Fire safety iosh

Fire Safety
For IOSH North of Scotland Branch
Nick Broom

Safety/Welfare Brief
info@safetymentor.co.uk

My Fire Safety Background...

Overview of the extent of the problem
Source: www.communities.gov.uk

A brief historical perspective
1189 – London required stone walls and banned
thatched roofs
1971 - Fire Precautions Act of 1971
1985 - Fire Safety and Places of Sport Act
1987 – Fire Precautions (sub-surface Railway
Stations) Regulations

Cont...
1995 – Prevention of Fire and Explosion and
Emergency Response Regulations
1997 – Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations
2002 – Dangerous Substances and Explosive
Atmospheres Regulations
So where are we now..?

Current Law in Scotland
The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005
The Fire Safety (Scotland)
Regulations 2006

Taking an integrated approach
Fire safety is best managed as part of the overall risk
management strategy.
Perhaps as an integrated part of the health and
safety policy/organisation/arrangements?

The Fire (Scotland) Act – Part 3
Carry out fire safety risk assessment
Identify measures based on above RA
Implement measures (risk reduction principles)
Fire safety arrangements for ongoing control
Complying with ‘Regulations’
Reviewing RA
Keeping records
Applies to Employers and those in Control of
Premises – Duties SFARP

Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations
Fire safety risk assessment
Fire safety arrangements
Elimination/reduction risk - dangerous substances
Procedures for serious/imminent danger
Maintenance of systems etc
Safety Assistance (nominated competent person)
Information, training and cooperation
Means of escape

Means of Escape
“structural means whereby a safe route in the
event of fire is provided for persons to travel
from any point in a building to a place of safety
(without external assistance)” source PAS 79:2007
Scottish fire safety law is primarily concerned with
‘life safety’ not property/facility loss.
Always wise to link Business Continuity Management
to fire safety...

Sector Specific Guidance
Care homes
Offices, shops and similar premises
Factories and storage premises
Educational and day care
Sleeping accommodation (large and small)
Transport premises
Places of entertainment and assembly
Healthcare premises

Daily Checks (non prescriptive)
Escape Routes – ‘walk through’ premises
Fire alarm control panel – active and operational

Weekly Checks/Tests (non-prescriptive)
Fire alarm test – call points in rotation (BS 5839-1: 2008)
Check disabling devices / door retainers function correctly
Smoke control systems
All safety signs and notices
Escape routes – exit locking mechanisms (functioning)
All fire door self-closing devices function correctly
Check sprinkler system

Monthly Checks/Tests (non prescriptive)
Functional test – emergency lighting (BS 5266-4: 1999)
Visual check of fire extinguishers and hose reels
Fire doors – glazing, intumescent strips, smoke seals etc
Fire doors – warping of door and frame etc
Sprinkler system
Also: specified checks for: 3 Monthly, 6 Monthly and
Annually.

Fire safety arrangements
In carrying out duties to which a person is subject, a
person must make and give effect to such
arrangements as are appropriate, having regard to
the size of his or her undertaking and the nature of
its activities, for the effective planning,
organisation, control, monitoring and review of
the fire safety measures within the meaning of the
Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.
Familiar to you? MHSWR...

Fire Risk Assessment
Undertaken by competent person
Identify people at risk
identify fire hazards: sources of ignition/fuel &
oxygen
Evaluate and decide if existing fire safety
measures are adequate (see next slide)
Record
Review

Evaluating the adequacy of measures
Likelihood of fire starting
Consequences to people
Opportunities for removal or reduction of hazards
Remove or reduce risk to people
Fire alarm/warning
Fire-fighting equipment
Escape routes and lighting
Signs & notices
Maintenance
Effective management & staff training

A useful ‘publicly
available
specification’ to
help maintain focus
on the key areas of
a fire risk
assessment.

Managing Fire Safety
Fire safety policy
Emergency fire action plan
Fire safety information and training
Fire drills
Maintenance of fire safety measures
Recording information and keeping records

Fire Safety Policy
Planning / Organisation / Control / Monitor / Review
Stated senior management commitment
Systematic approach – priorities & objectives
Organisational structure to improve performance
Named individual - overall management responsibility
Arrangements for reviewing fire risk assessment
Provision of adequate numbers of trained staff
Maintenance of all ‘means of escape’
Contingency plans for ‘out of service’ systems

The Emergency Fire Action Plan
How people are warned of fire
Actions to be taken by staff
Arrangements for calling emergency services
Specific actions of person in charge
Evacuation procedures
Assembly point arrangements
Fire-fighting arrangements (trained staff)
Process & plant isolations etc
Procedures for meeting emergency services

Means of Escape – Considerations
Time allowed for evacuation
Travel distances
Number of occupants
Exit widths
Number / distribution of exits

Evacuation Times
Class A - completely non combustible construction i.e.
floors, walls and supporting structure of brick or concrete etc
Class B - traditional construction i.e. non combustible walls
with combustible floors
Class C - combustible construction i.e. timber floors and
walls
A = 3 minutes
B = 2.5 minutes
C = 2 minutes

Travel Distance – ‘Industrial’
Single Direction More than 1 direction
Factories, storage buildings
etc 18 m 45 m
Higher risk storage
buildings
15 m 32 m
Within a place of special
fire risk
9 m 18 m
Always check specific guidance...

Adequate Distribution of Exits - 45º Rule

X Unacceptable distribution - 45º Rule

Occupancy load factors (density factor)
Factory Production area = 5
Storage and warehouse = 30
Divide useable floor area (m²) by load factor to
obtain max number of permitted persons.
**Check the guidance relevant to your sector to get the correct
figures**

Escape route widths
1200mm if wheelchair access available
Reduce to 1100mm if no wheelchairs
<225 people = 850mm width min
<100 people = 750mm width min
The flow rate is 40 people per minute through a
unit of exit width i.e. each 750mm width.

Minimum escape routes
Occupancy capacity of
room or storey
Min number of exits Min number of storey
escape routes
Not more than 60 1 1
61 - 600 2 2
More than 600 3 3
Always check specific guidance...

Some useful web addresses
http://www.nebosh.org.uk/qualifications/
NEBOSH Fire Safety Management Certificate
http://www.communities.gov.uk/fire/researchan
dstatistics/firestatistics/firestatisticsuk/
Govt. Stats
http://www.infoscotland.com/firelaw/
Scottish fire safety guides to comply with the law

Thank You
Any final questions?

Fire safety iosh

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