Fire Safety Flashcards
1
Q
What are the responsibilities of the principal designer under the BSA?
A
- Co-operate and share information with the Building Safety Regulator.
- Ensure compliance with the Building Regulations.
- Comply with the specific regulatory requirements imposed upon them.
- Ensure they and the people they employ are competent do the work they are undertaking.
2
Q
Can you tell me more about what you mean when you reference the golden thread?
A
- 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.
3
Q
Can you tell me what you understand about the term EWS1?
A
- EWS1 form is an external wall system fire review certificate.
- Must be signed off by a competent professional.
4
Q
What is the difference between a passive and active fire protection system?
A
- Active Fire protection takes action in order to put out a fire such as with sprinklers and fire extinguishers.
- Passive Fire Protection will help prevent a fire from spreading or resist the initial ignition such as dampers or collars.
5
Q
What were the key implications of the Regulatory (Fire) Reform 2005?
A
- It is a part of the H&S at Work Act.
- It provides minimum fire safety standards for all non-domestic properties.
- Designates someone as the responsible person such as landlord or tenant.
- Also requires the appointment of fire wardens and commissioning of fire risk assessments.
6
Q
How regularly does a Fire Risk Assessment need to be completed?
A
- Every year, or every 6 months according to the RICS.
7
Q
What are the maximum travel distances in an industrial building as per Approved Document B?
A
- 18m where there is a single exit.
- 45m where there is more than one.
8
Q
What was the Fire Safety Act 2021 a product of?
A
The Fire Safety Bill following the Grenfell Tower Fire in 2017, ammending the Fire Safety Reform Order 2005
9
Q
What is the Fire Safety Code of Practice?
A
PAS: 9980 - provides methodology for fire risk appraisals of external wall and cladding systems.
10
Q
What is the aim of the Fire Safety Act 2021?
A
To allow residents to feel safe in their homes and to prevent similar tragedies to Grenfell Tower from occuring.
11
Q
Who can the fire and resuce service take action against for non-complaince?
A
The responsible person detailed in the Regulatory Reform Order 2005.
12
Q
Where are the responsibilites of the Principal Designer outlined?
A
PAS 8671 : Framework for Competence of Individual Principal Designers under the BSA.
13
Q
What are the spacings for sprinklers?
A
They should have a spacing of every 12m2 or every 4 metres apart.
14
Q
What properties require sprinklers?
A
- Buildings with a fire area of 5000 sqft or more.
- All residential buildings over 11m tall should have sprinklers on all upper floors.
15
Q
What are the different types of sprinkler systems?
A
- Wet systems – have water in them at all times.
- Dry systems – air pressured systems so water is activated during fires.
16
Q
Where are dry fire systems used?
A
- In an unheated building such as warehouses to prevent the water from freezing and bursting the pipes.
17
Q
What is the British Standard for fire alarm testing?
A
- BS 5839.
18
Q
What is an M alarm system?
A
- This is a manual system that relies on the occupants of the building discovering the fire and raising the alarm.
19
Q
What is a P alarm system?
A
- This is a protects the property alarm which has automatic detection only. The intent is to protect the property by raising the alarm quickly and getting the fire brigade to the building as soon as possible to minimise damage.
20
Q
What is an L alarm system?
A
- This is to protect life which is an automatic system with manual call points.
21
Q
How is compartmentation achieved?
A
- Between compartments, walls, doors partitions all need to provide a fire resistance, usually 60 minutes.
- This can be achieved with fire barriers.
22
Q
What are the key attributes of a fire door?
A
- It should have smoke seals or intumescent strips.
- Stamp on the doors frame with a CF number linked to the manufacturer to check whether it has been specified and installed correctly.
- Certified by FIRAS of BM TRADA.
- Should be an FD30 and 44/45mm thick. FD60s are 54mm thick.
- Gaps at the side should be 2-4mm and up to 8mm at the bottom.
23
Q
When do you use an FD30 and FD60?
A
- It depends on the property size, use and location.
- Typically low rise domestic buildings and areas with rapid escape have FD30s but FD60s will be used in high-rise commercial or domestic buildings where escape takes longer.
24
Q
What are the main sections within Approved Document B?
A
- Means of warning and escape.
- Internal fire spreading (linings).
- Internal fire spreading (structure).
- External fire spread.
- Access and facilities for the fire service.
25
What is the minimum width of a door opening and corridor?
- 1050mm.
26
What is the minimum width of a staircase?
- 750mm.
27
What is the minimum fire resistance for compartments?
- 60 minutes.
28
How does a fire start and spread?
- It starts in the presence of fuel, heat and oxygen.
- It can then spread through conduction, radiation and convection.
29
What are the recent changes to Approved Document B?
- It is a part of the H&S at Work Act.
- It provides minimum fire safety standards for all non-domestic properties.
- Designates someone as the responsible person such as landlord or tenant.
- Also requires the appointment of fire wardens and commissioning of fire risk assessments.
30
What are the general responsibilities under the RRO?
- Eliminate or reduce the risk of fire.
- Undertake fire risk assessments.
- Provide fire precautions to the property.
- Create emergency plans and keep records.
31
What documents are commercial buildings required to have in relation to fire?
- Fire Risk Assessments.
- Fire Strategy.
32
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
- These identify fire hazards within a property, the people at risk and how to remove or reduce the risk.
33
What is the Building Safety Act 2022?
- The legislation intends to improve the design, construction and management of all buildings with specific attention to higher risk buildings. These included buildings that at least 18m high or 7 storeys high, with two or more residential units.
- Full implementations arrived in October 2023 with all building owners having a safety regime by then and their building registered.
34
What are the buildings excluded from the BSA?
- Hospitals, care homes, hotels, prisons, detention centres and military barracks.
35
Does the BSA act cover any types of buildings during construction?
- Care homes and hospitals are covered during the design and construction process.
36
What is a relevant building under the BSA?
- These are properties over 11m high with two or more residential units.
37
What are the two new roles under the BSA?
- Building safety regulator – they work with local authorities and oversee the safety and performance of systems of all buildings. They also encourage increased competence and lead the implementation of new regulatory regime for high risk buildings.
- Accountable person – If there is more than one accountable person, a principle accountable person should be designated.
38
What are the main roles of the accountable person?
- Register the building with the BSR.
- Manage safety risks.
- Prepare the safety case.
- Golden thread.
- Building assessment certificate.
39
What is the building assessment certificate?
- Certification from the BSR that the accountable person has complied with their duties to assess and manage building safety risks.
- Will also include a copy of the safety case and be displayed in the building.
- Must be reassessed every 5 years.
40
Who are the key duty holders in a project under the BSA?
- Client.
- Principal Designer / Designers.
- Principle Contractor / Contractors.
41
Can a PD perform both BSA and CDM roles?
- The PD can undertake both roles for CDM and BSA to avoid confusion over two separate entities. This is recommended by RIBA.
- They have sufficient experience, skills and expertise to perform these two roles.
- Although it can be argued that the person appointed as BSA PD should have the greatest knowledge of the design information e.g. the contractor under a D&B contract.
42
What are the client’s responsibilities at PC under the BSA?
- Once the project is complete, the client must notify the relevant authority within five days with a declaration of compliance.
- The bundle of information in the notice should include statements signed by the principal duty holders confirming that they have fulfilled their respective duties.
- The BSR will then inspect and issue a certificate of compliance to say the works have been completed in accordance with the regulations.
43
When are BSA approved PD, PC and Approved Inspectors required?
- Any project that considers the building regulations and has a building control official will now require a BSA approved PD and PC for the project.
- The Registered Building Control Approvers / Registered Building Inspectors also are registered with the government in order to undertake statutory work.
- Also other bodies such as RIBA and APS have set up their own registers for Registered Building Inspectors.
44
How has the BSA impacted planning permission?
- All plans in relation to fire design must be submitted to the BSA for approval, must follow the 3 Gateways and use a BSA approved PD and building control professional for the project.
45
Are you competent enough to act as BSA PD?
- No as I do not possess the necessary training from a body such as the Association for Project Safety.
46
What are category A and B works under the BSA?
- Category A works refer to any works that will impact the fire strategy for the building.
- Category B works refer to all other works that do not impact the fire safety of the building.
47
Under the BSA, what is required of existing high-rise buildings?
- All high-rise buildings should have been registered with the building safety regulator.
- This should include details of the accountable person for each building, a safety case report and a golden thread of information.
- A building assessment certificate should then be issued.
48
What fire prevention techniques do HRBs require?
- From July 2024, all new HRBs require a secondary staircase.
- Residential buildings over 11m require a sprinkler system.
- Combustible materials in external walls are no longer allowed.
- Defective Premises Act timescales extended from 6 to 15 years on residential buildings and 30 years for those completed before 28th February 2022.
- Developers of new residential properties required a 15-year warranty.
49
How does the BSA impact all new projects generally?
- The BSA applies to all new building works on all new buildings, as dictated by the definition in the Building Regulations. The key points are as follows:
- PD and PC under the BSA – a company with the relevant expertise and resource must be appointed.
- Building products – need to be registered and approved as safe by the HSE.
- Building control professionals – need to be registered as competent by the HSE by April 2024.
50
How does the BSA impact all new projects to HRBs?
* New building works projects need to go through Planning Gateways 1, 2 and 3 for staged approval, before progressing to the next stage. The time periods required need to be included in the overall programme.
* All applications for Building Works to new and existing buildings need to be made through the BSR.
* PD and PC need a higher level of expertise.
* HRBs cannot be occupied until the BSR issues a building assessment certificate.
51
What are the 3 planning gateways for building safety?
- This ensures building safety is considered at each stage of design and construction.
- Planning stage.
- Pre-construction stage.
- Post-construction stage.
52
What are the penalties for breaching the BSA?
- It can be punishable through a fine or imprisonment.
53
Does the BSA cover any other part of the Building Regulations other than fire?
- Structure.
54
What is the UK Building Safety Levy?
- This is a tax on any new residential development. The revenues from the levy will be used to repair buildings with historical building safety defects.
55
What is a fire damper?
- These are passive fire protection in HVAC systems.
- They are inside ductwork and close when there is a fire.
56
What is a fire collar?
- A collar that seals pipework and expands when there is fire.
57
What are the methods for fire strategies?
- Phased evacuation, simultaneous evacuation or stay put.
58
What are ACMs?
- These are aluminium composite materials.
- Two sheets of aluminium with insulation between.
59
What is the Fire Safety Act 2021 (Fire Safety Bill)?
- A Bill to amend the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- Provide greater clarity to who is responsible in building with more than one domestic property.
- Extends the fire risk assessment to the external area.
60
What certification is required for properties over 18m?
- EWS1 Form
61
What do you need where works require flammable equipment such as installing torch-on-felt?
- You require a hot works permit.
- The permit will include the nature of the works, the person allowed to use them and observation period.
62
How has the BSA impacted your work personally?
- On TDD instructions where there is the possibility of ACMs in cladding for example, I need to recommend the necessary specialist inspects the cladding to ensure it is safe.
- Also ensuring the three gateways are met and there is a golden thread of information for all projects.
63
What are some of the key findings from part 2 of the Grenfell enquiry?
- Have a single construction regulator for all projects.
- Amend the current law and approved documents.
- Creation of a construction library for important information and test data.
64
What is your understanding of PAS?
- Publicly available specifications are introduced to speed up the standardisation process.
65
What is PAS 9980?
- This provides methodology for fire risk appraisals of external wall and cladding systems.
