One of the greatest hazards affecting a place of work is fire; a lost life can never be replaced.
Although the main purpose of fire legislation is to protect life, the full cost of lost premises, lost output and lost jobs in a workplace damaged by fire can never be recovered.
This guidance provides a broad outline of what needs to be done to protect the workplace and people in it from the hazard of fire.
MAIN HAZARDS 1. Heat and flame 2. Smoke and fumes 3. Explosion
CONTROL MEASURES Fire prevention measures
Once a fire has started it may spread very rapidly, producing flames, smoke and possibly, toxic fumes. The emphasis must be on fire prevention rather than fire fighting.
The following are the most common causes of fires in work premises:
Wilful fire raising and arson
Cigarettes/matches
Fixed or portable heaters
Hot processes
Faulty or misused electrical equipment
Obstruction of equipment ventilation
Static electricity
Accumulation of combustible materials
Flammable liquids and gasesEnforcement
The requirements of fire safety legislation are enforced by local Fire and Rescue Authorities in most premises with the following exceptions:
Premises occupied/owned by the Crown, in which case Crown inspectors will enforce;
Premises within armed forces establishments;
Specialist premises e.g. constructions sites, ships and nuclear installations, where the Health and Safety Executive will enforce; and
Sports grounds and stands where a safety certificate has been designated by the local authority, in which case they will enforce.General requirements
Responsibility for complying with fire safety legislation rests with the 'responsible person' within the organisation. This will typically be the employer or any other person who may have control of any part of the premises e.g. the occupier or owner.
Depending on the size of the organisation, competent person(s) must also be appointed to help implement fire safety control measures (although the responsible person may nominate themselves). Competent persons should have sufficient knowledge, training and experience to be able to implement the control measures properly. All workplaces must be provided with a means of detecting and giving warning in case of fire, adequate means of escape and means of fighting fire. The nature, complexity and extent of these will depend on the size of the premises, the number of people who normally work there, the nature of the work processes and substances stored and used etc. Specific requirements relating to fire detection and warning systems, means of escape and means of fighting fire should be determined by risk assessment.
A fire risk assessment will help you determine the chances of a fire occurring and the risks to people using the premises. The potential for fire starting depends on the presence of three things:
A source of ignition
Fuel
OxygenYou should consider each of these in relation to your premises to help determine how and where fire could start. The next step is to establish who could be harmed. When this has been done, the risk can be evaluated, and a decision made as to whether or not existing controls are adequate. To help in this decision making process, information on particular control measures is provided below.
Good housekeeping
The risk of fire can be greatly reduced by a regime of good housekeeping within the workplace. The need for good housekeeping cannot be over-emphasised. Carelessness and neglect not only increase the likelihood of fire but also create conditions that may cause any fire to spread more rapidly.
Cleaning should be carried out, where practicable, after work ceases and cleaners instructed to remove all combustible waste from the premises before leaving.
Rubbish should not be kept in the building overnight or stored in close proximity to the building.
Flammable waste and contaminated rags should be kept in separate metal bins with close fitting metal
Where smoking is permitted, provide deep metal ashtrays. Ashtrays should not be emptied into combustible waste unless the waste is to be removed from the building immediately.
Smoking policies should be strictly enforced, especially in places which are infrequently used e.g. store rooms. Suitable 'No Smoking' notices should be conspicuously displayed in such areas.
Employees should be left in no doubt that contravention of the smoking policy may lead to disciplinary action.Means of detecting and warning of fire
The systems and arrangements for detecting and warning of fire will vary according to the risk. Large premises where flammable materials are used may require sophisticated electronic systems whilst in small premises the vigilance of those working there, and a shout of 'fire', may be all that is required.
Electric/electronic detection and warning systems should be regularly inspected and maintained by a competent person in accordance with the relevant standard and manufacturer's recommendations.
Electrical fire detection and fire warning systems
Electrical fire detection and fire warning systems must be kept switched on when the workplace is in use. This also applies to remotely monitored equipment when the workplace is unoccupied. Systems should be tested weekly for function and to confirm they can be heard throughout the area covered. Where a manual break glass call point system is incorporated, a different call point should be activated for each successive test. It is important that systems can be heard or seen and understood, particularly by disabled people. Electrical systems should be inspected and tested quarterly and annually by a competent person. In noisy areas consideration should be given to visible, in addition to audible, alarms.
Self contained smoke alarmsSelf contained, domestic-type smoke alarms should be tested weekly and cleaned annually. Replaceable batteries should be changed at least once a year, in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, or when the low battery warning device operates.
Manually operated fire alarmsManually operated fire alarms, such as rotary gongs, should be tested weekly to ensure they work and can be heard throughout the workplace.
Provision and maintenance of emergency routes and exits
Generally, other than where the travel distances to a fire exit are short, an alternative means of escape should be provided from all parts of a workplace.
Routes which provide means of escape in one direction only, e.g. from a dead-end or a mezzanine, should be avoided as they may lead people towards the fire in order to escape.
Each escape route should be independent of any other and arranged so that people can move away from a fire in order to escape.
Sliding or revolving doors must not be used for exits specifically intended as emergency exits.
Emergency doors must not be locked or fastened in such a way that they cannot be easily andimmediately opened by any person who may need to use them in an emergency.
Emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in case of failure of their normal lighting.
Stairways, whether internal or external, should be provided with protection to prevent people falling. Items which present a fire hazard or which could cause an obstruction should not be located in corridors or stairways intended for use as a means of escape. In particular, the following items should not be located in protected routes, or in a corridor or stairwell serving as a sole means of escape:
Portable heaters
Heaters incorporating naked flames or radiant bars
Fixed heaters using a gas supply cylinder, where the cylinder is within the escape route
Oil-fuelled heaters or boilers
Cooking appliances
Upholstered furniture
Coat racks
Temporarily stored items
Lighting using naked flames
Gas boilers, pipes, meters or other fittings (except those permitted in the standards supporting the building regulations and installed in accordance with the Gas Safety Regulations)
Gaming or vending machines
Electrical equipment such as photocopiers
Any items which restrict the width of the escape route.Where people have to pass through doors in order to escape from the workplace, they should open in the direction of travel where:
More than 50 people may use the door
The door is at or near the foot of a stairwell
The door leads from a high fire risk areaIdeally fire exit doors should never be locked when the premises are occupied. However, where a door is locked by any security device it should be the only fastening on the door and staff must be instructed in its use. A suitable sign or notice should be displayed clearly showing the method of operation. If necessary, a suitable tool for easy operation should be provided.
Emergency Lighting
Escape routes, including external routes, must be provided with sufficient lighting for people to clearly see their way out to safety. Typical areas requiring emergency escape lighting are those without natural light or those occupied at night.
Having assessed the need for emergency lighting, employers must ensure that the system works not only on the complete failure of normal lighting but also in case of localised failure presenting a hazard.
Emergency lighting should:
Indicate the escape routes clearly
Provide illumination along escape routes to allow safe movement towards the final exits
Ensure any fire alarm call points and fire-fighting equipment can be easily located. Emergency lighting units should be sited to cover specific areas e.g.:
Intersections of corridors
At each exit door
Near each staircase ensuring direct light to each flight
Close to a change in floor level
Outside each final exit
Within lift cars
Close to fire-fighting equipment
Near each fire alarm call point.The units should be positioned as low as possible but at least 2 metres above floor level. Installation should be by a competent person in accordance with British and/or European standards.
Means of fighting fires
There are five recognised classes of fire as follows:
Class A - Fires involving solid materials e.g. wood, paper or textiles. Class B - Fires involving flammable liquids e.g. petrol, diesel or oil.