Fire Risk Assessment Communal Areas of Residential Properties

FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT – COMMUNAL AREAS OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES

Establishment / Premises:
Responsible Person and Deputy
Location:
Nature of Premises:
Number of residents:
Date Assessment Carried Out:
Description of Premises /

Construction Type / Age
Number of Buildings / Floors
Number / Use of Rooms

Details of any special risk i.e. explosives, chemicals, oxygen cylinders and particularly vulnerable tenants

Stages of Fire Risk Assessment

Stage 1. / Identify the fire hazards i.e. readily combustible materials, highly flammable substances, sources of heat/ignition, structural features.

Stage 2. / Identify persons at risk and also any staff or other people i.e. visitors, contractors and members of the public who may be especially at risk.

Stage 3. / Assessment of the existing fire safety arrangementsand risks

Stage 4. / Development of Action Plan with realistic target dates to eliminate or reduce the fire hazards and improve the existing fire safety arrangements as appropriate.

Stage 5. / Establish monitoring and review procedure.

Signature of person carrying out assessment:……………………………………….

Position:…………………………………………………………………………………..

Stage 1. - Identification of Hazards.

This risk assessment should be carried out by a surveyor and/or the health and safety advisor who has received the appropriate fire safety training or a competent contractor acting on behalf of Six Town Housing. The current post-holders in each directorate who has received fire safety training are listed below:-

Health and Safety Advisor

SLA Quality Monitoring Officer

Maintenance Officer – Planned Repairs

If you are unsure of the answer to any of the questions, mark the question as “don’t know” and assign an action plan number. Specialist assistance may be required in some cases.

The following checklist breaks down the hazards and controls into sections:--

Means of Escape

Fire Alarm/Detection

Emergency Lighting

Management Systems

No /

Item

/ Yes / No / Don’t Know / N/A / Action Plan
No.

MEANS OF ESCAPE

1. / Are there any ducts or flues that would allow the spread of smoke or flame?
2. / Are there any holes that have been cut into walls for services etc?
If so, has suitable fire-stopping materials been inserted or replaced? This includes barrier material in roof or ceiling cavities.
3. / Are there any undivided voids above the ceilings or beneath the floors? i.e. gaps between the top of the wall and the ceiling or the bottom of a wall and the floor.
4. /

Are large areas of walls or ceilings covered with flammable linings on designated means of escape?

5. /

Are fire doors wedged open or kept open by other means?

6. /

Are any of the escape routes excessively long? Please see fire safety guidance notes for further information.

7. / Any other risks identified by managers which may be site specific
8. /

Are there any dead ends or inner rooms?

Add additional lines if required - expand

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

9. /

Are any highly flammable materials used or stored within the communal area?

Where LPG cylinders or oxygen cylinders are present, are their suitable storage arrangements and appropriate signage?

10. /

Are all boiler rooms, electrical rooms and plant rooms free of combustible storage?

11. / Are there any other readily combustible materials in the communal area that present a fire hazard (displays / decorations, polystyrene tiles, foam etc.)?
12. / Has there been a history of vandalism or site intrusions that could indicate that there is an increased risk of arson?
13. / Are procedures in place to ensure and maintain an adequate standard of housekeeping, particularly within boiler rooms, electrical rooms, plant rooms and stairwells?
14. /

Are any refuse bins in a secure compound detached at least 8 meters away from the building or otherwise secured in a place the same distance away?

15. /

Are cupboards and storerooms locked when not in use?

16. /

Any other risks identified by managers which are site specific

Add additional lines if required - expand

Stage 2. - Persons at Risk.

No /

Item

/ Yes / No / Don’t Know / Action Plan No.

Means of Escape

17. / Are escape and evacuation routes protected?
18. / Are evacuation routes within the maximum permitted distance to travel as per fire safety guidance?
19. / Are evacuation routes of an adequate width?
Fire Alarm/Detection
20. / Are there adequate arrangements in place to ensure that there is early warning of fire? (if automatic detection is not prescribed).
Where a fire is confirmed do tenants know that they need to contact the fire brigade by dialling 999 i.e. are relevant fire action notices displayed?
21. / Are there adequate arrangements to ensure tenants receive early warning of fire?
Management Systems
22. / Are there suitable notices of the actions to be taken in the event of fire?
23. / Is there adequate / clear sign posting of escape routes and fire exits?
24. / Are all tenants made aware of fire risks and precautions that are in force?

Stage 3a. – Existing Fire Safety Arrangements Checklist.

Existing Fire Precautions / Yes / No / Don’t Know / Action Plan No.
MEANS OF ESCAPE
25. / Are the fire doors in sound condition, unobstructed and fitted with automatic closers and intumescent strips where required?
26. / Are emergency escape routes clear and unobstructed?
27. / Are emergency escape routes adequately signed?
28. / If the premises are served by a single staircase, is the staircase adequately protected according to fire safety guidance?
29. / If the premises are served by more than one staircase are the staircases adequately separated and protected according to fire safety guidance?
30. / Are there any ‘dead-end’ situations in the premises?
31. / Are external means of escape free from obstruction?
32. / Do the final exits lead you to a place of safety?*
FIRE ALARM/FIRE DETECTION
33. / Has a smoke / heat detection system linked to the fire alarm been installed, as per manufacturers recommendations and/or fire safety guidance where required?
Are all or most areas covered?
34. / Is the detection and/or fire alarm system examined, tested and maintained at suitable intervals, as per manufacturer’s recommendations and/or fire safety guidance?
EMERGENCY LIGHTING
35. / Has an appropriate emergency lighting system been installed?
36. / Is the emergency lighting system tested and maintained at suitable intervals as recommended by fire safety guidance?

* A place of safety is an area that allows for complete evacuation from the immediate area. For example, exit into a courtyard which is secured by a gate/padlock would not be a place of safety.

SIX TOWN HOUSING - FIRERISK ASSESSMENT

WORK ACTIVITY / PROCESS / SITUATION:

ASSESSMENT REF NO: /

WORKPLACE DETAILS:

PERSONNEL INVOLVED:

Reference No

HAZARD

/ PERSONS
AFFECTED / RISK
(H-M-L) / POTENTIAL
SEVERITY
(H-M-L) / CURRENT
CONTROL
MEASURES / IS THIS
ADEQUATE? / FURTHER ACTION
REQUIRED / BY WHO
AND WHEN
Please quantify numbers where possible or estimate if not known

ASSESSMENT PREPARED BY: / JOB TITLE:
MANAGERS SIGNATURE: / DATE: / REVIEW DATE:

Stage 4. - Action Plan to Improve Fire Safety Arrangements.

Action Plan No / Action Required/Comments / Persons Responsible / Target Date / Complete
(Date & Sign)
Add new lines for each action

Stage 5. Monitoring and Review Procedure

Item / Method / Frequency / Person Responsible
Fire Prevention /

Housekeeping:

Electrical Equipment:

Sources of Ignition:

Fire Detection Equipment /

Examination and Testing

Fire Alarm /

Examination and Testing

Emergency Lighting /

Examination and Testing

Means of Escape /

Escape Routes:

Fire Doors:

Fire Exits:

Fire Fighting Equipment /

Examination and Testing
Training

Information and Training

PLEASE NOTE - This Assessment must be reviewed:

(i)Whenever there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid; or,

(ii)There has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates.

(iii)If none of the above apply – then annually.

Where, as a result of any such review, changes to this assessment are required a

re-assessment must be carried out.

FURTHER GUIDANCE CAN BE OBTAINED AS FOLLOWS:-

Proformas, fire safety guides, Six Town Housing Fire Policy and other associated fire safety literature can be found on the health and safety pages on the intranet.

Fire Safety guides can be located on the intranet as above or by accessing the internet at the following address:

The guides which are available are listed below:-

Guide 1Office and Shops

Guide 2Factories and Warehouses

Guide 3Sleeping Accommodation

Guide 4Residential Care Premises

Guide 5Educational Premises

Guide 6Small and Medium Places of Assembly

Guide 7Large Places of Assembly

Guide 8Theatres and Cinemas

Guide 9Outdoor Events

Guide 10Healthcare Products

Guide 11Transport Premises and Facilities

RELEVANT BRITISH STANDARDS

Fire AlarmsBS 5839

Emergency LightingBS 5266

Fire Fighting EquipmentBS 5306

Graphical Signs and SymbolsBS 5499