New Fire Regulations - Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO). |
|
|
The
Regulations provide for minimum fire safety standards in places where
people work (including shared areas and facilities and the means of access
to the workplace). You the employer are under a personal duty to comply
with them. Where you or another employer do not have control over parts
of the workplace there is a responsibility on the person who does (usually
the owner or landlord) to make sure those parts comply with the Regulations.
For
in depth explanation of the current UK legislation please click
here to view.
Also
for more information on risk assessment please view "The 5 Steps
to Risk Assessment" by the Health and Safety Executive - click
here.
IFEDA
- The Independent Fire Engineering and Distributors Association which
we are proud members of. IFEA is a independent representative body of
Fire Trade Companies. Unaligned to manufacturers it promotes quality standards
and professionalism in service, delivery & distribution of fire protection
products within the fire industry. For more information on IFEA click
here.
BAFE - British Approvals for Fire Equipment which we
are also a proud member of is a non-profit making organisation and operates
independent third party schemes of approval for fire protection systems
and services. For more information on BAFE please click
here.
We have also designed a checklist below to help you decide whether you
need to do anything to comply with the Regulations.
Your
checklist - You must:
1. Assess the fire risks in the workplace (either as part of your general
review of health and safety risks which you already carry out or, if you
wish, as a specific exercise).
2. Check that a fire can be detected in a reasonable time
and that people can be warned.
3. Check that people who may be in the building can get out
safely.
4. Provide reasonable fire-fighting equipment.
5. Check that those in the building know what to do if there
is a fire.
6. Check and maintain your fire safety equipment.
1.
Risk assessment [Top]
What fire precautions you need depend on the risks. You already have to
assess health and safety risks. Either as part of this, or separately,
you should also cover fire risks.
| Example |
If
you run a corner shop, all you may need to do is walk round your
premises and identify anything which could result in a fire, such
as rubbish blocking doorways. Why not also ask your staff if they
have noticed anything which may be a fire hazard?
Will anyone be hurt if there is a fire? There may be places where
people are at more serious risk than others. Don't forget people
who may come into the workplace from outside, such as visitors,
the public or other workers. Then decide whether your current
arrangements are satisfactory or whether you need to change anything.
Note what you have found: if you employ five or more people, you
need to keep a formal record of the significant findings and any
measures you propose to deal with them.
|
| Example |
Rubbish
store: rubbish kept away from buildings with no sources of heat
nearby. No change needed.
You need to tell your staff or their representatives about your
findings and if you have a formal report, you should make it available
to them if they ask for it. Remember that your assessment is expected
only to be suitable and sufficient given the circumstances.
If you share your workplace with others you will need to check
that they know about any significant risks vou have identified
and what you have done about them. Risks can often be dealt with
at little or no cost by removing or reducing the amount of material
causing the hazard.
Where you (or the other employers) do not have direct control
over places or equipment in the workplace which your staff will
use in the course of their work, then the person who does have
control (perhaps the owner or landlord) has a responsibility to
make sure that such parts or equipment comply with the requirements
of the Regulations. This would include common parts of a building
such as a shared corridor or the provision and maintenance of
common fire safety equipment such as a fire alarm system - where
one is needed.
Review
your assessment from time to time, particularly if there is a
significant change to your workplace or working practices, or
you have frequent changes of staff |
2.
Fire detection and warning [Top]
Check that fires can be readily detected and that your staff can be warned
promptly.
In open-plan workplaces or places where staff often go, fire can usually
be detected in sufficient time for everyone to escape safely. But there
may be some places where fire could go undetected for some time. If so,
a smoke alarm or some other automatic fire detection and warning may be
required. If in doubt, ask the fire service for advice on this.
| Example |
In
a small workplace a shout of "FIRE!" or perhaps a hand
bell may be enough, provided it can be heard throughout the workplace.
|
3.
Means of escape in case of fire [Top]
Check that your staff can get out quickly and safely in the event of a
fire.
This
is already specifically required in most cases by existing law so it is
highly unlikely you will need to change current arrangements.
Emergency
routes and exits should:
A)
Lead as directly as possible to the open air away from the workplace or
to a safe area.
B)
Be adequate for the type of workplace and the people likely to be in it.
C)
Be able to be quickly and safely used in the event of a power failure.
| Example |
| In
the event of a power failure, would there be enough light (e.g.
from outside) for people to escape safely? If not, would a torch
perhaps meet the need? |
If there is a risk that people will not know where to go, you will need
the familiar green fire exit and/or directional signs.
Escape
route and emergency doors
Whilst
the workplace is in use, doors on escape routes should not be so locked
or fastened that they cannot easily and immediately be opened from the
inside. Where the risks require it, emergency doors must open outwards.
| Example |
Where
a large number of people are likely to press up against an inward-opening
door so that it cannot be opened, this would present a risk: check
with the fire service. |
4.
Provision of fire-fighting equipment [Top]
Check that you have enough fire-fighting equipment of suitable type to
tackle a small fire.
| Example |
The
general guidance is for one 13A rated water extinguisher per 200
square meters (about 2,150 square feet) of floor area. This can
be adjusted up or down depending on the type of risks. Special
fire risks such as oils, fats and electrical equipment may require
the provision of carbon dioxide, dry powder or other extinguishers.
If
you are unsure about extinguishers, check with the fire service
before purchasing any equipment.
All
equipment must be easy to find and, if necessary, suitably indicated
by signs. |
5.
Planning for an emergency and training staff [Top]
You
can reduce the chance of injury if your staff know what to do if there
is a fire. They need appropriate information or training. In small workplaces
this can be very simple. In larger workplaces you may need to have a full
emergency plan to ensure that everyone can leave the building quickly
and the emergency services are called promptly.
| Example |
A
simple plan needs only to cover how to raise the alarm; where
the fire extinguishers are kept; and how to get out if there is
a fire. |
Assistance from the workforce and others
If
you want to appoint someone to help you to implement any fire safety measures
or to co-ordinate evacuation in an emergency, your staff need to know
who that person is or be able to identify them, although the overall responsibility
will remain with you.
Before
you appoint anyone to help you must consult your staff or their elected
representatives or their appointed Trade Union safety representatives
about what you are proposing.
To
help you, there is a duty on your staff to co-operate with you and not
to do anything which would place themselves or others at risk.
6.
Maintenance and testing of fire safety equipment [Top]
You
must regularly check and maintain your fire safety equipment, including
your fire-fighting equipment, your means of detecting and giving warning
in case of fire, your means of escape, and your emergency lighting.
|
