SoE Fire Safety

Question 1

What are the main types of fire alarms in buildings?

Answer 1

Category M - standalone Manual fire alarm system with manual call points at specific parts of a building (in conjunction with those below)
Category L - automatic fire alarm system for the protection of life
L1 - Auto fire detection: earliest detection, installed in all parts of the building
L2 - Auto fire detection: detectors installed to give warning in escape routes before they become impassable, give longest time to escape, and in hazardous areas (kitchens etc)
L3 - Auto fire detection: with smoke detection in escape routes and rooms opening into escape routes
L4 - Auto fire detection in escape routes only
L5 - specific area of high risk

Question 2

What is the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005?

Answer 2

The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 was introduced in 2006. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and local authorities are given statutory basis as enforcers and have a duty to enforce fire safety in existing non-domestic premises (relevant premises):

• assessing the risk from fire;
• identifying the fire safety measures necessary as a result of the assessment of risk;
• implementing these fire safety measures, using risk reduction principles;
• putting in place fire safety arrangements for the ongoing control and review of the fire safety measures;
• complying additionally with the specific requirements of the fire safety regulations;
• keeping the fire safety risk assessment and outcome under review; and
• record keeping.

Employers and/or other persons who operate or have control of the premises to any extent are responsible for complying with the fire safety duties. This might include managing agents, landlords and tenants, factors, owners, and managers and staff. Contractors and volunteers working on site may also have some responsibilities through their degree of control or responsibility for fire safety. In this guide, persons with fire safety responsibilities are referred to generally as ‘dutyholders’.

Under fire safety law, dutyholders are required to take all reasonable measures regarding the safety of persons. Employers additionally have a specific obligation to ensure the safety of employees in the event of fire, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Powers of enforcement:
* entering premises, inspecting, etc
* not satisfied with risk assessment: issue a letter requesting specific measures be taken
* If additional fire safety measures are deemed necessary: letter outline why and how existing are not acceptable
* Formal action

Formal action:
* Enforcement notice - specific action must be taken
* Prohibition notice - serious cases, all or part of premises be prohibited or restricted until remedied
* Report for prosecution
* Alterations notice - recipient must inform enforcing authority before making specified changes

Question 3

Who or what is the Building Safety Regulator ?

Answer 3

• The BSR (part of the HSE) is a derivative of the Building saftey bill / act introducing an additional body to regulate high-rise buildings. These are buildings with 7 or more storeys or that are 18 metres or higher, and either:

have at least 2 residential units
are hospitals or care homes (during design and construction).

3 gateways for BSR/building control:
Gateway 1 - current planning approval process
Gateway 2 - plans submission/approval - stop/go point (also during construction of amendments)
Gaetway 3 - Completion sign off - also stop/go point for occupation

Question 4

What is the building safety bill ?

Answer 4

The Act implements most (but not all) of Dame Judith Hackitt’s recommendations in her 2018 review of the building industry, Building a Safer Future, in response to the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. The Act imports a new centrally-regulated regime to govern the design, construction, and maintenance of the built environment, and represents the most radical change to the building industry in fifty years.
Building Safety Regulator - A new arm of the HSE that will introduce 3 gateways. This will also take over the submission and review for building control in relation to fire safety.

Gateways - design, construction and completion. The output of this is a ‘Building Assurance Certificate’

An ‘ Accountable Person’ should be defined in relation to the building as is responsible for the building safety upon occupation. They can appoint a building safety manager.

Golden thread of information - which is a live document with accurate and up to date information of the building data around fire safety.

Aimed at high rise buildings. 7 or more stories or 18 metres.

Question 5

What are the requirements for an emergency escape window?

Answer 5

Windows should have an unobstructed openable area that complies with all of the following.

i. A minimum area of 0.33m2
ii. A minimum height of 450mm and a minimum width of 450mm (the route through the window may be at an angle rather than straight through).
iii. The bottom of the openable area is a maximum of 1100mm above the floor.

Question 6

How may a fire start in a building ?

Answer 6

• Cooking Equipment. When a pot or pan overheats or splatters greases, it can take seconds to cause a fire
• Heating Equipment
• Careless Smoking
• Electrical Equipment
• Candles
• Children Playing with Fire
• Inadequate Wiring

Question 7

How are structures protected ?

Answer 7

• Encasing structural members
• Fire detection
• Compartmentalisation

Question 8

What are the methods of safe escape ?

Answer 8

• Early protection
• Early warning
• Protected escape routes
• Fire escapes etc

Question 9

What is an A1 material (Fire Safety) ?

Answer 9

• A1 products are classified as non-combustible (Euroclass system)
• A2 products are classified as limited combustibility, and B to F are classified as combustible in ascending order.

Question 10

What is the Fire Safety Bill 2021 ?

Answer 10

The Bill, first proposed in March 2020, was introduced to clarify who is responsible for managing and reducing fire risks in different parts of multi-occupied residential buildings, to prevent future tragedies occurring.

Question 11

Can you tell me what an “A1” material is ?

Answer 11

• Class F - product has not been tested or failed to meet any of the other levels
• Class E - Product that have a significant contribution to fire but resist a small flame for a short term
• Class D -Those with a contribution to fire, but greater resistance to flame
• Class C - Products that meet more stringent requirements than class D with limited contribution to fire
• Class B - Highly resistant materials always followed by addition classification for smoke and burning droplets
• A2 - If construction products produce no contribution to fire
• A1 - Materials that cannot contribute to a fire at any stage, including fully developed fire

Question 12

Explain the combustion triangle.

Answer 12

The fire triangle, or combustion triangle, is the three components needed to ignite and sustain a fire. The three ingredients of a fire triangle are; heat, fuel and oxygen.

Question 13

List some of the different types of fire extinguisher available and what each may be used for.

Answer 13

• Water - Class A fires (solid combustibles such as wood, paper and textiles). Some water extinguishers are safe on electrical equipment if di-electrically tested. Otherwise caution is required near electrical equipment, as ordinary water is a conductor.
• AFFF foam - Class A and B (flammable liquids). Safe on electrical equipment if di-electrically tested.
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) - Class B and electrical equipment
• ABC powder - Class A, B, C (flammable gases) and electrical equipment
• De-Ionised Water mist - Class A, B, C and electrical equipment
• Wet chemical - Class F (deep fat) fires, sometimes class A

Question 14

Explain the different types of fire alarm system available.

Answer 14

• Ionization - Ionization fire alarms are best for detecting flaming fires. Inside of the alarm is a tiny bit of radioactive material (don’t be alarmed – pun intended) that sits between two electronically charged plates. This causes a constant current of ionized air between the two plates. When smoke enters between the ionized current, it interrupts the current and sets the alarm off. These alarm systems are better for detecting fast, flaming fires.
• Photoelectric - These types of alarms are better for detecting smoldering fires. The smoke that is produced by a slow flaming, smoldering fire is much different than a raging flame fire. A photoelectric fire alarm uses a beam of light that is sent into a chamber away from a light sensor. When smoke enters the chamber, it reflects the light towards the sensor, and triggers the alarm to sound.
• Combination - Combination alarms feature both ionization and photoelectric fire detecting technologies. There are arguments for having combination alarms in your home, or having both ionization, and photoelectric alarms in your home to maximize your home protection, as combination alarms aren’t as great as one detection method or the other, compared to the single units.

Question 15

Explain your understanding of the term “travel distance”.

Answer 15

The travel distance should be measured from the farthest point in a room to the door leading to a protected stairway or, if there is no protected stairway, to the final exit of the building. Government guidelines state that, if there is only one escape route, the travel distance should not be more than 18 metres and 45m in two directions.

Question 16

When is a fire risk assessment a legal requirement ?

Answer 16

If there are 5 regular occupants or more the fire risk assessment must be in writing. If your block of flats or business premises normally has over 4 residents at once, then you are legally required for your fire risk assessment to be documented.

Question 17

Explain the principles of fire compartmentation using a purpose-built block of flats as an example.

Answer 17

Fire compartmentation is the sub-division of a building into smaller sections or units in order to withstand and limit damage/growth from a fire situation by preventing the spread of smoke and fire, with the use of fire resisting construction.

Question 18

Explain the difference between passive and active fire safety features and give me an example of each type?

Answer 18

• Passive fire protection is a vital component of any fire safety strategy. It is built into the structure of a building to safeguard people’s lives and limit the financial impact of damage to buildings and their contents.
• Active fire protection is about detecting, stopping and escaping fire. Whereas passive fire protection means containing the fire and preventing it from spreading further.

Question 19

List the key features you would expect to find on a fire door.

Answer 19

• Fully closes. If the fire door is fitted with a self-closing device, open the door fully, let it go and allow it to close. …
• Check your gaps. The gap between the door leaf and the door frame should be between 2mm and 4mm. …
• Door frame.
• Seals.
• Hinges.
• Door closer.
• Hold open devices.
• Damage-free.

Question 20

What is the Fire Safety Bill 2021?

Answer 20

The Fire Safety Bill was introduced to amend the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in buildings containing more than one dwelling.

Obligations to building owners, leaseholders and managers regarding building structure, external walls and common parts and doors.

Clarification of the ‘Responsible person’ and can lead to fines.

Question 21

Can you name some fire related BS ?

Answer 21

• BS 9999 Fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings. Code of practice
• BS 9991:2015 Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice”

Question 22

What is the purpose of the EWS1 form?

Answer 22

The new EWS1 form, or External Wall Fire Review form, is intended to record in a consistent and universal manner what assessments have been carried out on the external wall construction of residential apartment buildings.

Question 23

What is included in a FD30S door set?

Answer 23

· Smoke seal, intumescent strip, door closer, and provides 30 minute fire resistant.

Question 24

What section is Fire Safety included in the Building Standards?

Answer 24

Section 2

Question 25

When is an automatic fire suppression system required in Building Standards (Section 2)?

Answer 25

• Residential care building
• Hospitals
• Schools (for asset protection)
• Share multi-occupancy residential buildings
• Where compartmentation size exceeds safe area in BS
• Where building is taller than 25m / requires phased evacuation

Question 26

What are do you consider when designing a fire escape route for a building?

Answer 26

• Fire doors
• Exit signage
• Travel distances
• Class 0 surfaces
• Fire detection system

Question 27

What is the difference between maintained and non-maintained emergency lighting?

Answer 27

• Maintained lights are always on, and naturally use more power.
• Non-maintained lights only on when mains power fails; require a trickle charge from the mains power to maintain backup battery.

Question 28

What’s the difference between a smoke seal and an intumescent strip?

Answer 28

• Intumescent strips swell up when exposed to heat and blocks off the fire itself.
• Smoke seals block off the smoke – protecting you from smoke inhalation

Question 29

What ironmongery is required for a FD?

Answer 29

• Fire door closer
• CE marked hinges and handle levers
• Mortice lock
• Panic and emergency exit devices

Question 30

What is BS 9999 ?

Answer 30

• Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings beyond the requirements of the Approved Documents.
• The standard provides a risk-based structure that takes into account human factors and reflects the equality act with regards to inclusive design.
• New buildings, extensions, existing buildings can all be considered in relation to BS 9999. Covers the maintaining of fire detection systems as well as training of employees, evacuation plans and allocation leadership responsibilities

Question 31

What does BS 9999 cover ?

Answer 31

There are 9 sections:

1) General
2) Risk Profiles and assessing risk
3) Ensuring effective fire protection
4) Designing for the management of fire risk
5) Designing means of escape
6) Access and facilities for fire fighting
7) Designing the building structure: Load bearing and non load bearing elements.
8) Special risk protection
9) Managing occupied buildings

Question 32

What is BS 9991 ?

Answer 32

Covers Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings.

Question 33

What is compartmentation?

Answer 33

Fire compartmentation is the division of a the building into fire zones limiting and delaying the spread of fire.

Question 34

What are fire rated doors ?

Answer 34

Maintain the fire resistance of the compartment by providing specified fire resistance and smoke seal to prevent the spread of fire. Usually 30 or 60min doors with intumescent strips. Sometimes with a self-closer and signed as a fire door

Question 35

What must an owner do to ensure that they are compliant with fire safety?

Answer 35

Carry out a Fire Risk Assessment of their premises to identify the hazards, who is at risk and the likelihood of the hazards causing harm as well as what precautions need to be put in place to mitigate or eliminate risk. It should be carried out by a competent person with experience in this job.

Question 36

How do you ensure fire safety on your designs?

Answer 36

When I prepare designs, I will refer to the Section 2 of the Building Standards to ensure that I meet the requirements for compartmentation and means of escape as well as methods to put the fire out and early detection. My designs are then submitted to the LA to ensure that the designs comply with the standards. Where the design falls short of the building regulations, adjustments are made based on the comments provided.

Question 37

What are some of the requirements of Section 2?

Answer 37

• All escape routes should be minimum 1200mm to assist those with impairments. (where only stepped, 225 occupants, 1100mm; not more than 100 occupants, 1000mm)
• Clear opening width of fire door must be not less than 850mm for occupants of 225 and below
• Fire corridors to have 30m fire protection.
• two exits from a room, not close together, where only one it must be to an escape route with 2 exits/directions, protected zone or place of safety
• An inner room should not be used as sleeping accommodation, have an escape route that does not pass through more than one access room, the access room must be fitted with a suitable auto fire detection and alarm system to notify occupants of inner room, the access room must not be a place of spezial fire risk.
• Fire doors should open in direction of escape
• Fire doors should not be fitted with locks not easily opened without a key
• Protected lobbies are only required in buildings with less than 300 occupants, lower than 7.5m height and has an L1 alarm system
• Every door in a wall of a protected zone should be a FD60
• Protected zones above 18m should have 120mins fire resistance

Question 38

Are there any recent updates to the fire safety regulations?

Answer 38

• The Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022 provide that, subject to certain specified and limited exceptions, work must be carried out so that the materials which form part of an external wall cladding system or specified attachment of a relevant building meet a prescribed fire classification for construction products and building elements. A specified attachment means a balcony, a solar shading or a solar panel.

The amendments to the Regulations effectively ban the use of combustible cladding in relevant buildings which are those having a storey (or creating a storey) at a height of 11 metres or more above the ground and contain:

• a dwelling;
• a building used as a place of assembly or as a place of entertainment or recreation;
• a hospital;
• a residential care building or sheltered housing complex; or
• a shared multi-occupancy residential building.
  A new Regulation 8(5) provides expressly that relevant work ‘…must be carried out so that an external wall cladding system or internal lining does not comprise of highly combustible metal composite material’ as such material is defined in a new Regulation 8(6).