment provider that meet the competency criteria established by the Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council.
For more information explaining the importance of selecting a qualified assessor, you can download ‘A Guide to Choosing a Competent Fire Risk Assessor’.
Can I do Fire Risk Assessments myself?
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
5 Key Stages of Fire Safety Risk Assessment:
Step 1 - Identify fire hazards
Identify any fire hazards, including any sources of ignition, fuel and any work processes, which may be potential fire hazards.
Step 2 - Identify people at risk
Decide who, such as employees and visitors, may be in danger during a fire in the workplace or while they are trying to escape.
Step 3 - Evaluate the risk
Evaluate the risks from the identified hazards and decide whether the existing precautions are adequate. During this stage of evaluation decisions should be made on whether action is required to remove the hazard completely, if practicable, or to control and manage the risks more effectively.
Step 4 - Record your findings
Record the findings and detail the actions taken, and inform all employees of these actions.
Step 5 - Review and revise
Review the Fire Safety Risk Assessment at regular intervals or when a change occurs in the workplace or work activities.
Appointing a specialist to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment
A quality Fire Safety Risk Assessment is a vital obligation in fire safety legislation for all non-domestic/commercial buildings nationwide.
A “suitable and sufficient” Fire Risk Assessment is the core foundation of any building’s fire safety policy. Its purpose is to identify any hazards and provide important information for the person responsible for fire safety to carry out, mitigating any risk as best as possible.
There are some simple steps and precautions you can take to help verify the competence and suitability of a prospective fire risk assessor:
1. Being third-party approved
This means they are on a register of approved fire risk assessors such as BAFE Register, UKAS accredited etc
2. Demonstrable experience
Fire Risk Assessors must provide robust evidence that they can deliver this service competently.
These include:
- experience in the practice of fire safety
- appropriate training records
- evidence of successful application of knowledge
3. Committed to, and actively engaged in, continued professional development
Legislation, buildings, businesses and their use are changing constantly. Sourcing ways to stay up to date on current issues, trends and legal requirements is an essential part of competency.
Got a question about Fire Safety Risk Assessments? 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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