Fire Safety Practice Flashcards
One of the principle factors that is considered when assessing MoE from a building is the construction of the building.
Describe four other principal factors that would be considered.
MOCTET
Management Control
* makesure tenants know evac plan, maintenance of fire detection/engineer solutions, staff training, fire drills, regualr inspection of comparmentation.
Occupancy
* Number of people, wheelchair users, PEEPs, speacial assistance requiring refuge areas.
Construction
* Building fabric, compartmentation, fire engineer solutions, Evacuation plan etc must all be taken into account.
Time of Evacuation
* occupants must reach a relative place of safety (storey exit) in a given time, this should include the time it takes to react to the signal.
- this should include task that may need carryout before evacuation, eg shutting off vital equipment or if they occupants will be asleep time to evac will increase.
Exits
* linked to occupancy and how many people/min need to move through the exit.
- e.g. 750mm width for 40 people/min, 800mm width for wheelchair users.
Travel Distance
* depending on the use of the building and fire risk posed due to this travel distances to exits have to comply with certain lengths.
- e.g. normal risk with more than one route, the routes can be upto 45 metres in length to a storey exit (relative place of safety).
Define Place of Reasonable Safety and give two examples
A place within a building/structure where for a limited period of time, people will have some protection from the effect of fire and smoke.
Usually 30 minute fire protection and allows people to contiue their exit to a place of total safety.
Usually a corridor or stairwell.
Define a place of Total Safety
A place away from the premise involved where occupants are in no immediate danager from the effects of the fire usually (but not always) a location outside the building/structure.
If outside the structure a total place of safety id deemed to be as far from the building as it is tall.
Detail what a Refuge is
A ruefuge is a place of reasonable safety within a building/structure where disabled people or those requiring assistance to escape can rest or wait for assistance before continuing to a place of total safety.
Should lead directly to a fire resisting escape route.
A refuge should be provided for eah protected stairway affording escape from each storey.
State locations where emergency escape lighting should be provided.
12
- Stairwells
- Change of direction (intersection of corridors)
- Changes in floor level (steps/ramp)
- Lifts
- Esculators
- Firefighting and First Aid Points
- Each final exit door (interior and exterior)
- Generators
- Large open areas
- Escape routes
- Emergency Escape signs
- Outside each final exit and on external escape routes
Explain the factors that have an effect on the time it takes for occupants to evacuate a building.
(i) Age
(ii) Ability/mobility
(iii) Time to react to fire alarm - eg sleeping time increases.
(iv) Diability - may not be able to leave dwelling, may have to wait in refuge.
(v) Location within the building - travel distance to stroey exits and final exit.
(vi) Occupancy - higher occupancy the longer it may take, are exits correct size for the building occupancy.
(vi) Type of Evac plan in place.
(vii) Number of and size of exits.
Describe actions building managers who are responsible for fire safety can take to ensure that fire safety arrangements are in place and are maintained
(i) Ensure tenants are aware of fire evacuation procedures.
(ii) Ensure approprtae fire drills are carried out.
(iii) Maintain all fire protection systems periodically and keep appropriate records.
(iv) Provide and maintain adequate signage.
(v) Ensure all materials used have appropriate certification.
(vi) Ensure all building works are carried out by competant, qualified and certified companies and individuals.
(vii) Inspect compartmentation regularly, especially when building works are carried out.
(viii) Monitor of activities that might affect fire protection measures eg maintenance changes to the building fabric (cladding).
What are the aims of a work place fire risk assessment?
3 points
(i) To identify the fire hazards.
(ii) To reduce the risk of these hazards causing harm to as low as reasonably practicable.
(iii) To decide what physical fire precautions and management arrangements are neccessary to ensure the safety of people in the premises.
Describe Step 1 of a Work Place Fire Risk Assessment
Identify the fire hazards:
(a) sources of ignition
(b) sources of fuel and/or oxygen (or oxidising materials, pyrotechnics etc).
Describe step 2 of a Work Place Fire Risk Assessment
Identify the people at risk:
(a) people in and around the premises.
(b) People especially at risk (lone workers, contractors not familiar with the building, disabilities, language difficulties).
Describe step 3 of a Work Place Fire Risk Assessment
ERRP + 10 sub-points
Evaluate, Remove, Reduce and Protect from risk.
(1) Evaluate the risk of a fire occuring.
(2) Evaluate the risk to people from fire.
(3) Remove or reduce the fire hazards.
(4) Remove or reduce the risks to people. (revising layout, provisions of auto fire detection systems).
(5) Fire detection systems
(6) Firefighting equipment (extinguishers & training)
(7) Escape routes - should be able to escape to a place of total safety unaided without FRS help.
MoE should be designed to ensure if a person is confronted by fire they can turn away from it and escape to a place of reasonable safety eg a protected stairwell.
(8) Lighting - to help illuminate MoE.
(9) Sign and notices - to help identify escape routes.
(10) Maintenance - periodic servicing and maintenance of equipment and alarms.
Describe step 4 of a Work Place Fire Risk Assessment
RPIIT
Record, Plan, Inform, Instruct, Train.
(a) record significant findings and actions taken.
(b) Prepare an emergency plan.
(c) Inform, instruct, co-operate and cordinate.
(d) Provide Training on:
* what to do in event of a fire
- how to raise the alarm
- procedures for alerting other occupants and visitors and directing them to exits
- Arrangements for calling FRS and briefing them on arrival.
- on Evacuation procedures for everyone to reach an assembly point at a place of total safety.
- location of and when to use Firefighting equipment and Training in the use of it.
Describe four areas employees should be trained in in accordance with step 4 of a work place fire risk assessment.
Provide Training on:
* what to do in event of a fire
- how to raise the alarm
- procedures for alerting other occupants and visitors and directing them to exits
- Arrangements for calling FRS and briefing them on arrival.
- on Evacuation procedures for everyone to reach an assembly point at a place of total safety.
- location of and when to use Firefighting equipment and Training in the use of it.
Describe step 5 of a Work Place Fire Risk Assessment
Review Periodically:
* If no longer valid or there has been a significant change in the premises the assessment should be revised.
Reasons for a review could include:
(i) changes to the work processes of the way that they are organised, incl intro of new equipment.
(ii) alterations to the building, incl internal layout.
(iii) Introduction, change of or increase in the storage of hazardous materials.
(iv) Substantial change to furnishings and fixings.
(v) Failure of precautions i.e. fire-detection and alarm systems, sprink;ers etc.
(vi) Significant increase in the number of people present.
(vii) An actual fire incident.
