Fire Risk Assessment Made Easy: 2nd Step

• Why Must We Have a Fire Risk Assessment.

• When Must We Have a Fire Risk Assessment.

• Objectives of a Fire Risk Assessment.

• Types of Fire Risk Assessment.

• Compartmentation: Fire Doors.

• Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems.

• Emergency Lighting.

• Fire Evacuation Strategy.

• Use of Fire Extinguishing Equipment.

Why Must We Have a Fire Risk Assessment?

Legal Requirement:

• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO).

• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: Communal Areas

Regulations 1999: & Landlords’ Common Parts.

• The Housing Act 2004: Section 9 - Housing Health & Safety.

Scotland and Northern Ireland have Broadly Similar ….Legislation, to make Premises as Safe, as is Reasonably…… ….Practicable.

Plus Approved Codes of Practice: British Standards BS 9999:2017

BS 9991:2015

Fire Safety Order (FSO) 2005

Applies to Communal Areas + Landlords’ Common Parts

• Places Duty to Carry Out Risk Assessment.

• Commercial Properties.

• Homes of Multiple Occupancy.

• Purpose-Built Blocks of Flats.

• Controls Depend Upon Risk:

- Premises Above a Chippy?

- Premises Above an Estate Agent?

The Housing Act 2004

In a Nutshell:

Any Premises Shall provide a

Safe and Healthy Environment

for Any Potential Occupier.

Customer or Visitor.

The Building Regulations 2010

• Relevant British Fire Safety Standards + Building Regulations (Codes of Practice) Ensure Adequate Fire Safety Provisions are Incorporated into the Design and Construction or Refurbishment of Premises.

• It is Essential to Maintain the Integrity of Compartmentation, particularly when Building Work and Alterations take place. This Must Include Tenants, When Any Changes Affect Means of Escape.

• Building Regulations Approved Document B 2010• Volume 1 Dwelling Houses.

• Volume 2 Buildings Other Than Dwelling Houses.

• BS 9999: 2017• Fire Compartmentation.

• Segregation of High Risk Areas.

• Planning and Protection of Escape Routes.

• Fire Alarms and Smoke Control.

• BS 9991: 2015• Fire Safety in the Design, Management and Use of

Residential Buildings.

Design Standards

When Must We Have a Fire Risk Assessment?

• Shortly After Refurbishment of the Premises.

• Shortly After Occupancy of the Premises (in a month or so).

• If Significant Changes to Occupancy of the Premises:

• Following Significant Ch Use of the Premises.

• Following Significant C Management of the Premises.

• Following Significant C Fabric of the Premises.

• Following Significant Premises Fire Safety Procedures.

• Following Significant Ch Fire Safety Legislation.

• At a Reasonable Frequency Proportionate to Risk Identified:

- High Risk: Re-Assessment After 6 months From Report.

- Medium Risk: Re-Assessment Annually (Assists Review).

- Low Risk: Bi-Annually, No Significant Risk Outstanding.

Objectives of a Fire Risk Assessment?

• To Identify Fire Hazards and those Persons put at Risk from, Normal Business or by Inattentive Fire Safety Management: e.g. Ignition Sources & Combustible Items < 1m Distant.

• To Remove or Reduce Hazardous Risk to .as Low as is RReasonably Practicable and to Control Higher Risk(s).

• To Check Fire Safety Arrangements Against Building Regulations, at the Time of Construction or Refurbishment.

• To Protect the Safety of People on the Premises by:

- Reducing the Likelihood of a Fire Occurring.

- Limiting the Spread and Probable Severity of a Fire.

- Checking an Adequate Fire Detection & Alarm System in Place.

- Assuring a Suitable and Sufficient Clear Means of Escape.

Types of Fire Risk Assessment

• Type 1: Assessment of Common Parts Only: (Non-Destructive).

- Only Covers Communal Areas & Common Parts: ............ …….(Cupboards, Intakes etc.)

Assumption: That No Works Undertaken Since Last FRA:

….- so No Breaches Compartmentation?

- so No Alterations to Fire Doors?

• Type 2: Assessment of Common Parts Only: (Destructive).

- Some Destructive Inspection carried out: (Small Sample Basis).

- Requires Presence of a Contractor: to Open-up Building Fabric …… and Make-Good, After.

- Includes Physical Check on Compartmentation & Sample Voids.

Types of Fire Risk Assessment

• Type 3: Assessment of Common Parts and Dwellings (Non-Destructive).

- Inspection of Communal Areas & Common Parts of a 10% ……….. …..sample or more of Flats or Bedrooms (where and as relevant).

- Considers Means of Escape.

- Considers Compartmentation in Plant Rooms & Roof Voids.

• Type 4: Assessment of Common Parts and Dwellings (Destructive).

- Sample Destructive Inspection is Carried Out: (on 10%).

- Requires Presence of a Contractor To Open-up Building Fabric and ……. …….Make-Good, After.

…… …….

Compartmentation: Fire Doors

• 3 Hinges, Smoke Seals

+/or Intumescent Strips + Adequate Door Closer

Fire Doors: Specification

FD60s: 1 Hour Fire Protection• Steel or Solid Hard Wood.

• 54mm Depth of Door.

• Robust Construction: No Cracks or Holes.

• Must Fit Firmly Into Sound Door Frame.

• Doors on Escape Route Need Vision Panel.

• Glazing Must be Fire-Rated & Fit Correctly.

• Glass to Have Pyro or CE Mark.

• Installed & Maintained to BS 8124:2008.

Fire Doors: Specification

FD30s: Half-Hour Fire Protection• Solid Wood or Composite Fire Boards.

• 45mm Depth of Door.

• Robust Construction: No Cracks or Holes.

• Must Fit Firmly Into Sound Door Frame.

• Installed & Maintained to BS 8124:2008.

• Type of Fire Alarm System depends on the Age, Structure, Intended Purpose and Actual Use of the Building and on Interpretation of Current Legislation and Guidance.

• Some Commercial Buildings and Many Purpose Built Blocks of Flats will Not Have Communal Fire Alarms Installed.

• Specialised Housing will have a Fire Alarm System based on the Building Design and Fire Risk Assessment, at Time of Conversion.

• The Main Standard for Fire Alarm Systems are:

• - BS5839 Part 1:2017: Generally a Fire Panel + Detectors + MCPs. - BS5839 Part 6:2017: Domestic, Hard-Wired Detectors + Battery Back-Up.

Types of Fire Alarm

Fire Detection & Alarm Systems: Fire Panelsanalog addressable

. 1 - 8 Zones > 8 to 60 + Zones

Standard: BS 5839-1:2002 & 2013 & BS 5839-6.

Fire Detection and Alarm Systems: Zones

6 Zones on Fire Alarm Panel: (Typically Analog)

Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

No Automatic Fire Detection (AFDS) or Alarm

Safety Relies on Occupant’s Vigilence, Only

- Alarm is Raised by Someone Shouting: “Fire!” or Ringing a Bell etc.

- Clear View of Exits …. But Relies on Staff being Awake and Aware.

Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

Category M Life Protection Meeting BS5839-Part 1.

Basic System: Manual Call Points (MCPs) Only

- MCPs at Final Exits and Key Changes of Direction or Floor Levels.

- MCPs Raise the Alarm Through Sounders (Throughout Building).

Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

Category L5/M Life Protection Meeting BS5839-Part 1.

Limited Automatic Fire Detection System (AFDS) & MCPs

• For Specific Risks: e.g. Plant Rooms (Boiler Room etc.)

- Note: AFDS Heat (H) Detector, Example Shown in One Location, Only.

H

Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

Category L4 Life Protection Meeting BS5839-Part 1

• Means of Escape (MoE) Routes Only + MCPs

- AFDS (Smoke) Set at < 15m Intervals in Corridors < 2m Wide

S S

- Note: AFDS Smoke (S) Detector, Examples Shown in One Corridor, Only.

Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

Category L3 Life Protection Meeting BS5839-Part 1

• MoE & Rooms Onto & On MoE + MCPs

- AFDS (Smoke) 7.5m Radius = 10.6m or 112m2, When Overlapping.

- Note: AFDS Smoke (S) Detectors, Examples Shown in One Room, Only.

SS

S S

Fire Detection and Alarm SystemsCategory L2 Life Protection Meeting BS5839-Part 1

• MoE & Rooms Giving Onto MoE + MCPs

- Covers All L3 Categories, Plus High Risk Areas e.g. Boiler Room.

H

- Note: AFDS Heat (H) Detector, Example Shown in One Location, Only.

Fire Detection and Alarm SystemsCategory P1 Property Protection

Meeting BS5839-Part 1

• Providing Protection Throughout the Property: in Every Room.

- Note: AFDS Can be Heat (H), Smoke (S) or Particle Detectors, (Not Shown).

Automatic Fire Detection System: AFDS

Communal Areas and Landlords’ Common Parts

L1 - L5 Hard-Wired to Fire Panel

smoke heat

Automatic Fire Detection System: AFDS

Communal Areas and Landlords’ Common PartsSimple LD3 ‘Domestic’: Hard-Wired + Battery Back-Up

smoke heat

Automatic Fire Detection Systems: AFDS

Vesda: Particle Detection Optical Detection

(Evidenced in High Risk or High Asset Protection e.g. iT Comms)

Fire Alarm System: Servicing & Maintenance

• Legal Requirement that Fire Panel Serviced in accordance with BS5839-Part1 at least annually and thatEvery Device is Fully Maintained.

• Typically, Contractors Undertake 6 Monthly Service Visits and Fully Certify the System Annually.

• Manual Call Points are Not Required to be Numbered:

But it is Good Practice, to Show that ….they are Tested in Rotation.

Lighting

ordinary light borrowed light

.

Emergency Lighting

maintained emergency maintained emergency

.

internal (power source) external (power source)

“Maintained” Means Light is On All The Time - With Battery Back-Up, if Power Fails.

Emergency Lighting

non-maintained

non-maintained

“Non-Maintained” Means Light is Off - With Battery Back-Up, if Power Fails.

Fire Evacuation Strategy

Full Evacuation

Should This Apply to High Rise: > 6 Stories? …(Still Pending Outcome of Grenfell Final Report)

- If No Fire Detection in Communal Areas?

- If Only FD30s Fire Doors On or Onto MoE?

- Requires Designated Fire Assembly Point?

Delayed (Stay-Put) Evacuation

- Requires Adequate Fire Alarm System: All Flats?

- Ideally Linked to an Addressable Fire Panel?

- All Flats Entrances to be Confirmed as FD60s?

- Ideally With a Secondary Emergency Escape?

Means of Escape

• Escape Routes Must Offer a Minimum Width of 800mm, so far as is Reasonably Practicable. Note: Old Buildings Can Have 750mm Doors. Modern Inclusive Access requires 800mm.

• Escape Routes are to provide Unhindered Access and Egress, but also Safe Evacuation of Occupants, in the event of a fire.

• They shall Remain Free from Obstruction.

• They should be Protected, by Sound Fire Compartmentation, Appropriate Fire Doors and Non-Flammable Materials. Walls and Ceilings should be Zero-Rated for Spread of Fire.

• Stairs, Lobbies, Landings, Corridors, Designated as Escape Routes to be kept Clear of Combustible Material, at All Times.

Portable Fire Extinguishers

Class A Class B Class C Electrical Fire Blanket

Class A: Water - Solids (Wood, Paper)

Class B: Foam - Flammable Liquids

Class C: Dry Powder - Flammable Gas

CO2 - Flammable Liquids + Electrical

CO2 + Fire Blanket: Best for an Office Environment.

Portable Fire ExtinguisherCommercial Kitchen: Wet Chemical Class F Fires - Hot Oil or Fat

Wet Chemical - Specialised Training Essential.

Fixed Fire Extinguisher System

Commercial Kitchen Ansul Fire Suppression

Fire Suppression System - Emergency Procedure Essential.

Fire Risk Assessment Made Easy: 2nd Step

Alan Shaw CMIOSH GIFireE MIFSM MIRM

T: 01858 433 623 M: 07555 451 212

The End

alan.shaw@psmidlands.co.uk Work

carl.vernon@psmidlands.co.uk Managing Director T: 01332 727 003 ……………………………………………………………………… Practical solutions