Fire Safety

Question 1

What regulations are relevant to this competency?

Answer 1

• Approved Document B of the building regulations
• Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order
• Building Safety Act 2022
• Fire Safety Act 2021
• BS 9999
• BB100 (schools)

Question 2

What is your understanding of Hackett Report?

Answer 2

• This was commissioned following the Grenfell disaster and led to the creation of the Fire Safety Act 2021.
• The Hackett report detailed recommendations such as:
  o Regular inspections of fire-fighting lights
  o Improve training for the fire brigade
  o Guidance on evacuating high-rise buildings
  o Period fire door checks

Question 3

What is your understanding of the Building Safety Act 2022?

Answer 3

• Aims to ensure those responsible in the design, construction, and management of buildings are competent and held to account.
• Introduces Golden Thread which was recommended in the Hackett report; is a digital record of project data and creates legal duty of accountable persons to keep information records.
• Establishes an Accountable Person – who has a legal interest in the building and responsibility for risk and H&S information.
• Introduces Building Safety Regulator who is part of the HSE.
• Defines ‘High Risk’ buildings which must be registered with building safety regulator.
  o 18m in height
  o 7 storeys high

Question 4

You mention your familiarity and regular use of Approved Document B – can you explain some of the important sections covered by this document?

Answer 4

• Means of warning and escape
  o Signage and lighting on escape routes
  o Fire alarms
• Internal fire spread
  o Provision of fire compartmentation such as collars, cavity barriers, dampers
  o Fire suppression systems
  o Fire doors
• External fire spread
  o Specifying non-combustible materials
  o Cavity barriers to cladding voids
• Access and facilities for the fire service
  o Access to fire hydrants
  o Wayfinding for fire fighters

Question 5

After sustaining fire damage you discover cracks have appeared in the brickwork, what could this be?

Answer 5

The bricks have heated causing them to expand and then contract. This thermal movement could have caused cracking.

Question 6

What conditions are needed for a fire to start in a building?

Answer 6

• Fire occurs as a result of rapid chemical reactions between a fuel source and oxygen that releases heat and light.
• For combustion to occur the ‘fire triangle’ must be present:
  o Oxygen
  o Heat
  o Fuel source

Question 7

How might a fire start in a building?

Answer 7

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the five most common causes of fires in commercial buildings are:
o Cooking equipment
o Heating equipment
o Electrical and lighting equipment
o Smoking materials
o Intentional fire setting

Question 8

How can you influence the design to reduce fire spread within a building?

Answer 8

• Introduction of fire cavity barriers in floor and ceiling voids
• Fire rated partitions – 30 mins / 60 mins depending on risk area
• Fire rated door fittings with fire seals
• Protection of the building structure with intumescent coatings or fire linings.