Legislation and Policy Legislation and Policy ComplianceCompliance

•Colin LangdownColin Langdown•General ManagerGeneral Manager

•Christie Intruder Alarms LimitedChristie Intruder Alarms Limited

Does This Apply to You?Does This Apply to You?

• All premises have to comply without All premises have to comply without exception.exception.

• Previous Fire Certificates are no longer Previous Fire Certificates are no longer valid.valid.

• Statistically a fire is likely to occur.Statistically a fire is likely to occur.

• You will be held accountable.You will be held accountable.

Why Should You Comply?Why Should You Comply?

• Consider the threat to the safety of those Consider the threat to the safety of those in your care.in your care.

• Consider the threat to your property.Consider the threat to your property.

• Consider the cost in time and resources.Consider the cost in time and resources.

• It must be taken seriously.It must be taken seriously.

It Boils Down to Common Sense:It Boils Down to Common Sense:

• The larger the school the more The larger the school the more complicated the issue.complicated the issue.

• Take it one step at a time.Take it one step at a time.

• Allow sufficient time and do not rush.Allow sufficient time and do not rush.

So What’s First?So What’s First?

• Appoint responsible person(s) to carry out Appoint responsible person(s) to carry out a fire safety risk assessment.a fire safety risk assessment.

• Can be done by a professional company Can be done by a professional company on your behalf.on your behalf.

• Or training is available if done in house.Or training is available if done in house.

• This is a guide to what is involved.This is a guide to what is involved.

What is Involved?What is Involved?

• Risk AssessmentsRisk Assessments

• Are involved.Are involved.

• Are ongoing.Are ongoing.

• Take time to complete.Take time to complete.

• Involve five key points.Involve five key points.

Step 1: Identify Fire Hazards:Step 1: Identify Fire Hazards:

Sources of Ignition:Sources of Ignition:

• Naked flames and heaters.Naked flames and heaters.

• Electrical equipment.Electrical equipment.

• Lighting equipment.Lighting equipment.

• Chemical agents.Chemical agents.

Sources of Fuel:Sources of Fuel:

Oxygen:Oxygen:

RECORD RECORD ALL FIRE ALL FIRE HAZARDSHAZARDS

Step 2: Identify the People at Risk:Step 2: Identify the People at Risk:

Two questions to be answered:Two questions to be answered:

• Who is at risk?Who is at risk?

• Why are they at risk?Why are they at risk?

Who is at Risk?Who is at Risk?

Everyone!Everyone!

Particularly: Particularly:

• Certain student groups. Certain student groups.

• Lone workers.Lone workers.

• Disabled.Disabled.

• www.drc-gb.orgwww.drc-gb.org

RECORD RECORD YOUR YOUR

FINDINGSFINDINGS

• Evaluate the risk of a fire occurring.Evaluate the risk of a fire occurring.

– Accidents.– Omissions.– Deliberate acts.

• Evaluate the actual risk to people.Evaluate the actual risk to people.

– Where a fire starts.– How it might spread.

Step 3: Evaluate, Remove, Reduce and Protect:Step 3: Evaluate, Remove, Reduce and Protect:

Step 3, continued:Step 3, continued:

• Think about escape routes.Think about escape routes.

• Think about how the fire might spread.Think about how the fire might spread.

– Smoke.– Toxic gases.– Flames.

• Fire doors are important.Fire doors are important.

Remove or Reduce Hazards:Remove or Reduce Hazards:

• Fuel, oxygen, ignition (heat) source.Fuel, oxygen, ignition (heat) source.

• Remove, reduce or separate.Remove, reduce or separate.

• First consider how Oxygen can be limited First consider how Oxygen can be limited from a fire.from a fire.

Remove or Reduce Hazards, continued:Remove or Reduce Hazards, continued:

• Reduce ignition (heat) sources.Reduce ignition (heat) sources.

• Remove or reduce sources of fuel.Remove or reduce sources of fuel.

• Compromise may be required.Compromise may be required.

• Early detection and warning will be Early detection and warning will be required.required.

Fire Alarm Systems:Fire Alarm Systems:

• Manual Fire Alarms.Manual Fire Alarms.

• Automatic Fire Alarms.Automatic Fire Alarms.

– Detects where humans may not notice.– Protects when the building is unoccupied.– Protects against arson.

• Remote Signalling.Remote Signalling.

Controlling False Alarms:Controlling False Alarms:

• Professional companies design out false Professional companies design out false alarms.alarms.

• Equipment failure extremely rare.Equipment failure extremely rare.

• Regular maintenance reduce risks further.Regular maintenance reduce risks further.

• Filter out false activations.Filter out false activations.

Fire Alarms, continued:Fire Alarms, continued:

• Battery back-up is required.Battery back-up is required.

• Repeater panels are desired.Repeater panels are desired.

• Meet the Fire Brigade.Meet the Fire Brigade.

BAFE Accreditation:BAFE Accreditation:

• Denotes professionalism.Denotes professionalism.

• Four modules:Four modules:

– Design.– Installation.– Commissioning.– Servicing.

Fire Fighting Equipment:Fire Fighting Equipment:

• Fire fighting skills need to be trained.Fire fighting skills need to be trained.

• Correct selection and location of Correct selection and location of equipment is vital.equipment is vital.

• Regular inspection and maintenance is Regular inspection and maintenance is required.required.

• Third party accreditation is essential.Third party accreditation is essential.

Evaluate the Escape Routes Available:Evaluate the Escape Routes Available:

• Two separate escape routes would be Two separate escape routes would be ideal.ideal.

• Early detection and warning enables Early detection and warning enables escape to a place of total safety.escape to a place of total safety.

• The quicker the fire will spread, the more The quicker the fire will spread, the more important evacuation procedures become.important evacuation procedures become.

Signage and Lighting:Signage and Lighting:

• Signage required in all buildings without Signage required in all buildings without exception.exception.

• Health and Safety (Signs and Signals) Health and Safety (Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.Regulations 1996.

• Emergency lighting is not affected by power Emergency lighting is not affected by power interruptions.interruptions.

• Professional companies should be used.Professional companies should be used.

Other Considerations:Other Considerations:

• Keep exit routes clear.Keep exit routes clear.

• Exit route doors must open easily.Exit route doors must open easily.

• Check fire exit doors are secure but can Check fire exit doors are secure but can be opened.be opened.

• Do fire exits lead to the assembly points?Do fire exits lead to the assembly points?

Use of Professional Firms:Use of Professional Firms:

• New and existing equipment must be in New and existing equipment must be in effective working order.effective working order.

• Third party accreditation ensures Third party accreditation ensures competency and quality.competency and quality.

• Create a schedule of checks: Daily, Create a schedule of checks: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Six Monthly and Annual.Weekly, Monthly, Six Monthly and Annual.

Step 4: Record, Plan, Inform, Instruct and Train:Step 4: Record, Plan, Inform, Instruct and Train:

• Records required to demonstrate Records required to demonstrate compliance.compliance.

– Record all fire hazards.– Record all actions taken to reduce or

remove them.– Record who is at risk especially those at

risk.– Record action taken to reduce that risk.

Emergency Plans:Emergency Plans:

• Clear instructions to deal with any fire situation.Clear instructions to deal with any fire situation.

• Communicate to all members of staff.Communicate to all members of staff.

• Communicate to all others that need to be kept Communicate to all others that need to be kept safe.safe.

• Coordinate with building owners or managing Coordinate with building owners or managing agents.agents.

Training needs for your staff:Training needs for your staff:

• What happens when a fire occurs.What happens when a fire occurs.

• Evacuation procedures.Evacuation procedures.

• Location and use of fire fighting Location and use of fire fighting equipment.equipment.

• General fire safety.General fire safety.

• RECORD WHAT RECORD WHAT YOU HAVE YOU HAVE DONE TO DONE TO COMPLYCOMPLY

Step 5: Review:Step 5: Review:

• Significant changes will mean a review is Significant changes will mean a review is required.required.

• Plan ahead.Plan ahead.

• React to a near miss.React to a near miss.

• Record whenever you carry out a review.Record whenever you carry out a review.

Guides to Assist You:Guides to Assist You:

• www.firesafetyguides.communities.gov.ukwww.firesafetyguides.communities.gov.uk

• Guide 5 Educational Premises.Guide 5 Educational Premises.

• Guide 6 Small and Medium Places of Assembly.Guide 6 Small and Medium Places of Assembly.

• Guide 7 Large Places of Assembly.Guide 7 Large Places of Assembly.

• Guide 3 Sleeping Accommodation.Guide 3 Sleeping Accommodation.

Thank you for your time Thank you for your time and attention.and attention.

•ANY QUESTIONS?ANY QUESTIONS?