Fire Safety L1-2 Flashcards
WHAT IS THE JOINT FIRE CODE?
Published 1992 following insurers questioning ongoing viability for insuring construction sites, due to heightened vulnerability to fire.
Covers activities through design, procurement and construction, generally applying to contracts over £2.5m, but can be applied to lower value which are considered to be high risk.
The code describes.. ‘series of simple precautions and safe working practices to ensure adequate protection and prevention measures are incorporated during design & planning, and work on site is undertaken to the highest standard of fire safety’.
Large project = £20m or more.
WHAT ARE THE LATEST FIRE REGULATION UPDATES?
Came into force October 2023, provisions within Section 156 of teh Building Safety Act 2022, amendments to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to improve fire safety in all buildings regulated by FSO (Fire Safety Order).
Phase 3 amendments strengthen fire safety by:
- Improving co-ordination and co-operation between Responsible Persons (RP)
- Inc. requirements of recording and sharing fire safety information, creating a continual record through a building’s lifespan
- Make enforcement easier against non-compliance
- Ensure residents have access to comprehensive fire safety info in their building
WHAT IS THE JUDITH HACKETT REPORT?
Revealed widespread use of aluminium composite materials which did not meet the limited combustibiliy requirements of Building Regulations following the Grenfell Disaster.
Aim:
- The review made recommendations to ensure a robust regulatory system for the future, and provide assurance to residents.
Main findings were that the regulatory system was not fit for purpose, included:
- Complex regs and guidance, causing confusion and misinterpretation in application to HRB’s
- Clarity of roles/responsibilities is poor across design, construction and maintenance
- Means of assessing and ensuring competency is inadequate, particularly to HRB’s
- Compliance, enforcement and sanction processes are too weak, what is being designed is not what is being built
- Route for residents to voice concerns is inadequate
- System of product testing, marketing and quality assurance is not clear
New framework designed to:
- Create a simple mechanism for building safety
- Provide incentives for the right behaviours, and sanctions for poor performance
- Reassert the role of residents
- Those who procure, design, create and maintain are responsible for ensuring safety
- Government to set clear outcome based requirements for building safety
- Regulator to hold duty holders to account
- Residents to be involved with ongoing safety in buildings
WHAT IS THE REGULATORY REFORM (FIRE SAFETY) ORDER?
AFTER SUSTAINING FIRE DAMAGE YOU DISCOVER CRACKED HAVE APPEARED IN BRICKWORK, WHY?
Heat caused expansion, then contracted when cooled causing cracking.
Also, if it’s a framed building, the frame may have weakened causing movement and cracking.
WHAT ITEMS WOULD YOU CONSIDER WHEN PREPARING A FIRE INSURANCE VALUATION OR A BUILDING REINSTATEMENT VALUATION?
- Debris removal
- Site clearance
- Building foundations
- Erection of the replacement building
- Installation of electrical and mechanical services
- Commissioning and professional fees
IN RESPECT OF FIRE INSURANCE VALUATIONS, WHAT IS A DAY ONE ASSESSMENT?
Day One valuation represents the reinstatement cost at today’s date, or day one of insurance policy.
Costs may fluctuate due to inflation, therefore I need to estimate likely inflation during the year and include, otherwise my sum may be inaccurate.
Under day one basis of insurance, insurers often apply a 15% mark up to ensure adequacy when a loss occurs. This policy does not add risk premium, but dispenses the problem of guessing inflation during the next 12 months.
WHAT CONDITIONS ARE NEEDED FOR A FIRE TO START IN A BUILDING?
Fire occurs due to chemical reactions between a fuel source and oxygen, releasing heat and light.
For combustion to occur, oxygen, heat and a fuel source must be present - the fire triangle.
The ‘flash point’ is the temperature a fuel needs to be heated for the gases to flash when an ignition source is applied.
The ‘spontaneous ignition temperature’ is the temperature when the vapours ignite spontaneously without the application of external flame. Once ignition has begun, vapours ignite, flames heat the fuel and increase the rate of production of flammable vapours.
HOW MIGHT A FIRE START IN A BUILDING?
According to the NFPA (Nationa Fire Protection Association), the five common causes in commerical buildings:
- Cooking equipment
- Heating equipment
- Electrical and lighting equipment
- Smoking materials (cigs)
- Intentional fire setting
HOW DO FIRES SPREAD IN A BUILDING?
The fire goes from ignition, to all combusitble materials alight. When flames reach the ceiling, the radiant heat transferred back to the fuel surface dramatically increase, usually when the ceiling surface reaches 550 degrees.
The remaining combustibles then rapidly reach fire point, igniting within 3-4 seconds, the sudden transition is called flashover.
If there is inadequate ventilation during growth, flashover may not occur. If a new oxygen source is provided, i.e. door/window opens, flashover occurs.
Following flashover, a stable flaming occurs within the enclosed space, reaching the highest temperatures. The fire resistant elements forming the enclosure resist fires from 1100 degrees and more for the specified length of time, if installed with skill and care.
HOW CAN FIRES BE CONTAINED BY THE STRUCTURE OR LAYOUT OF A BUILDING?
Restricted by sub-diiding buildings into a number of compartments, seperating one another by compartment walls and floors made of fire-resisting construction, restricting spread of fire, including:
- Fire cavity barriers in floors= and ceiling voids
- Fire rated partitions
- Fire rated door fittings with fire seals
HOW IS THE STRUCTURE OF A BUILDING PROTECTED FROM FIRES?
Intumescent paint - When exposed to high temperatures, chemical reaction causes the paint coating to increase in density, creating a fireproof layer so no oxygen can reach the structural surface.
Compartmentation - Fire walls, doors, cavity barriers inhibit the spread of fire and smoke through open spaces, floor/ceiling voids, and between floors. Materials include concrete, gypsum, masonry.
Fire stopping - Used to remediate structures being compromised by service penetrations, which would otherwise contribute to fire and smoke spread, and protect the structure from fire damage.
WHAT METHODS ARE AVAILABLE TO ENSUER THE SAFE ESCAPE OF A BUILDINGS OCCUPANTS?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order charges the responsible person(s) in control of non-domestic premises with the safety of everyone, whether employed or visiting the building.
Fire Exits:
- Under Article 14 of RRO, duty of care includes ensuring routes from premises and exits themselves are kept clear at all times, the exits must lead as directly as possible to a safe place of refuge.
Places of Relative Safety:
- Temporary places of safety often necessary, particularly when evacuating high rise buildings. This is defined as a place of comparative safety (normally 30 mins fire resistance), providing an effective barrier between the escapee and the fire. Examples:
- Storey exit into a protected staircore, or lobby approach
- Door in a compartment wall leading to an alternative exit
- Door leading to a protected stair or final exit via protected corridor
Places of Ultimate Safety:
- Ideally, in open air, where unrestricted dispersal is achieved. Escape routes should not discharge into enclosure areas, unless large enough for occupancy levels (safe distance equates to the height of the building measured along the ground).
- Total dispersal to open air is ultimate safety
- When inspecting a building, following escape routes to ultimate place of safety is recommended.
- The final exists must have sufficient capacity, ensuring swift and safe evacuation in an emergency.
WHAT IS THE REGULATORY REFORM (FIRE SAFETY) ORDER?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order charges the responsible person(s) in control of non-domestic premises with the safety of everyone, whether employed or visiting the building.
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WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF KEY DUTY HOLDERS WHENUNDERTAKING RISK ASSESSMENTS?
You are responsible for fire safety in a non-domestic premises if you’re:
- An employer
- The owner / landlord
- An occupier
- Anyone with control of the premises, e.g. facilities manager, building manager, risk assessor
The Fire Safety Order appplies if you have paying guests, i.e. B&B / guesthouse.
As the responsible person, you must:
- Undertake fire risk assessment of premises, reviewed regularly
- Tell staff about the identified risks
- Put in place and maintain appropriate fire safety measures
- Plan for emergencies
- Provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training
WHAT SYSTEMS ARE AVAILABLE TO PROTECT BUILDINGS AND OCCUPIERS FROM THE OUTBREAK OF FIRES?
Fire and smoke detection (sounders & beacons)
Fire sprinkler systems
Inert gas suppression systems (common in server rooms & data centres)
Basement smoke extract system (sacrificial system)
Fire & smoke dampers
WHAT IS THE FIRE SAFETY ORDER?
WHAT IS THE REGULATORY REFORM (FIRE SAFETY) ORDER?
Came into force October 2006, the main piece of legislation governing fire safety in buildings in England and Wales. Applies to all workplaces and common parts of buildings containing 2 or more domestic properties.
Places legal duty on anyone in control of a premises (Responsible Person - owner/landlord) to undertake fire risk assessments and put in place and maintain general fire precautions.
WHAT IS THE FIRE SAFETY ACT 2021, AND CAN YOU NAME THE MAIN POINTS?
Clarified external walls, flat entrance doors and structure are all covered by the FSO and must be accounted for in fire risk assessments.
WHAT ARE THE FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS 2022 AND SECTION 156 OF THE BUILDING SAFETY ACT 2022?
Brought in additional duties for the Responsible Person under the Fire Safety Order.
WHAT ARE THE FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS 2022, WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES, VARIED RISK LEVELS AND PENALTIES?
Amendment to the FSO 2005 under Article 24
