Fire Safety

Question 1

What is the meant by the term ‘fire triangle’?

Answer 1

The fire triangle is the three elements required for fire to occur. These are heat, fuel and oxygen.

Question 2

What is the combustion process?

Question 3

Why has their been such focus on fire safety over recent years?

Answer 3

Following the Grenfell Fire disaster in 2017, reviews have been conducted and reports produced which caused amendments to be made to the Building Regulations and Approved Document B.

Question 4

What was the primary legislation in place prior to Grenfell?

Answer 4

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Question 5

Following Grenfell Fire and the independent review, what new legislation was produced?

Answer 5

The two primary pieces of legislation are The Fire Safety Act 2021 and The Building Safety Act 2022.

Question 6

What is the criteria for a building to be considered high rise?

Answer 6

For a building to be considered high rise it must have at least 7 floors OR be at least 18 meters high and have at least 2 residential units.

Question 7

Which approved document relates to fire safety?

Answer 7

Approved Document B which has two volumes. Volume 1 is for Dwellings and Volume 2 is for Buildings other than Dwellings.

Question 8

Who is responsible for enforcing fire safety legislation?

Answer 8

Building Control bodies are responsible for new construction, alterations and extensions and Fire Authorities are responsible for buildings in use.

Question 9

Is there a particular document you would refer to when working on school projects?

Answer 9

I would refer to Building Bulletin 100 which is the Design For Fire Safety In Schools.

Question 10

What is the difference between passive and active fire prevention measures? Can you provide some examples of each?

Question 11

What are the duties of a Responsible Person?

Question 12

Under the Regulatory Reform Order, who is classed as a Responsible Person?

Question 13

What amendments were made to Approved Document B following the post-grenfell review?

Question 14

What are the key subject areas contained within Approved Document B?

Answer 14

Fire detection and alarm systems
Means of warning and escape
Wall and ceiling linings
Structure
Compartmentation
Cavities
Fire stopping
Car parks
Roof coverings

Question 15

What are some typical causes of fire within a building?

Question 16

What are the types of fire alarms available for a building?

Question 17

Who or what is the Building Safety Regulator?

Answer 17

A role undertaken by the HSE which acts as the Building Control Authority for all higher-risk buildings (HRBs) in England.

Question 18

What British Standards relate to fire safety?

Answer 18

BS 9999
BS 9991

Question 19

What is the difference between a smoke seal and intumescent strip?

Question 20

What ironmongery is required for a fire door?

Question 21

What is a fire risk assessment?

Question 22

How frequently should a fire risk assessment be conducted?

Answer 22

As often as necessary, there isn’t a specific timescale stated. However, annually is advisable or following any changes to means of escape ect.

Question 23

What is an Inner Room?

Question 24

What is meant by the term Golden Thread of Information?

Answer 24

The golden thread is both the information that allows you to understand a building and the steps needed to keep both the building and people safe, now and in the future.

Question 25

How might a fire start within a building?

Question 26

How might a fire spread within a building?

Question 27

How do you minimise the spread of fire within a building?

Question 28

How might you protect the structure of a building?

Question 29

Explain the methods for safe escape

Question 30

The responsibilities of duty holders

Question 31

What is meant by the term fire detection system

Question 32

What is meant by the term fire suppresion system

Question 33

What is a fire safety strategy

Question 34

Who would carry out a fire risk assessment

Question 35

What is a fire safety audit