Fire Safety

Question 1

• Can you explain the fire triangle

Answer 1

? Fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen for a fire to start and continue.

Question 2

• What are passive and active fire protection? Give examples.

Answer 2

Two complementary approaches to fire safety and both are essential for fire protection.
Passive fire protection is fire resistant walls, falls and glazing.
Active fire protection is sprinklers, fire alarms and smoke detection systems.

Question 3

• How can structural steel be fire protected?

Answer 3

Intumescent paint or double boarding/ fire resistant plasterboard.

Question 4

• How can exposed structural timber be fire protected?

Answer 4

Intumescent paint/coatings , fire breaks, encapsulating

Question 5

• How can you tell if a door is fire-rated?

Answer 5

Lock for stamps/labels on top of the doors, look at the ironmongery, door closers and intermittent strips.

Question 6

• Give some examples of what Approved Document B requires for fire protection?

Answer 6

Means of escape, max travel distances, protected stair walls.
Internal fire spreading.
External fire spread.
Provision for fire services.
Fire detection and alarm systems.
Emergency Lighting
Fire doors and sprinkles
Smoke control.

Question 7

• What other codes of practice are there if Part B cannot be followed?

Answer 7

BS9999 – Fire safety in design management and use of buildings.
Regulatory reform order
Fire safety Act 2022
Housing Act 2004

Question 8

• What are ACMs in terms of fire protection?

Answer 8

Aluminum Composite Material,/ sandwich panels, can be combustible like Grenfell tower. Now banned on anything about 18M
Fire risk assessment and EWS1 required.

Question 9

• What legislation governs fire safety in England?

Answer 9

Regulatory reform order 2005 - Fire safety act 2021

Question 10

• What common deficiencies have you seen in terms of fire safety?

Answer 10

Failed fire doors.

Question 11

• What building features can be put in place to help people with disabilities in the event of fire

Answer 11

Areas of refuge, visual alarm devices, Low level signage, Contrasting colors.

Question 12

• What is the Building Safety Act?

Answer 12

THE BSA followed the Grenfell tower tragedy aims to make safety buildings.
It focuses on high rise residential buildings – over 18 M with 2 or more residential dwellings
BSR – new regulator
Golden thread of information
Duty holders roles – IE PD, Client,

Competence requirements to work on high risk buildings

Question 13

• What is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order?

Answer 13

Responsible person in charge of the property
Fire safety measures – IE Fire detection etc.
Emergency plans
Maintenances
Enforcement by fire authorities.

Question 14

• What is your understanding of the Fire Safety Act?

Answer 14

Amendment of the RR 2005- The act new explicitly confirms that External Walls cladding, balconies and windows and FLAT ENTERANCE DOORS must form part of the FRA
Responsible person
Same as RFO 2005 but updated.

Question 15

• Are you aware of the findings from the Grenfell inquiry?

Answer 15

Yes, this was the enquiry to understand as to why the fire took place and the circumstances that surrounded the tragedy.
The cladding system was the main contributor
Stay put strategy failed.
Smoke extraction system failed to operate

Phase 2 –
Failings in the buildings refurbishment process
Inadequate testing
Shortcomings in the FRO for high rise buildings.
Failure to incorporate responsibility in companies that were involved with the refurbishment.
Comments