FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Fire Safety is critical to your business and to your staff. A fire can wipe out records, destroy premises and ruin stock. This is why there are fire safety regulations, obligations to maintain effective training standards and to keep alarms and fire safety equipment in good working order.
Do you know whether you comply with the latest regulations? Do you meet minimum safety standards? Is your property insurance valid without a Fire or Health and Safety, Risk Assessment?
Many of our clients need answers to these and other questions - so do browse and see whether you are up to date. If you have any concerns or want professional advice about fire safety, contact Protectu on 01235 762680
Who needs a Fire Risk Assessment?
You need to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment if:
* You are an employer
* You are a landlord or managing agent of a property in multiple occupation
* You are responsible for managing the common-access areas of a block of flats, maisonettes, industrial or retail parks or any HMOs (house in multiple occupation) or shared houses and bed-sits.
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
It assesses the fire risks, fire safety precautions and procedures in force on your premises against established standards and produces an action plan for dealing with those which need improving.
What regions does Protectu Limited cover?
Protectu Limited operate Fire Risk Assessments in the following areas; London West, London Central, Oxford, Abingdon, Bicester, Banbury, Burford, Didcot, Farringdon, Kidlington, Wallingford, Wantage, Watlington, Witney, (Oxfordshire), Reading, Newbury, Slough, Maidenhead, Windsor, (Berkshire), Swindon, Chippham, Hungerford, Devises, Malmesbury, Marlborough, (Wiltshire), Leachlade, Fairford Cirencester, (Gloucestershire), High Wycombe, Aylesbury, (Buckinghamshire) and all places in-between.
What are the correct servicing frequencies for fire alarms, emergency lighting and fire extinguishers? Extinguishers: need an annual service.
Emergency lights: need to be activated monthly and tested every 6 months.
Alarms: the testing regime is more detailed.
Weekly bell test, with a different call point activated each week on rota.
The fire control panel needs to be tested either once a quarter, when a call point/detector is activated from each zone or once every 6 months.
The frequency is determined by whether the building is multi-occupied, whether there is a sleeping risk or the type of manufacturing process undertaken.
At the annual service every detector/call point is activated.
What does a Fire Risk Assessment do?
A Fire Risk Assessment tries to eliminate/reduce the risk of fire to acceptable standards. The Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) will investigate whether, in the event of a fire:
1. It can be detected quickly.
2. That there are sufficient means of escape to enable all occupants,
including those who may be disabled, to escape quickly and safely.
3. That your fire safety equipment is serviced at the appropriate intervals.
4. That you have an appropriate emergency plan of which the staff is aware.
5. Your staff has had the appropriate fire training.
What are the duties of the Responsible Person?
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005 (RRO2005) the management of safety rests with the 'Responsible Person'. If a Responsible Person is not appointed, there are defaults usually to the owner or person in charge. Duties include:
1 - Regular inspection, testing and maintenance of both active (fire alarms, extinguishers etc.) and passive (fire doors, seals, means of escape etc.) fire precautions.
2 - Liaising with contractors to ensure safe working practices are used.
3 - Keeping all 'Relevant Persons' informed of all fire related matters.
4 - Formulating the 'Emergency Plan' for the safe evacuation of the building.
5 - Recording all fire related matters within the log book.
6 - A deputy should be appointed to provide cover for the Responsible Person.
7 - In multi-occupied premises it is the duty of the Responsible Person to co-operate and liaise with other Responsible Persons in the building.
What Premises have to have a Fire Assessment?
Virtually all non residential properties have to have an annual fire and health safety risk assessment perfomed. If the undertaking employs less then 5 people, then it does not have to be written down.
What is an Emergency Plan?
An Emergency Plan must provide clear instructions on:
1. The action employees should take if they discover a fire
2. How all employees will be made aware of a fire
3. How the premises will be evacuated
4. The location of the assembly point and procedures for checking
the workplace has been evacuated
5. The identification of the main escape routes, access to and escape from
them to a place of safety
6. The use and location of fire fighting equipment
7. The identity and duties of those employees who have specific
responsibilities in the event of fire
8. Arrangements for the safe evacuation of people identified as being
especially at risk; such as contractors, those with disabilities, members
of the public and visitors
9. Power and process isolation
10. Specific arrangements, if necessary, for high risk areas of the work place
11. Calling of the Fire Brigade and other emergency services
12. Procedures for liaising with the Fire Brigade on arrival and the identification
of any areas of high risk
13. The identification and provision of the correct fire safety training.
All employees should be made aware of the Emergency Plan.
What Fire Training Courses do you run?
We run two courses:
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS - THEIR USE AND IDENTIFICATION
Duration: 2 hours approximately
Aim: A course aimed towards people who have little or no knowledge of fire extinguishers or fire safety. Either for personnel involved with health and safety or for anyone wishing to gain a greater level of competence on this subject
Syllabus:
1. Introduction
2. Why do we need to learn about fire safety?
3. The fire triangle
4. Video presentation - "Action in the event of fire"
5. Identification of classes of fire risk
6. Identification of the different types of fire extinguishers
7. Advice on placement of fire extinguishers
8. Video presentation - "Fire extinguishers, their use and ID"
9. Demonstration and discharge of four main types of extinguishers
10. Use of fire demonstrator
11. What to do in the event of a fire
12. Course questionnaire
13. Question and answer session
Certificate: Each successful candidate will be awarded a
Certificate of Attendance
FIRE WARDEN / MARSHALL TRAINING
Philosophy.
This course will assist companies to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1999
Duration: A further 2.5 hours after completion of the extinguisher course
Aim: To train students in the role of a Fire Warden / Marshall
Objectives: At the end of the course, the students will be able to:
1. Describe the role of the Fire Warden / Marshall
2. Implement a floor sweep system for the safe evacuation of people from
their workplace
3. Discuss problems and hazards encountered during evacuation
4. State the purpose of the fire drill
5. Implement and audit internal fire safety procedures
6. Operate fire extinguishers safely
7. Explain the importance of fire doors
8. Identify fire prevention measures