1. Describe the property

The first thing you need to do is describe the property. You should document the following:

• The building type
• The building’s construction material
• The condition of the property
• The property location
• The assessment date

Property description example:

The property being assessed is a mid-terraced style property with a communal hallway within the block. The building is a solid brick building with a flat roof, the property’s common entrance serves flats from the ground floor to the top floor, and the general condition of the property is good. The walls have no signs of internal or external insulation cladding.

Property image examples:

                    

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2. Identify sources of ignition

The next step is to identify potential ignition sources.

Remember that ignition sources can be inside and outside of the building.

Ignition sources include heaters, lighting, naked flames, electrical equipment, static electricity, cigarettes, matches, and anything else that can get extremely hot and/or cause sparks.

                    

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3. Identify sources of combustible materials

Combustible materials are solids or liquids that burn easily when ignited. When combustible materials are exposed to fire or heat, they are more likely to ignite, burn, or emit flammable vapors.

To understand combustible materials, you must first understand combustion. Combustion is a chemical reaction that generates heat as well as light. It is a high-temperature exothermic reaction involving a fuel and an oxidant.

Thermal energy is released into the atmosphere during combustion. Because combustion occurs at high temperatures, light and sound energy are frequently released into the environment.

When determining the combustibility of a material, the ease with which it bursts into flame as a result of fire or combustion is taken into account. Combustible materials are more likely to catch and spread fire.

Sources of fuel include flammable liquids, wood, paper, cardboard, plastic, waste rubbish, furniture, bedding, and any other material that can ignite.

Examples of combustible materials (solids) are wood, paper, coal, rubber, straw, charcoal, cloth.

Examples of combustible liquids are oil, grease, lubricant, cleaning solvents, cooking gas.

           

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4. Identify people at risk

You must look at where people work and live to identify those who are at risk in the event of a fire. Consider who else might be at risk, such as customers, guests and visitors, and where they might be found.

You must consider those who may be particularly vulnerable, such as:

• Employees who work alone and/or in isolated areas, such as cleaners and security personnel
• Anyone with a disability, especially if they have slow mobility (e.g. elderly customers, the deaf and disabled)
• Anyone experiencing language difficulties
• Anyone who is unfamiliar with the situation (such as new staff, contractors, agency employees and customers)
• Anyone in the immediate vicinity of the premises
• In larger buildings that are frequently visited by the public, you may need to seek professional assistance.

Examples of people at risk:

• Employees
• Contractors
• Site visitors
• Customers
• Sleeping occupants
• Young people
• People with disabilities

               

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5. Identify the number of occupants

It is crucial to know how many people are occupying a building, where they are and when, as occupancy levels may differ during different times of the day.

This information needs to be easily available to be produced to the fire brigade if they require access to a premises during the event of a fire.

It is also important to document the maximum number of persons, in the most highly occupied compartment to be effected by an uncontrolled fire within 30 minutes, assuming no evacuation is required.

     

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6. Identify current policies, procedures & instructions

It is important to find out what policies and procedures are currently in place, how they are documented and whether a competent person has been nominated for fire safety responsibility.

The following set of questions will help you achieve this:

• Has responsibility for Fire Safety been nominated? List Name and Designation, and Deputy(s) as appropriate.

          

 

• Are competent persons available to assist in the preventative and protective measures? List Names and Departments.

     

 

• Does a current up to date documented Fire Safety Policy with supporting Fire Arrangement Procedures & Instructions exist?

          

 

• Does a current up to date documented premises plan which includes a basic layout and areas of significant risk exist?

 

• Does the premises plan form an integral part of the overall emergency plan?

 

• Does the emergency plan take account of other emergency plans applicable to the same premises?

          

 

• Is the emergency plan readily available to employees and other to read?

        

 

• Is the emergency plan available to the enforcing authority?

     

 

• Do the documents provide suitable arrangements for people less able to leave the premises quickly?

          

 

• Do the documents provide suitable arrangements for young persons (potential lack of awareness to danger)?

                

 

• Do the documents provide suitable arrangements for ensuring that the premises have been fully evacuated?

     

 

• Are there suitable arrangements in place to meet the emergency services on their arrival and to provide relevant information relating to the current emergency and potential hazards?

   

• Is there appropriate liaison with the Fire and Rescue Authority?

   

• Has a regime of regular in-house fire precautions checks been defined and implemented?

 

• Are details of any inspections, whether daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly etc available, legible and up to date?

   

 

• Do the documents provide suitable arrangements for the safety of employees of other organisation?

     

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7. Fire Safety Precautions

The property needs to have adequate fire precautions in place to pass a fire risk assessment. Adequate fire precautions depend on the building’s usage, size of the building, number of floors, and occupancy levels.

Fire safety precaution questions:

• Is there a mains wired fire alarm system?

• Are there adequate fire alarm call points?

• Are there adequate smoke detectors?

• Are there adequate fire sounders in place?

• Is there adequate call point signage?

• Does the premises have the correct fire fighting equipment (e.g. fire extinguishers, fire blankets, sprinkler systems)

           

• Is regular testing in place and is it recorded correctly?

   

• Are emergency drills regularly conducted?

     

• Have all staff been trained in fire safety?

• Are emergency exit plans visible for everyone to see?

   

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8. Identify the means of escape (escape routes/evacuation plans)

Escape routes should be from inside the building to a safe location outside of the building. This designated area should always be available for use in a safe and effective manner and free from obstruction.

Escape routes should be planned in consultation with a local fire safety company and in accordance with the workplace fire risk assessment.

Other emergency equipment can be considered in larger buildings, particularly multi-story buildings. Portable escape ladders, safety masks, emergency lights, and fire blankets can all help people escape safely in the event of a fire.

The top 5 things to consider when evaluating escape routes:

• Is there adequate signage throughout the building?

• Are corridors and doorways free from obstructions and blockages?

• Is there emergency lighting in place along the escape route?

• Is the assembly point easily accessed and clearly marked?

• Are fire doors and exit doors easy to open and free from damage?

   

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9. Employee training

New and existing staff members need to be trained in fire safety. This needs to be documented and signed off by the nominated fire safety officer. If there are any new fire risks then all employees must be notified.

• Are employees given adequate fire safety periodic refresher training determined by an assessment of the degree of risk?

   

 

• Are employees with added fire safety responsibilities, such as fire wardens, given additional training?

   

 

• Training and or information provided to employees covers fire risks to the premises?

     

 

• Training and or information provided to employees covers general fire precautions for the premises?

     

 

• Training and or information provided to employees covers how to identify fire wardens and to obey their instructions?

   

 

• Training and or information provided to employees covers how to identify the location of fire call points and fire fighting equipment?

 

• Training and or information provided to employees covers the location of the fire assembly point and the rendezvous point for the emergency services?

 

• Training and or information provided to employees is reviewed periodically to ensure it remains up to date with any changes in H&S legislation, guidance, premise design, premise activities, etc.?

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10. Maintenance

An example of an effective fire equipment maintenance schedule would include: A Daily Check of final exit doors and exit routes to ensure they are clear and unbolted at the start of each day, a visual inspection of the fire alarm panel, and a check of the emergency lighting.

• Installed Fire Alarm Systems are periodically serviced and certificated as healthy by a competent association, and service reports are available, legible and up to date?

     

 

• All equipment intended to raise a fire alarm is tested sequentially as part of a periodic and planned testing regime, and records are available, legible and up to date?

     

 

• Emergency lighting is subject to monthly and annual checks, and records are available, legible and up to date?

     

 

• Fire extinguishing appliance, including fire blankets are checked at least yearly, and records are available, legible and up to date?

 

• Six monthly and annual tests are carried out on the rising main, and records are available, legible and up to date?

     

 

• Sprinkler installations are subject to a regime of periodic maintenance, and records are available, legible and up to date?

 

• Fire doors and fire escape doors are subject to a regime of periodic inspections, and records are available, legible and up to date?

       

 

• External escape gangways and stairways are subject to a regime of periodic inspections, and records are available, legible and up to date?

   

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