Have you ever wondered why fire drills take place in your office or school? It’s because of the fire safety regulations in the UK. The employers need to ensure the safety of the employees in the business premises. However, fire safety precautions are mandatory for all. In this article, we tried to compile comprehensive fire safety guidelines for everyone. If you are interested in fire safety for your workplace, you can explore our blog that covers all aspects of workplace safety. Here, you’ll get necessary information on carrying out risk assessment for fire protection. Learn more about the classes of fire, fire safety equipment, usage of fire extinguishers, fire evacuation plans and fire safety laws in the UK. Finally, download a fire safety maintenance checklist that you can use for your organization.

1. Comprehensive Fire Safety Guidelines for
Everyone
Have you ever wondered why fire drills take place in your office or school? It’s because of the fire safety
regulations in the UK. The employers need to ensure the safety of the employees in the business
premises. However, fire safety precautions are mandatory for all. In this article, we tried to compile
comprehensive fire safety guidelines for everyone.
If you are interested in fire safety for your workplace, you can explore our blog that covers all aspects of
workplace safety. Here, you’ll get necessary information on carrying out risk assessment for fire
protection.
Learn more about the classes of fire, fire safety equipment, usage of fire extinguishers, fire evacuation
plans and fire safety laws in the UK. Finally, download a fire safety maintenance checklist that you can
use for your organization.
Learn more about an online fire safety training course

2. In this E-book you will learn ...
● Fire risk assessment: Why and how?
○ Is a fire risk assessment mandatory?
○ How to carry out a fire risk assessment?
● Fire safety and evacuation plans
● Fire fighting resources
○ Different classes of fire and fire extinguishers
■ Types of portable extinguishers
○ Fire safety equipment
■ Fire detection and warning facility
■ Types of heat and smoke detector
○ Fire drills and fire safety training
● Fire safety laws
○ Read more on our blog

3. Fire risk assessment: Why and how?
A fire risk assessment refers to a careful investigation of your premises and the people who use the
premises for preventing any risk from fire. It helps you to understand the potential risks involved and the
required fire safety precautions for the safety of people.
Is a fire risk assessment mandatory?
Yes, it is a legal requirement. Except for people who are living in a single private home, all of us need to
carry out a fire risk assessment for a building we are responsible for.
You have to hire a competent person for the job if you don’t have the expertise. In short, it is your duty to
identify the risks and hazards in your premises. Finally, you have to take action for fire safety. Learn more
about your legal requirements here.
How to carry out a fire risk assessment?
In general, we follow the five key steps for fire risk assessment:
1. Identifying the potential fire hazards
2. Identifying the people who are at risk
3. Evaluating, removing or reducing the identified risks
4. Recording the finding, preparing an emergency plan and providing required training
5. Reviewing and updating the risk assessment regularly

5. Fire safety and evacuation plans
In your evacuation plan for fire safety, you need to exhibit that:
● You have clear passageways for all the escape routes.
● The escape routes are clearly marked, and the routes are as short and direct as possible.
● You have enough exits and routes for everyone concerned.
● You got the emergency doors free of obstacles so that they can open easily.
● The emergency lighting is in place wherever it’s required.
● Arrangements have been made to train all the employees about the escape routes and fire safety
procedures.
● You designated safe meeting points for the staff in case of an emergency evacuation.
Fire fighting resources
You must arrange for all types of equipment required for fighting a fire on your premises – home or
business. In addition, make sure that all resources are properly installed, tested and preserved. Finally,
your staff has to receive training on the usage of safety equipment.
The maintenance and testing of fire safety equipment will include regular checking of:
● All fire alarm systems.
● The emergency lighting.
● The faults in systems and equipment.
● All escape routes (which should be free of obstacles) and the floors.
● All fire escapes so that they open easily.
● Automatic fire doors must close properly.
● Fire exit signs are in place.
Download fire safety maintenance checklist

6. Different classes of fire and fire extinguishers
For a specific class of fire, you have to use a specific type of fire extinguisher. In the United Kingdom,
fires can be of any of the following types:
Type of
fire in
the UK
Fires involve ... Flammable things
include ...
Class A
Involve flammable solids.
Wood, textiles,
rubber, paper,
several types of
plastics, some
organic
carbon-based
compounds.
Flammable liquids
or liquefiable solids. Petrol, oil, paint, some waxes,
and plastics. Not cooking fats
or oils.

7. Class B
Class C
Combustible gases. Natural gas,
hydrogen, propane,
butane.
Class D1
Combustible metals. Sodium,
magnesium,
potassium.

8. Electrical2
Materials found in class A and
B fires. The electrical risk
provided that a conductive
agent is used to control this
type of fire.
Electrical appliances,
wiring, other
electrical objects in
the zone of the fire.
Class F
Cooking fats and
oils. Cooking fats and oils at high
temperatures. On fire, the
temperature exceeds the
temperature of other
flammable liquids.
For more information on the fire classification, please visit Euro Fire Protection website.

9. Types of portable extinguishers
Different types of portable extinguishers are used for different types of fires. Additionally, the colour codes
of the fire extinguishers are helpful to differentiate the specific type of fire extinguishers.
Water

10. For wood,
paper, textile
and solid
material
fires
Don’t use it
on liquid,
electrical or
metal fires.
Used for class A
fire.
Dangerous
for liquid
and electric
fires.

11. er
For liquid and electrical
fires
Don’t use it on metal
fires.
Used for class A, B, C,
electrical fires.

12. Safe up to 1000V.
Foam
For use on liquid
fires
Don’t use it on
electrical or metal
fires.

13. Used for class A and B
fires.
Not suitable for
domestic use.
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
For liquid and electrical
fires

14. Do not use it on metal
fires.
Used on class B and electrical
fires.
Safe on high and low
voltages.

15. Wet chemical
For fires that
involve cooking
oils and fats
Don’t use it on
liquid, electrical
or metal fires.
Used for class A and F
fires

16. Used at
extremely high
temperatures.
Water mist
Suitable for almost all
types of fires

17. Don't use on metal or
electrical fires*.
Used for class A, B, C, F,
and electrical fires.
*Applicable to live
electrical equipment
up to 1000V.
1 For class D fires, we can only use a specialised dry powder extinguisher with a low-velocity applicator.
2 Defined as class E fire in Australia, goes under class C in the US
It’s important to know how to use a fire extinguisher. Just make sure that you are using the right one
though. If you are an employer, show your staff where the fire extinguishers are. Furthermore, the
detailed instructions for using a fire extinguisher are available on its body.

18. Fire safety equipment
Fire detection and warning facility
You need to have a fire detection and warning system in place for your premises. There are mainly four
types of detectors based on the type of building and the activities within the establishment.
Types of heat and smoke detector
Type Where do you
find them?
How do
they
work?
Advantages
Heat
detector
Storage facilities,
warehouses,
machine rooms or
places with
minimum dwelling.
Goes off
when there
is significant
heat in the
premises.
Fewer false alarms as it
doesn't react to steam, dust,
humidity, precipitation.
Ionisation
smoke
detector
Mainly in
commercial
kitchens and
restaurants, homes.
Activates
with the
presence of
smoke in
the air.
Excellent for detecting fast
burning fires.

19. Photoelectri
c smoke
detector
Homes,
commercial
facilities. Operates
when a beam of
light detects
smoke.
Operates
when a
beam of
light detects
smoke.
Identifies small smouldering
fires quicker than ionisation
smoke detectors.
Combined
ionisation
and
photoelectri
c smoke
detector
Homes, industrial
facilities.
Raises alarm
in the
presence of
smoke.
Best smoke detector as it
works as a 2-in-1 system, and
the smoke disrupts both
electric current and the beam
of light.
Fire drills and fire safety training
In commercial settings, every employer needs to train and inform all the employees regarding fire risks
and safety procedures.
On top of providing training facilities to the staff, you must carry out at least one fire drill per year and
record the findings. The records must include the fire safety and evaluation plan of your premises.
Fire safety laws
Fire safety law in the United Kingdom3 is applicable to all types of places, especially commercial
establishments. The employers and property owners are responsible for the safety of the people residing
and working in any industrial space.
If you occupy, operate or have control over a specific premise, you possibly have responsibilities of
taking fire safety measures. The contractors and tenants also have certain duties regarding the
maintenance and repairing of a certain establishment.

20. Employers are always responsible for the safety of the employees who work for them. As an employer,
you need to comply with the fire safety laws and carry out the following tasks on a regular basis:
● Assess fire safety risks and hazards;
● Plan actions to reduce the risk of fire; and
● Take necessary precautions to protect people from the harms caused by fire.
3 In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; in Scotland, the Fire (Scotland)
Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006; in Northern Ireland, the Fire and Rescue
Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Take a fire warden training course
As a responsible business owner or a concerned citizen, fire safety training course is a potential lifesaver
in case of any potential incident. Save valuable lives and properties with a basic fire safety training. At the
end of the day, you can protect invaluable human lives if you know what to do during a fire emergency.
Take our compliance course on fire safety and get certified
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