HerefordWorcester Fire & Rescue Service
Explanatory notes & Guidance to the Completion of a Fire Risk Assessment
Section 1: General Information
Responsible Person
The person who is responsible for premises being used for an activity would be responsible for the safety of themselves and others who use the premises.
This would be:
• The employer (where there is one);
• The person in control of the premises in connection with the carrying on of a trade,
business or other undertaking (for profit or not);
• The owner;
• Any other person who to any extent exercises control over the premises.(the fire alarm installer may be the Responsible Person for the fire alarm)
In the case of a ‘body corporate’ the company secretary’s name and contact details should be included.
Person Carrying out the Risk Assessment
Needs to be a Competent Person - Appointed by the Responsible Person (RP) this can
be anyone from the RP to a fire warden or a fire alarm service engineer, whom may be
directly employed or a subcontractor but the important word is competent.
(See explanation)
Suggested Date for Review
A risk assessment should not be a static document it needs constant monitoring and
periodic review. When you record your risk assessment you should set a date to review it. This could be quarterly once every six months or annually, depending on the nature of your business and how quickly it changes. Additionally you should review it if your business:
· Introduces new machinery
· Introduces new systems of work
· Alters or moves premises
· Expands rapidly
You should note the date of your review but only need to change or alter your records if
there are new or significant findings, or if your existing precautions prove inadequate or
can be improved
Signature
Signed by the Person who Carried out or Reviewed the Risk Assessment.
Register of persons with responsibilities
This could include details of fire alarm and emergency lighting contractors, employees responsible for routine testing of equipment and training etc.
Section 1
1.1The Premises
1.1.1 This is a brief description of your premises with regard to the number of floors
your business occupies (including basements)
1.1.2The approximate floor area of each floor your business occupies
1.1.3The approximate floor area in total (gross)
1.1.4The approximate ground floor area of your premises (if applicable)
1.1.5 Brief Details of Construction
There are three primary classes of construction:-
Class A - complete non-combustible construction.
Class B - traditional construction (non-combustible walls with combustible floors i.e.
wooden floors)
Class C - combustible construction (timber floors and walls).
1.1.6Occupancy or the Use of Building
Examples of which are: -
Office
Shop
Factory
1.1.7Fire Appliance Access Maintained
Fire appliance access to buildings is necessary to enable firefighting operations to take place this may be for high reach appliances such as turntable ladders or to enable pumping appliances to supply water and equipment. Access requirements increase with building height and area, access routes and hard standing should comply with the recommendations made in the Building Regulations, Approved Document B.
Where risers are provided there should be vehicle access to within 18m of each inlet
Typically appliances require a minimum access width of 3.7m (3.1 for gateways) and hard standing capacities of 12.5 tonnes for appliances and 17 tonnes for high reach appliances (where necessary).
1.2 The Relevant Persons
1.2.1 This is the maximum number of employees at any one given time, an example
would be the change over of shifts.
1.2.2 This includes anyone that legally resorts to your premises paid or unpaid.
1.2.3 This is the total of the above two numbers.
1.3 Record of Previous Fire Incidents and False Alarms
Although statistical information shows that 90% of installed Automatic Fire Detection
(AFD) systems operate in an entirely satisfactory manner and protect life and property
there are still 10% that cause problems. These problems question the credibility of AFD
systems and are a disruption and financial burden to commerce and industry. They are
also a burden to the Fire Service as they reduce our availability for actual fires and are a
financial liability.
False alarms:
• Cost you loss of production
• Cost you loss of business
• Cost you money as a taxpayer and ratepayer
• May delay fire engines attending a genuine call to your premises
• May increase evacuation time in a real fire Where an alarm has proved to be false, the following immediate actions should be takenby the responsible person or a person who has been delegated this duty.
Actions following any false alarm:
• Where possible, identify the particular detector or call point which has initiatedthe alarm. If detectors having individual indicator lights are in use, theseindicators will be cancelled by re-setting, therefore it is important that thedetectors are examined before the system is re-set.
• Where possible, establish the cause of the alarm. It is possible that the actualcause of the alarm will have been lost in the operations resulting from thealarm; where this is the case, a note should be kept of any events or activitiesnear the detector immediately prior to the alarm.
• Record the false alarm in the log book and inform the organisation responsiblefor servicing the alarm system.
Actions following a fault:
If a fault has been shown to exist, either by the system’s own monitoring or by any other
method, then the responsible person should ensure that the following actions are taken:
• Determine the area affected by the fault and decide whether special action(such as fire patrols) is needed in that area.
• If possible, determine the reason for the fault, or note the activities
immediately prior to the fault in the area affected.
• Record the fault in the log book providing as much information as possible,
inform the organisation responsible for servicing and arrange for immediate
repair.
Section 3 of British Standard 5839-1: 2002 tasks the Fire Service and responsible
designers/contractors with decreasing the number of false alarm calls. Future legislation
may accommodate changes to allow the Fire Authority to take appropriate action if a Fire
Alarm System consistently produces false alarms at unacceptable rates. The FireAuthority may take formal enforcement measures when/where appropriate. To facilitate
a reduction in the number of unwanted false alarms, multi-state detectors arerecommended for fire alarm systems that require automatic fire detection.
1.4 Other Relevant Information
1.4.1 A safety certificate under Part III of the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport
Act 1987 (‘the 1987 Act’) is required in respect of the use, at a sports groundwhich is not a designated sports ground under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act1975, for each stand which provides covered accommodation for 500 or morespectators to view activities at the ground. Such a stand is referred to as a‘regulated stand’
1.4.2 EnforcementNotices: Issued by the Fire Authority to enforce compliance with the Order, an Alterations Notice is issued if the Authority believes that fire safety may be compromised if premises are altered, Prohibition Notices are issued to prohibit or restrict the use of premises, only issued in more serious instances.
1.4.3 A Premises Licence authorises the premises in question to carry out licensable
activities. Any business that does one or more of these three activities will need
a premises licence:-
· Sale or supply of alcohol
· Provision of regulated entertainment
· Provision of late night refreshment (that is the sale of hot food or drink at any
time between 11pm and 5am)
Registration: If you store or sell fireworks or other explosives you will need either
(depending on the quantities involved) to register or obtain a licence from the relevant Authority.
1.4.4 All relevant fire safety arrangements must be recorded.
1.4.5 More than one occupier of the building.
1.4.6. Residential floors or areas.
Section 2: The Prescribed Information (1)
Any group of persons identified by the assessment as being especially at risk.
2.1.2 Disabled persons may require additional assistance to escape in the event of fire.
A plan of how they may be helped should be drawn up, (personal evacuation plan), and tested in the courseof the regular fire drills. Are lightweight evacuation chairs available? Are thererefuge areas at each level above the ground floor? Has each disabled person apersonal "buddy" who is assigned to stay with them throughout the evacuation?
Is the building equipped with evacuation lifts that may be used by people inwheelchairs in the event of fire? Are there ramps in place at all changes of levelon escape routes? Does the fire alarm system give a visual warning of fire forthose who are profoundly deaf? As an aid to those who are blind, are theretactile thresholds at the top and bottom of each flight of stairs?
2.1.3 Lone workers are those who work by themselves without close or directsupervision. This may include those who work alone in a specific area or building(e.g. shop-workers, home-workers, cleaners, security, library workers, etc) ormay include mobile workers, who work alone but in a number of locations (e.g.maintenance, tradespersons, cleaning supervisors, drivers, Staff/Studentscarrying out research surveys, those who visit external organisations, i.e. homevisitors, school liaison personnel).Some measures to consider may include:
· specific information, instruction and training (e.g. emergency procedures, outof-hours procedures, personal safety training, etc).
· increased communication systems / procedures (e.g. regular pre-arrangedcontact by e.g. mobile phone)
· increased supervision
· increased security (e.g. cctv, secure access, personal alarms)
· increased lighting at entrances, exits, car parks.
2.1.4 Where a young person is to be employed (under the age of 18) then relevantinformation from the risk assessment should be provided to a parent/guardian ofthe young person before they are employed. (See Appendix A)
Matters to consider are:-
· the inexperience, lack of awareness of risks and immaturity of young persons
· the fitting-out and layout of premises
· the nature, degree and duration of exposure to physical and chemical agents
· the form, range, and use of work equipment and the way in which it ishandled
· the organisation of processes and activities.
2.2 The Responsible Person Must Where Necessary Appoint Competent Persons
2.2.1 The competent person or fire risk assessor need not possess any specific
academic qualifications but should:
· understand the relevant fire safety legislation;
· have appropriate education, training, knowledge and experience in theprinciples of fire safety;
· have an understanding of fire development and the behaviour of people infire;
· understand the fire hazards, fire risks and relevant factors associated withoccupants at special risk within the buildings of the type in question, and haveappropriate training and/or experience in carrying out fire risk assessments.
Those working in high-risk areas should receive specific training in safe operatingprocedures and emergency responses. Where appropriate, training should cover:
· standards and work practices for safe operation of plant and equipment andsafe handling of flammable materials (especially flammable liquids);
· housekeeping in process areas;
· reporting of faults and incidents, including leaks and spills of flammableliquids;
· emergency procedures for plant or processes in the event of fire, spills orleaks; and
· relevant legal requirements
· Further guidance on training is contained in the Approved Code of Practice to
the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992.
2.2.3· Are existing fire safety measures within the premises adequate?
· Are sources of fuel and ignition controlled?
· Is there adequate means for detecting fire and giving warning?
· Is the lighting and emergency lighting adequate?
· Are there adequate means of escape in case of fire from all parts of the premises?
· Has adequate and appropriate fire-fighting equipment been provided, and is itsuitably located?
· Do you have adequate signs and notices?
· Is there an adequate testing and maintenance regime in place for fire precautionswithin the premises?
2.2.4 Instruction should be given by a competent person to ensure that everyone atwork is instructed, preferably at least twice and in all cases at least once in eachperiod of 12months. It is particularly important that management ensure that allnewly appointed staff are made aware of the means of escape and fireprocedures at the commencement of their employment. Instruction and trainingshould provide for the following:
· the action to be taken upon discovering a fire,
· the action to be taken upon hearing the fire alarm,
· raising the alarm, including the location of the alarm call points and alarmindicator panels,
· the correct method of calling the Fire Service,
· the location and use of fire equipment,
· knowledge of the method of operation of any special escape door fastenings,
· appreciation of the importance of fire doors and the need to close all doors atthe time of a fire and on hearing the fire alarm,
· stopping machines and processes and isolating power supplies whereappropriate,
· the operating of all escape doors, not in regular use, to ensure that theyfunction satisfactorily,
· evacuation of the building to an assembly point at a place of safety (where
members of the public are present, this will include reassuring them andguiding and assisting them to exits, etc),
· a roll call procedure where appropriate.
2.2.5 Procedures need to be in place for liaising with the fire Service on arrival and
notifying them of any special risks, e.g. the location of highly flammable materials,
and if all personnel and visitors are accounted for.
Section 3: Fire Safety Arrangements
3.2
· All gas consumers are advised to have appliances checked for safety at leastevery 12 months by a CORGI-registered installer (Council for Registered GasInstallers). Anyone carrying out work on gas appliances or fittings as part of theirbusiness must be competent and registered with CORGI.
· Every electrical installation deteriorates with use and age. It is important for theperson responsible for the maintenance of the installation to be sure that thesafety of users is not put at risk, and that the installation continues to be in a safeand serviceable condition. An appliance of less than 18kg in mass that isintended to be moved while in operation, or an appliance which can easily bemove from one place to another such as a toaster, food mixer, vacuum cleaner,fan heater is deemed to be a portable appliance. Regular inspections of suchequipment are a requirement of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1990. Checkthe condition of all the cables and check that the appliances are fitted withcorrectly rated fuses; a fuse of too high a rating can lead to a fire in the appliancethat it is supposed to protect.
· Gangways and escape routes must never be obstructed. Obstructions such asunwanted furniture, unattended tea trolleys, coat racks, stocks of stationary,cleaners’ equipment, newly delivered goods, or goods awaiting collection allreduce the available width of escape routes and make it more difficult to evacuatepeople sufficiently quickly in the event of fire. Sources of heat or electricalequipment such as portable heaters, automatic vending machines, photocopiersetc. must never be sited on escape routes. The accumulation of rubbish andcombustible waste materials is a hazard to relevant persons in that it adds to thefire load of the building. Also, because arson is often an apparently motivelesscrime, prompted merely by the availability of combustible materials, its presencewill increase the likelihood of an arson attack. All rubbish and combustible wasteshould be cleared from the building on a daily basis and securely stored,preferably in lockable metal skips, outside the building and away from fire exitsand not under any overhanging structure.
· Extension leads may constitute a tripping hazard and their use should be kept toa minimum. Extension leads and socket outlets should not be overloaded, andreel-type extension leads should be fully unwound if the appliance that theysupply is of a wattage that is greater than that which may be used with anunwound lead. If the use of extension leads or adaptors is going to beprolonged, consideration should be made, to using a residual current device,hardwiring the equipment or fitting more electrical sockets.
· Hazard signs are there to instruct, advise and forewarn staff and visitors ofpotential dangers. All hazard signs should comply with BS 5499 and the Healthand Safety (safety signs and signals) Regulations 1996.
· In some premises it is important to avoid an “institutional” environment. However,signs must be used, where necessary, to help people identify escape routes, findfire-fighting equipment and emergency fire telephones. These signs are requiredunder the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 andmust comply with the provisions of those Regulations. A fire risk assessment thatdetermines that no escape signs are required (because, for example, trained staffwill always be available to help members of the public to escape routes), isunlikely to be acceptable to an enforcing authority. For a sign to comply withthese Regulations it must be in pictogram form. The pictogram can besupplemented by text if this is considered necessary to make the sign easilyunderstood, but you must not have a safety sign that uses text only.
· Faulty heaters are an obvious, and common, source of ignition. The use ofportable heaters is not recommended because they may be placed near tocombustible or flammable materials.
· Where premises are closed at night or weekends, an out of hours contacttelephone number should be displayed for use in an emergency (key holder).
· Careless disposal of smoking materials is a common cause of fire. If it isenforceable, institute a total no smoking policy. However, such a policy mayencourage furtive smoking in out-of-the-way places such as storage areas andthis can have disastrous consequences. It is probably safest to set asidedesignated smoking areas that are provided with an adequate supply of largemetal or glass ashtrays, the contents of which are regularly and safely disposedof throughout the working day. The smoking area should be provided with asuitable fire extinguisher and be separated from the rest of the building by firedoors that are kept shut.
Arson is the single most common cause of fire in commercial premises and accounts for 45% of all serious fires. Contact your local fire safety officer for advice, alternatively visit the Arson Prevention Bureau web site ( See appendix F.