Fire Safety

Question 1

Who is the responsible person in charge of fire safety?

Answer 1

The building owner or organisation who manage the building on behalf of the owner.

Question 2

Duties of a responsible person (RP)?

Answer 2

Undertake an FRA, eliminate/reduce risks, provide fire precautions, plan for emergencies.

Question 3

Requirements of a competent person?

Answer 3

Person with sufficient experience, training or knowledge, appointed by the RP.

Question 4

What is an FRA?

Answer 4

Review of a premises to look at hazards and risks associated with fire and produce recommendations to mitigate the risks.

Question 5

How would you undertake an FRA?

Answer 5

Desktop study
Identify hazards
Identify fire protection measures
Prioritise hazards
Conform information to PAS79 report
Update database and allocate tasks.

Question 6

FRA action prioritisation ratings?

Answer 6

P1 - High risk leading to multiple injuries or death
P2 - Medium risk leading to serious injury or 1 death
P3 - Low risk. Best practice activities with minimal impact.

A - 1 month
B - 6 months
C - 12 months
D - 2 years

Question 7

What does a Type 1 FRA cover?

Answer 7

The common areas of a block of flats up to and including the FED.

Question 8

What does a Type 4 FRA cover?

Answer 8

Intrusive survey to assess compartmentation, includes the individual dwellings.

Question 9

How frequently must FRAs be carried out?

Answer 9

Dependent on building risk
Low rise - Full FRA every 9 years with reviews every 3
HRBs - Every year
Or when there is a material change or use of the building.

Question 10

What measures can be taken to minimise the risk and spread of fire?

Answer 10

Improve compartmentation
Educate residents
Zero tolerance
Signage.

Question 11

What do you need to start a fire?

Answer 11

Oxygen, heat, fuel.

Question 12

Sources of fire in a block of flats?

Answer 12

Arson
Cigarettes
Battery fires
Kitchen fires
Hot works.

Question 13

What can cause a fire to spread?

Answer 13

Convection
Radiation
Conduction
Combustible materials internally and externally

Question 14

Compartmentation examples within a building structure?

Answer 14

Fire resistant cells
Fire walls
Fire doors
Cavity barriers
Insulated steels

Question 15

What is compartmentation?

Answer 15

Division of a building into cells separated by fire resistant materials to slow down the spread of fire.

Question 16

What FRAEW rating should be met for a HRB?

Answer 16

Euro class A2.

Question 17

What are passive fire safety measures and some examples?

Answer 17

Used to contain and slow the spread of fire
Compartmentation within a building such as FD30s and appropriate fire stopping.

Question 18

What are active fire safety measures and some examples?

Answer 18

Systems that react to the presence of fire to limit its spread
Sprinkler systems
Fire alarms
AOVs

Question 19

What are the minimum travel distances?

Answer 19

Flat: 9m max from door to any habitable room within a property;
Communal areas with one means of escape: 7.5m from FED to protected lobby or external air;
Communal area with multiple means of escape: 30m from FED to protected lobby or external air

Question 20

How would you identify a fire door?

Answer 20

Manufacturers sticker
Documents of install
Self-closers
Intumescent strips and seals
Door thickness
Gaps

Question 21

How many minutes compartmentation should be present between flats?

Answer 21

Low rise: 30 mins
High rise: 60 minutes

Question 22

What is the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005?

Answer 22

Legislation on fire safety in common part of a building with 2 or more dwellings.
Takes a risk based approach to fire safety for pre-existing buildings.

Question 23

What is the Fire Safety Act 2021?

Answer 23

Post Grenfell
Clarification on the scope of the fire safety order
FSO applies to the structure and external walls (FRAEW) and FEDs
RP responsible for ensuring these parts are covered in an FRA

Question 24

What is Approved Document B?

Answer 24

Guidance on fire safety for new builds that can be applied to existing builds when undertaking renovations.

Question 25

Fire Safety Regulations 2022?

Answer 25

New RP duties for HRBs
Provide information to Fire services
Additional safety measures for HRBs
Monthly checks of lifts and firefighting equipment
Quarterly check of communal fire doors and annual check of FEDs

Question 26

What is the Building Safety Act 2022?

Answer 26

Post Grenfell
To improve design, construction and management of buildings, especially HRBs
BSR introduced to oversee safety and performance.

Question 27

What is the Building Safety Fund?

Answer 27

To cover the cost of replacing cladding on residential buildings over 18m in height.

Question 28

Implications of not following legislation?

Answer 28

Unlimited fines and imprisonment.

Question 29

What classifies a High Rise Building?

Answer 29

7 or more storeys
Over 18m in height

Question 30

What deficiencies may be identified within an FRA?

Answer 30

Penetrations within compartmentation walls
Unnecessary fire loading
Electric scooters within communal areas
Damaged fire doors

Question 31

What is a hazard and a risk?

Answer 31

Hazard: Something with the potential to cause harm

Risk: Likelihood of the hazard causing harm.

Question 32

What implications have the building safety act had on social housing providers?

Answer 32

Establishment of the BSR, with regulatory oversight and standard setting of HRBs, and auditing and enforcement powers.
Increased safety standards.
Improved communication and tenant involvement.
Introduced role of the Accountable Person to manage fire and structural safety risks.
Increased fines from £1000 to unlimited.
Remediation funding.

Question 33

What is Approved Document B?

Answer 33

Guidelines that outline how to ensure fire safety in new buildings

Question 34

What section covers signage in Approved Document B?

Answer 34

Regulation 8

For HRBs to identify floor and flat numbers to assist fire services in an emergency