Fire Safety Guidance

INTRODUCTION

One of the greatest hazards affecting a place of work is fire; a lost life can never be replaced.

Although the main purpose of fire legislation is to protect life, the full cost of lost premises, lost output and lost jobs in a workplace damaged by fire can never be recovered.

This guidance provides a broad outline of what needs to be done to protect the workplace and people in it from the hazard of fire.

MAIN HAZARDS

Heat and flame
Smoke and fumes
Explosion

CONTROL MEASURES

Fire prevention measures

Once a fire has started it may spread very rapidly, producing flames, smoke and possibly, toxic fumes. The emphasis must be on fire prevention rather than fire fighting.

The following are the most common causes of fires in work premises:

Wilful fire raising and arson
Cigarettes/matches
Fixed or portable heaters
Hot processes
Faulty or misused electrical equipment
Obstruction of equipment ventilation
Static electricity
Accumulation of combustible materials
Flammable liquids and gases
Inadequate supervision of cooking activities.

General requirements

All workplaces must be provided with a means of detecting and giving warning in case of fire, adequate means of escape and means of fighting fire. The nature, complexity and extent of these will depend on the size of the premises, the number of people who normally work there, the nature of the work processes and substances stored and used etc. Specific requirements relating to fire detection and warning systems, means of escape and means of fighting fire should be determined by risk assessment.

A fire risk assessment will help you determine the chances of a fire occurring and the risks to people using the premises. The potential for fire starting depends on the presence of three things:

A source of ignition
Fuel
Oxygen

You should consider each of these in relation to your premises to help determine how and where fire could start. The next step is to establish who could be harmed. When this has been done, the risk can be evaluated, and a decision made as to whether or not existing controls are adequate. To help in this decision making process, information on particular control measures is provided below.

Good housekeeping

The risk of fire can be greatly reduced by a regime of good housekeeping within the workplace. The need for good housekeeping cannot be over-emphasised. Carelessness and neglect not only increase the likelihood of fire but also create conditions that may cause any fire to spread more rapidly.

Cleaning should be carried out, where practicable, after work ceases and cleaners instructed to remove all combustible waste from the premises before leaving.
Rubbish should not be kept in the building overnight or stored in close proximity to the building.
Flammable waste and contaminated rags should be kept in separate metal bins with close fitting metal lids.
Flammable materials, liquids and gases should be properly stored.

Smoking

Where smoking is permitted, provide deep metal ashtrays. Ashtrays should not be emptied into combustible waste unless the waste is to be removed from the building immediately.
Smoking policies should be strictly enforced, especially in places which are infrequently used e.g. store rooms. Suitable 'No Smoking' notices should be conspicuously displayed in such areas.
Employees should be left in no doubt that contravention of the smoking policy may lead to disciplinary action.

Means of detecting and warning of fire

The systems and arrangements for detecting and warning of fire will vary according to the risk. Large premises where flammable materials are used may require sophisticated electronic systems whilst in small premises the vigilance of those working there, and a shout of 'fire', may be all that is required.

Electric/electronic detection and warning systems should be regularly inspected and maintained by a competent person in accordance with the relevant standard and manufacturer's recommendations.

Electrical fire detection and fire warning systems

Electrical fire detection and fire warning systems must be kept switched on when the workplace is in use. This also applies to remotely monitored equipment when the workplace is unoccupied. Systems should be tested weekly for function and to confirm they can be heard throughout the area covered. Where a manual break glass call point system is incorporated, a different call point should be activated for each successive test. It is important that systems can be heard or seen and understood, particularly by disabled people. Electrical systems should be inspected and tested quarterly and annually by a competent person. In noisy areas consideration should be given to visible, in addition to audible, alarms.

Self contained smoke alarms

Self contained, domestic-type smoke alarms should be tested weekly and cleaned annually. Replaceable batteries should be changed at least once a year, in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, or when the low battery warning device operates.

Manually operated fire alarms

Manually operated fire alarms, such as rotary gongs, should be tested weekly to ensure they work and can be heard throughout the workplace.

Provision and maintenance of emergency routes and exits

Generally, other than where the travel distances to a fire exit are short, an alternative means of escape should be provided from all parts of a workplace.

Routes which provide means of escape in one direction only, e.g. from a dead-end or a mezzanine, should be avoided as they may lead people towards the fire in order to escape.
Each escape route should be independent of any other and arranged so that people can move away from a fire in order to escape.
Emergency routes and exits must lead as directly as possible to a place of safety, should be identified by signs and must be kept clear at all times.
The number, distribution and dimensions of emergency routes and exits must be adequate for the workplace, its equipment and the maximum number of persons present at any one time.
Emergency doors should ideally open in the direction of escape.
Sliding or revolving doors must not be used for exits specifically intended as emergency exits.
Emergency doors must not be locked or fastened in such a way that they cannot be easily and immediately opened by any person who may need to use them in an emergency.
Emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in case of failure of their normal lighting.
Stairways, whether internal or external, should be provided with protection to prevent people falling.

Items which present a fire hazard or which could cause an obstruction should not be located in corridors or stairways intended for use as a means of escape. In particular, the following items should not be located in protected routes, or in a corridor or stairwell serving as a sole means of escape:

Portable heaters
Heaters incorporating naked flames or radiant bars
Fixed heaters using a gas supply cylinder, where the cylinder is within the escape route
Oil-fuelled heaters or boilers
Cooking appliances
Upholstered furniture
Coat racks
Temporarily stored items
Lighting using naked flames
Gas boilers, pipes, meters or other fittings (except those permitted in the standards supporting the building regulations and installed in accordance with the Gas Safety Regulations)
Gaming or vending machines
Electrical equipment such as photocopiers
Any items which restrict the width of the escape route.

Where people have to pass through doors in order to escape from the workplace, they should open in the direction of travel where:

More than 50 people may use the door
The door is at or near the foot of a stairwell
The door leads from a high fire risk area
The door is on an exit route from a building used for public assembly.

Fire doors should be capable of being easily and immediately opened.

Where it is necessary to secure outward opening doors while the building is occupied, they should be fitted with a panic latch, a panic bolt or a push pad.

Ideally fire exit doors should never be locked when the premises are occupied. However, where a door is locked by any security device it should be the only fastening on the door and staff must be instructed in its use. A suitable sign or notice should be displayed clearly showing the method of operation. If necessary, a suitable tool for easy operation should be provided.

Emergency Lighting

Escape routes, including external routes, must be provided with sufficient lighting for people to clearly see their way out to safety. Typical areas requiring emergency escape lighting are those without natural light or those occupied at night.

Having assessed the need for emergency lighting, employers must ensure that the system works not only on the complete failure of normal lighting but also in case of localised failure presenting a hazard.

Emergency lighting should:

Indicate the escape routes clearly
Provide illumination along escape routes to allow safe movement towards the final exits
Ensure any fire alarm call points and fire-fighting equipment can be easily located.

Emergency lighting units should be sited to cover specific areas e.g.:

Intersections of corridors
At each exit door
Near each staircase ensuring direct light to each flight
Close to a change in floor level
Outside each final exit
Within lift cars
Close to fire-fighting equipment
Near each fire alarm call point.

The units should be positioned as low as possible but at least 2 metres above floor level. Installation should be by a competent person in accordance with British and/or European standards.

Means of fighting fires

The type of extinguisher provided should be suitable for the risk involved, adequately maintained and appropriate records kept of all inspections and tests. It is recommended that fire extinguishers are placed on a regular service contract to ensure proper maintenance.

Fire extinguishers should be fitted on wall brackets to avoid them being removed or knocked over and damaged. They should be sited near exits or on the line of exit.
Signs showing the types of extinguishers and on which classes of fire they may be safely used should be displayed at the fire point.


		Water extinguishers Water extinguishers are suitable for ordinary combustible fires, for example wood and paper, but are not suitable for flammable liquid fires. They should also be labelled 'not to be used on fires involving live electricity'. Water spray extinguishers are recommended.

		Foam extinguishers Foam extinguishers are suitable for small liquid spill fires or small oil tank fires where it is possible for the foam to form a blanket over the surface of the flammable liquids involved. They may not extinguish a flammable liquid fire on a vertical plane. Where foam is required for hydrocarbon fires, light water is recommended, preferably by spray applicator.

		Dry powder extinguishers Dry powder extinguishers will deal effectively with flammable liquid fires and are recommended because they are capable of quick knockdown of a fire. They will also deal with fires involving electrical equipment. The size of the extinguisher must be adequate to deal effectively with the size of the spill fire leaving some foam in reserve. The recommended minimum size is a 9kg trigger-controlled extinguisher with CO₂ discharge.

		Bcf extinguishers The extinguishing medium in Bcf extinguishers is a halon. It is no longer permitted to manufacture this class of chemical due to its effects on the environment. New extinguishers of this type are no longer available although some old ones may still be in service. As it is no longer possible to recharge existing Bcf extinguishers, replacement by dry powder or carbon dioxide extinguishers is recommended.

		Carbon dioxide extinguishers For fires involving electrical equipment, carbon dioxide extinguishers are recommended. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) extinguishers are quite heavy and may be at high pressure. A minimum size of 2 kg is recommended. CO₂ smothers the fire by starving it of oxygen but provides little or no cooling effect. It is therefore not recommended for flammable liquid fires or where the displacement of oxygen would pose a risk to the user, e.g. where the user is standing in a confined space. The nozzle of the CO₂ extinguisher becomes very cold in use and therefore should not be held when discharging as this can cause severe frostbite burns. Specific training in the use of these extinguishers is essential.

Hose Reels

Hose reels provide a constant supply of water for fighting fires; the supply is usually obtained from a dedicated water supply not controlled from the main water stopcock to the premises.

Hose reels may automatically turn on the water supply when unrolled or a valve may have to be turned on when required. If a valve is used it is common practice to clamp the hose nozzle to the valve so that the valve has to be opened to release the nozzle.

Hose reels must only be used for their intended purpose and must not be used to fight electrical fires under any circumstances.

Colour Coding of Portable Fire Extinguishers

Following the introduction of European standards and the withdrawal of British Standard BS 5423, new fire extinguishers for use throughout the EU are coloured red. However, manufacturers are allowed to fix different coloured panels on or above the instruction label.

Existing extinguishers need not be replaced until they have served their useful life.

Fire procedures and drills

Employers must have adequate procedures for dealing with fire, and employees should be fully trained in these. The procedures must also be regularly practised, evaluated and revised as necessary. Contractors and visitors to the site should be briefed on arrival. The nature of the briefing will be dependent upon the level of fire risk and may take the simple form of a set of visitor rules to be read prior to signing in to the building. In higher risk areas or where hot work is to be carried out, the briefing should be in more depth and may result in the visitor being accompanied at all times.

Fire Safety Instruction notices should be conspicuously displayed at critical points, preferably close to exits, giving guidance on what to do in case of fire. It may be necessary to provide additional diagrams and direction signs where people are unfamiliar with the layout, while translations into other languages may be appropriate in some environments.

In larger organisations it is advisable to nominate certain staff as fire wardens or marshals. They should be given the responsibility for checking that everyone has been evacuated and reporting to the senior member of staff present at the fire assembly point. They will require extra training to carry out their duties.

Regular fire drills should be carried out to confirm that facilities and procedures are effective and that everyone understands what they should do in the case of evacuation. Remedial action must be taken if evacuation has been slow or incomplete. The frequency of the fire drills will be detailed in the fire certificate or will need to be determined as part of the fire risk assessment, but should be carried out at least annually in any case.

Providing for Special Needs Persons

The employer should make adequate provision for people with special needs who may be present in the premises. Both staff and visitors should be considered. This may include the provision of safe havens within fire protection areas. This category of persons and their assistants, where necessary, need to be trained and instructed in the arrangements for their safety during a fire. The presence of persons with special needs should be specifically covered by the fire risk assessment.

Staff fire safety training

The type of training should be based on the particular aspects of the workplace and should include the following:

Action to take on discovering a fire
How to raise the alarm and how to react when it is raised
Procedures for alerting and assisting members of the public and visitors
Arrangements for calling the fire brigade
The evacuation procedure
Location and use of fire fighting equipment
Location of escape routes
Operation of escape doors
Fire door discipline
Procedures for isolation and machine and process shut-down
Lift discipline
The importance of general fire safety and good housekeeping.
Fire warden training.

Training should be given as part of induction and on-going refresher programmes.

Record keeping

Records should be kept of visits by the local fire authority; servicing and testing of fire detection, alarm and fighting equipment; inspections of means of escape, fire doors etc.; training and fire evacuation etc.