Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Fire Safety Fire Risk Assessment Case Study

1. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005Fire SafetyFire Risk AssessmentCase Study Ken Stevens Risk Services Manager ProAktive

2. Who enforces the Order? • Local Authority Fire and Rescue Service • Penalties • failing to comply may result in a fine or a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years

3. Who is the responsible person? • Employer with control of a workplace • Person with overall management of a building • Occupier of premises, Owner of premises (i.e. empty buildings) • Landlords (multi occupied buildings)

4. What are the implications for businesses? • Businesses regardless of size will have to conduct a comprehensive fire risk assessment to identify: • The elimination or reduction of risks • Suitable means of detecting & raising the alarm in the event of fire • Adequate emergency escape routes & exits including emergency lighting • The appropriate type & sufficient quantities of fire extinguishers • Correct type & sufficient quantities of fire signs & notices • Provisions for the correct maintenance of installed fire equipment

5. What are the implications for businesses? • Procedures for serious and imminent danger • Fire evacuation procedures • Nomination of fire wardens/marshals • Fire drills • Emergency measures where dangerous substances are used • Information on emergency arrangements • Suitable warning/communication systems • Visual/audible warning systems – explosion • Escape facilities –indicated on risk assessment

6. What are the implications for businesses? • Ensure that employees, nominated persons, visitors and contractors receive the appropriate instruction / training in, e.g. actions to be taken in the event of fire and fire evacuation drills

7. General Fire Precautions • Reduce the risk and spread of fire • Ensure means of escape at all times • Fire fighting measures on premises • Fire detection and warnings of • Action in the case of fire • Training and instruction • Measures to mitigate the effects

8. Fire safety risk assessment • Identify the fire hazards • Identify the people at risk • Evaluate, remove or reduce, and protect from risk • Record, plan, inform, instruct, and train • Review

9. 1. Identify the fire hazards Fuel Ignition Source Oxygen

10. Sources of ignition • ARSON • Electrical • Smokers materials • Naked flames • Contractors • Portable heating equipment • Hot processes- paint stripping, welding • Lighting equipment

11. Sources of fuel • Flammable liquid based products • Process Materials • Packaging materials • Waste products • Soft furnishings and furniture • Some construction materials

12. Sources of Oxygen • The air around us • Air conditioning • Some chemicals • Oxygen supplies – cylinder storage

13. 2. Identify the people at risk • Employees especially those who work alone • Vulnerable people • Contractors • Young people • Other people in the immediate vicinity • Fire fighters

14. 3. Evaluate, remove, reduce, and protect from risk Evaluate the risk of a fire occurring:- • Accidentally • By act or omission • Deliberately

15. 3. Evaluate, remove, reduce, and protect from risk Evaluate the risk to people Fire is spread by: • Convection • Conduction • Radiation • Contact or direct heat

16. Smoke movement through a building

17. Why we close fire doors

18. Evaluating the risks to people Consider: • Fires on lower floors can affect escape routes for those on upper floors • Fires developing in unoccupied spaces which people have to pass • Spread of fire or smoke via vertical shafts and service or ventilation ducts • Fires in service rooms affecting hazardous materials

19. Remove or reduce the hazards - sources of ignition • Replace potential sources of ignition with an alternative • Replace naked flame and radiant heaters with fixed convector heaters or central heating • Separate ignition sources and fuels • Check areas after hot work has taken place • Take precautions to avoid arson

20. Remove or reduce the hazards - sources of fuel • Ensure flammable materials, liquids and gases are kept to a minimum and stored properly • Do not keep flammable solids, liquids and gases together • Remove combustible waste daily • Store waste materials securely away from buildings.

21. Remove or reduce the hazards – sources of oxygen • Close all doors, windows and other openings when not required for ventilation • Shut down inessential ventilation systems • Do not store oxidising materials next to heat sources or flammable materials • Control use of oxygen cylinders

22. Remove or reduce the hazards – to people • Ensure that any risks remaining to people are controlled • Provide systems to warn people and allow them to escape in the event of fire • Provide adequate exits for the number of people present

23. Fire detection and warning systems • System will depend on the size and layout of the building • It should provide adequate warning in the event of a fire • Automatic or manual? • You may/will need special arrangements for people with disabilities

24. Fire-fighting equipment and facilities • Can reduce the risk of a small fire (waste paper bin) developing into a larger one • Controlling a fire in the early stages can reduce the risk to people • There should be enough portable extinguishers suitable for the risk • They should be sited throughout the premises at suitable locations

25. Fire-fighting equipment and facilities Co2 Foam Powder Water

26. Fire-fighting equipment and facilities • Class A fire – rule of thumb  one water extinguisher for every 200m² minimum 2 per floor • Additional risks – appropriate type & number of extinguishers. See BS 5306-8

27. Other facilities Can include: • Access for fire engines and fire-fighters • Fire-fighting shafts and lifts • Fire suppression systems – sprinklers • Smoke-control systems • Dry or wet rising mains and fire-fighters inlets • Information and communication systems • Fire-fighters switches

28. Escape routes Escape routes should be: • Suitable • Easily, safely and immediately usable at all times • Adequate for the number of people • Free from any obstructions, slip or trips hazards • Available for access by the emergency services

29. Escape routes Suitable: • Fire resistant construction • Escape routes should not go through other occupiers premises • Doors should open in the direction of travel • Be fitted with vision panels if over 60 people

30. Emergency escape lighting Provided on all escape routes to assist in evacuation and should cover: • Exit doors and escape routes • Intersections of corridors • Outside each final exit and external escape routes and stairways • Changes in level • Fire equipment and alarm call points

31. Comply with British or European standards Not mixed Be fire resistant British Standard European Standard Signs and notices

32. Installation, testing & maintenance • Installed by competent persons • Maintained in line with manufacturers guidance • Tested weekly • Inspected quarterly • Records kept for inspection

33. 4. Record, plan, inform, instruct & train • Fire risk assessment – recorded available for inspection • Actions prioritised and implemented • Evacuation plans developed, implemented and tested – at least twice annually • Employee groups informed of results • Employees, visitors, contractors given adequate training and instruction

34. 5. Review Review risk assessments, plans etc: • When changes occur – changes to work processes, alterations to the building or work patterns • Introduction of new equipment, hazardous substances, significant increase in people • At least annually

35. Woolworths Manchester 1979 11 Dead Alarm not sounded Fire Brigade not called Fire Escapes Locked

36. Fire at Bradford11th May 1985 • Time : first flame - well alight? • How many died? • Why? • 2-3 Minutes • 56 people lost their lives • Very Poor standards of Fire Safety

37. Recent Case • Conveyor Fire in a bagging plant • Hot product left on conveyor

38. Cost Of Claim • Emergency works £ 7,441.87 • Contract Sum £ 85,668.64 • Professional Fees £ 9,411.61 • Machinery, Plant & AOC £ 33,989.62 • Business Interruption £ 8,039.10 Total £144,550.84

39. Programme