Week 1 Flashcards
List premises covered by the FSO?
All premises except single private dwellings plus exceptions- ships SOLAS, oil rigs, bore holes
Define relevant persons? (Article 3)
a) any person (including the responsible person) who is or may be lawfully on the premises: and
b) any person on the immediate vicinity of the premises who is at risk from a fire on the premises
Define responsible person ?
Someone at top of organisation
Owner
Managing agent
RRO Article 9 states?
Must record fire risk assessment- If 5 or more persons Dangerous substances Young persons employed- below 18 Review if suspect it is no longer valid or changes
What does DCLG stand for?
Department for Communities and Local Government
What are the two Enforcing Authority options?
Informal
Formal
Enforcing Authority - describe two informal options?
Notice of deficiency NOD
Action Plan
Enforcing options
Describe Formal
Enforcement notice
Alteration notice
Prohibition notice
Describe ‘Due diligence’ in relation to responsible person?
Did they take reasonable practical precaution
If authority issues formal actions can the person appeal- who to and within how many days?
Magistrates Court
21 Days
BS number for Fire Alarm installation and testing?
BS 5839
Describe the key principles of the Housing Act 2004 in relation to the SFSO’s role?
Joint
Why are HMO’s a potential problem?
Transient
Not well maintained
Cultural
Immigration
When was Housing Act introduced?
2004 (came into force 2006)
What criteria makes a property a HMO?
3 or more storeys
5 or more persons
At least two households
(Lasts 5years/ £5k fine- if not registered)
What is a Temporary Exemption Notice?
Used when converting HMO back to house- lasts 3 months- no more than 2 or 6 months
Describe an interim management order
Up to a year
If unlicensed council can take over the HMO- repair, bring up to standard, take rent invest back
What is Final Management Orders?
Up to 5 years local authority becomes manager/ take rent
What actions can Local Housing Authority take in relation to enforcement?
Improvement notice Prohibition order Hazard awareness notice Emergency remedial action Emergency prohibition order Demolition order Clearance area
What does PACE stand for?
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
PACE code B code of practice refers to?
Searches of premises by Police Officers and the seizure of property found by police officers on persons or premises
PACE code C code of practice refers to?
Detention, treatment and questioning of persons by Police
PACE- what is an interview- defined by PACE code c?
The questioning of a person regarding their involvement or suspected involvement in a criminal offence…which must be carried out under caution
Describe PACE- code E
Recorded interview
Two cassettes
Describe contemporaneous note
Taken at time of event Accurate Legible in ink Basis for your statement Therefore if in statement it must be in these notes Dated and time Details of everything Can refer to in court Signed each page Signed by responsible person, if possible
In relation to contemporaneous notes- best practice advises?
ELBOWS
E No Erasures
L No Leaves torn out
B No Blank spaces
O No Overwriting- strike through single line
W No Writing in margins
S Statements to be written in direct speech
Explain difference between inspection and search
FSO confers a right of inspection on a warranted inspector, not a right to search
Can you copy or seize documents?
FSO confers a right to take copies- no power of seizure
Explain how a FSO might take samples?
Describe
When to caution a witness?
A person whom there are grounds to suspect of an offence must be cautioned before any questions about an offence are put to them if either the suspects answers or offence may be given in evidence to a court in a prosecution
Recite ‘The Caution’
You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mentioned when questioned something which you later rely on in Court. Anything you do say may be used in evidence.
After you have identified offence and read ‘The Caution’ what should you do?
Explain in layman’s/ simple terms what the offence is…
In relation to PACE what should you question?
Everything…don’t assume anything!
What is a hazard?
A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effect on something or someone
Potential to cause harm
What is risk?
Risk is the chance or probability that a person will be harmed or experience an adverse health effect if exposed to a hazard
Likelihood/ chance of harm actually being done
In relation to hazards and risks what are you looking for?
Defects
Acts
Omissions
Give three examples of a potential hazard?
Cooking equipment Smoking Electrical appliances Heaters Lightning Lighting Storage
Etc
What does abbreviation DSEAR mean?
Dangerous Substance and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002
What is PAS79?
Public Available Specification in relation to Fire Risk Assessment
( could later become BS/ BSEN
As a SFSO what is your main consideration when looking around a property?
If a fire starts what is the worst case scenario.
Plan for one fire an occupant needs to be able to turn their back on fire and walk out safely.
What control measures should be taken?
Firstly prevention of fire and secondly protection in the event of a fire
Give examples of preventive control measures?
Identifying potential for fire and removing an element from the triangle of fire- remove one of the following:
Heat/ Fire/ ignition
Fuel
Oxygen
Give examples of protective control measure
Extinguishers
Automatic fire detection
Call points
Fire blanket
What are GEEPs and PEEPs?
Generic and personal emergency evacuation plans
Depending on occupancy of building an action plan to assist evacuation of specific person or persons with special needs
In relation to evacuation of a building explain difference between- Single stage evacuation Phased evacuation Delayed evacuation Progressive evacuation
Single- all out
Phased- high rise, evacuation large number in systematic way
Delayed- pre warning, checked before before
Progressive/ horizontal- moved away from danger to another protected area- hospital
Define ‘means of escape’
Structural means whereby (in the event of a fire) a safe route or routes is or provided for persons to travel from any point in a building to a place of safety.
Approved Doc B Fire Safety 2007
When designed fire safety solutions which documents can can be utilised?
Approved document B
BS9999
Fire Engineering
As SFO when considering escape routes and using MOCTET what does it mean?
Management Occupancy Construction Travel Distance Exits Time
Means of escape- travel time
2.5 minutes- usually take 2/3rds of this for people to actually move!
What is the max distance in metres if only one fire escape?
If more than one fire escape what does this increase to?
18 metres
45 metres
(Distances can be less or more if high or low fire risk 12- 60m)
Demonstrate an understanding of ‘passive fire protection’
Passive fire protection is always at work Construction Floors Beams Columns Walls
How can fire spread be prevented between two adjacent areas?
Ensuring any openings made to introduce pipes, cables, ductwork etc are sealed effectively afterwards-
Intumescent bricks
Soil pipe clamps
Fire resistant materials
What is a fire door?
How would you identify?
Provide fire protection
Label on door- hinge or to- FD30 (30 min rating) Plugs hinge side to indicate Three sets of hinges Intumescent strips on sides and top of door Double action self closer Marked FD on plans Blue stickers/ signage indicating Fire rated glazing inserts
Demonstrate an understanding of ‘active fire protection’
Basically a human detection- sight, smell etc translated into an electrical/ manual system
Eg fire detection system
What is the standard for fire detection and alarm systems for buildings?
BS 5839
Part 1 non domestic
Part 6 domestic
Where should manual call points be located?
On escape routes and final exits to open air
What should the max. Distance to a manual call point be and what height should it be positioned?
Max distance 45m
Height from floor 1.4m
Describe the difference between a heat and smoke detector
Heat operates at fixed, rate of rise or high temp detected
Area of coverage- radius 5.3m or 50m2
Smoke detects particles- ionisation/ optical/ beam/aspirating
Area covered- radius 7.5m or 100m2
Be careful if changing from smoke to heat as coverage area not as good.
What does abbreviation VESDA stand for and what is it?
Very early smoke detection apparatus
System of active fire protection draws air through pipe work to detect smoke
When would infra red and ultra violet detection be used?
Some flames invisible to eye- these cameras detect flicker patterns-
eg off shore, formula 1
Two main types of warning devices?
Audible
Visible
Audible devices dB ratings? Wall sounder general purpose Industrial sounder Platform sounder On escape stairs
In office to achieve a min sound level anywhere in building of 65dB but never more than 120dB
In hotel min sound level of 75dB at bed head.
Wall sounder general purpose 100dB
Industrial sounder 120dB
Platform sounder 85-95dB
On escape stairs 60dB (as already on way out hopefully!)
Hospital 45dB
What should always be located by the Fire Panel?
Zone plan/ diagram
In relation to HMO fire alarm systems describe difference between L1 to L5 systems
L1- throughout every room, roof space and voids- most coverage
L2- includes L3 plus another area
L3- Escape routes- staircase and corridor plus rooms that lead onto these routes
L4- Escape route- stair and corridors
L5 specific area
Explain the difference between maintained and non maintained emergency lighting
Maintained on all the time- if power lost stats on- battery min. 3 hours
Non- maintained comes on light escape routes
How is emergency lighting powered
Self contained battery
Or
Bank of batteries- slave luminaires
Where should emergency lighting be located?
Bonus point what is the BS standard?
Within 2m of: Stairways and change of level Outside final exit Change of direction Junctions Fire equipment Exit doors and signage
BS 5266…
How often sound emergency lighting be tested and what with?
Weekly, different point with fish shaped key
BS ISO 7010 standard for escape tour signs
Pictograms
Green
Directional
If a fire extinguishers has a rating of 13A- what does that mean?
Class A carbonaceous fire
Can extinguish a fire crib 0.5m x 0.56m 1.3m long
An extinguisher is rated 75F, what does that mean?
Extinguish Class F fire
75litre fat/ oil
What are class C & D Fires?
Class C Gas
Class D Metal
Where should extinguishers be located?
Conspicuous Final exiTs Room exits Storey exits Fire points
Specific extinguishers by specific risks
How do you calculate how many extinguishers you require?
BS 5306
Floor area x 0.065
Get number
Need enough extinguishers to cover this number
Example:
If floor area is 800m2
800 x 0.065= 52 therefore would need
Min of 4 x 13A extinguishers
In Approved Doc B there is a paragraph before each chapter in green, why?
What the person should be trying to achieve when designing a safe building
Explain different types of risers and when required?
Dry riser 18m or more
Wet riser 50m or more (pre 2006, requirement was 60m)
What distance must the dry riser be able to reach inside the building?
What if protected stairs only?
60m
45m
When would a private hydrant be required?
Building compartment >280m2 and >100m from existing hydrant
If no hydrant water supply how else could this be overcome?
Charged static water tank 45,000litres
OR
Spring, river, canal or pond with 45.000 litres available all year and
Good access and hard standing available
(or any other supply agreed by the fire authority)
What considerations should be made in relation to fire appliance access?
Park standard appliance close to the fire
To unload ladders for low rise buildings
To enable high rise appliances to be used, and to enable pumps to supply water and equipment for firefighting and rescue
Access requirements increase with building size and height
Vehicle access- buildings not fitted with fire mains- describe requirements
Small building
Maximum 2000m2 and top floor not above 11m
Vehicle access (pump) needs to be able to access 15% of floor perimeter
OR
Within 45m of any point in building footprint
If a building is fitted with a fire main how close should an appliance be able to get?
18m of the inlet/ should be visible from appliance
What is the approx weight of a fire appliance and aerial?
Appliance 12.5 tonnes
Aerial 17 tonnes
What distance is the max a fire appliance should have to reverse?
Max. 20m otherwise req turning circle, hammerhead or other point at which vehicle can turn
When should a fire fighting shaft be provided?
Above 18m or below 10m (basement)
(From FR&S vehicle access)
Also buildings in purpose group 4, 5 & 6 (shops, commercial, assembly and recreation and industrial)
Over >900m2 of floor height above >7.5m (above fire service vehicle access) * two or more basement storeys, each exceeding 900m2- req shaft which need not inc. ff lift
BS9999 has additional criteria for buildings between 11m to 18m
May need Ff shaft
Invented FF lobby
Ff Main
Explain the operation of a firefighting lift
Approved Doc B
Need to operate lift (drop key/switch) for FF mode- FF switch then under direct control of FR&S
Once operated returns to ground and opens
To operate- need to push and hold buttons to close at fire floor need to press open until fully open otherwise it will default to closed (safety)
Once fully open it will remain open
Access for firefighter personnel- number and location of firefighting shafts-
Every part of such floors should be:
<60m from a fire outlet in a FF shaft on a route suitable for laying hose
<45m from a fire main outlet in a protected stairway on a route suitable for laying hose
When might a firefighting lift not open into a protected lobby?
Block of flats- as long as Ff lift landing doors within 7.5m from door of Ff stairs.
Assumption that good compartmentation in flats therefore lobby not always necessary
Venting basements- provision of smoke outlets not required if?
Basement in a single family dwelling Floor area not more than 200m2 Floor not more than 3m below the adjacent ground level A strong room Basement has external window/door.
When must there be a provision of basement smoke outlets- what specification?
More than 3m deep
over 200m2
Natural- high level and evenly distributed
Combined cross sectional not <1/40th of floor area
Separate outlets from places of special fire hazards
Otherwise- may be covered with panel, stall board or pavement light which can be broken out or opened
(Not places where smoke issuing from them affect escape routes)
Basement- mechanical smoke extract can be provided as long as?
Provided that sprinklers are fitted.
BS9999 smoke control by natural means/ powered means
Natural- Operated manually, remotely or automatically by AFD
Or
Powered means if FF shaft above 30m or basement deeper than 10m (supplemented by a sprinkler system)
Describe the ideal location and facilities of a Fire Control Centre
Should be either dedicated solely for FR&S, or combined with management control room
Close to FR&S access
Fire Resistance enclosed and emergency lighting
Should inc: Fire protection systems, override control, CCTV monitors, emergency plan, drawings of layout, marker board, master keys for all rooms, welfare facilities, connection to Ff shaft comma, access to PA system
When must a firefighters emergency switch be provided?
When luminous tube signs or electrical equip using a prescribed voltage must be fitted with a cut off- 1000volts AC or 1500volts DC
What would you expect to find in a PIB?
Premise Information Box
Plans & description of building Fire safety manual/ contingency plan Information on occupants Details of key personnel Evacuation strategy Construction and layout Details of fire safety systems Any unusual features
Approved Doc B definition of an inner room
Means a room from which escape is possible only by passing by the access room.
If there is an inner room (room where escape via access room)
May require?
Not more than 18m travel distance
Vision panels on door
Automatic fire detection
Or 500mm open gap between two rooms/ other engineering- fire suppression
DCLG guidance on numbers able to escape
800mm width door approx 100 people in 2.5min (based on fire development) therefore 40 per minute
1200mm width door approx 200 people in 2.5min- 80 per minute
If three doors discount one door largest (you may lose this to fire) for worse case scenario . If only one exit 50/60 people acceptable depending on use.
What height should a fire escape sign be positioned?
2.2m above door
1.7m on wall
Pictograms
