Wedged fire door at London kitchen health centre did major outbreak

London Fire Brigade reported on their incident page, that a Fire at a Health Centre in Wood Green would have been less extensive if the Kitchen door had not been wedged open. If it had been kept shut the heat and smoke would have travelled at a slower pace. The Fire damaged part of the ground floor and the roof and was thought to have been caused by an electrical fault – click here to read more.

Fire Doors are designed to withstand Fire for up to 30 minutes. They are a legal requirement for Commercial premises. This is to ensure that escape routes are protected if a Fire breaks out. Also, they are specifically designed to automatically close behind you, holding the Fire and smoke back so it doesn’t entre the escape routes.

If you are identified as the ‘Responsible Person’ for a commercial premise, then here are a few things to consider.

• Check the door’s test certification (British Standard (BS) 476 Part 22 or the European equivalent BS EN 1634 Part 1).
• Ensure there are combines intumescent Smoke and Seals around the door.
• Check that the Hinges are Fire Rated and also you have the correct Self Closer
• Make sure the person installing the Fire Door is an accredited professional.

The Fire Safety Risk Assessment for the premise should identify any Fire Doors that are deficient and will advise you on what to do. If you don’t have a current Fire Safety Risk Assessment then you may be breaking the law.

A ‘suitable and sufficient’ Fire Safety Risk Assessment should include the following

 

·         Fire Safety Risk Assessment Report

·         Fire Safety Management Action Plan – Significant Findings

·         Fire Safety Policy

·         Fire Safety Emergency Plan

If you require a Fire Safety Risk Assessment for your London premise, then London Fire Risk Assessments may be able to help you. They are completely independent of any companies offering Fire Safety Protection Services therefore their advice is unbiased. They have been established for over 16 years and all their Fire Safety Risk Assessors have qualified with the Institution of Fire Engineers the Fire Protection Association, CS Todd Associates and the Institute of Fire Safety Managers.

 

They are also on the IFSM Register of accredited Fire Risk Assessors and the National Register of Accredited Fire Risk Assessors. They are fully insured, and all their Assessors are retired Fire Brigade Fire Safety Officers, so they know how to put Fires out and how to prevent them!

 

So if you are the ‘Responsible Person’ for a commercial premise and you wish to arrange a Fire Safety Inspection and Audit by an accredited Fire Risk Assessor then contact London Fire Risk Assessments now on 0781 8888626 alternatively click here

LFRA’s safety measures for high-risk areas Snippets

The Home Office show that approximately 30% of the Schools inspected up to the year ending March 2022 had an unsatisfactory rating during Fire Safety audits.

A Fire is unlikely to start in two different places in a building it is most likely to start in accommodation areas such as an office. This may be different in the Educational sector due to the much higher threat of arson which may include the setting of multiple Fire’s or the igniting of items within escape routes such as displays and storage areas.

The following are just a sample of high-risk areas that require regular Fire Safety checks.

Escape routes

Travel distance should be as recommended Guidance for education premises maximum of 18 metres for on direction of travel and 45 metres where there are two directions of travel. All final exits should be operational and checked regularly.

Compartmentation

Many buildings are old with poor compartmentation including large voids above false ceilings. Fire Doors are often damaged through wear and tear and service areas have penetrations normally caused by service providers these are should be regularly checked. Protected staircase and high-risk areas such as kitchens, science labs and plant rooms should be a high priority when carrying out Fire Safety checks.

Fire Alarms

Regular checks of the Alarm Panel for faults and a process in place for swift replacement of any faulty detector heads. Regular inspection, testing and maintaining is essential.

Extinguishers

Tampering of Extinguishers by Students may be a problem, relocating the extinguishers to staff-only areas could be considered if they are still accessible within the recommended travel distances. Regular inspection, testing and maintaining of the Extinguishers plus Staff training is essential.

Combustible Materials

There is often conflict between wall-mounted displays of Students work and Fire Safety mainly in areas such as Art Classrooms, Drams and Design and Technology rooms. “Notice boards should not be more that 3m wide, and there should be a gap between notice boards on the same wall of at least 1m” this is outlined in BB100. Plant Rooms and Electrical cupboards or risers should not be used for storage and regular checks should be made of these areas.

Emergency Escape Plan

The Emergency Escape Plan should be regularly tested and any deficiencies identified within the Fire Drill should be addressed immediately.

Fire Safety Training

All Staff should have regular Fire Safety Training which should be recorded. The appropriate number of Fire Marshals should be in place at all times.

 

Fire Safety Risk Assessment

Every Education premise should have a current Fire Safety Risk Assessment carried out by a competent Assessor. The deficiencies identified within the Fire Safety Risk Assessment for the Building should be actioned on within the timescales outlined and the Fire Safety Management Action Plan – Significant Findings should be kept up to date at all times.

London Fire Risk Assessments are completely independent of any companies offering Fire Safety Protection Services therefore their advice is unbiased. They have been established for over 16 years and all their Fire Safety Risk Assessors have qualified with the Institution of Fire Engineers the Fire Protection Association, CS Todd Associates and the Institute of Fire Safety Managers. They are on the IFSM Register of accredited Fire Risk Assessors and the National Register of Accredited Fire Risk Assessors. They are fully insured, and all their Assessors are retired Fire Brigade Fire Safety Officers, so they know how to put Fires out and how to prevent them!

If you are a School, College or University in London or Manchester and don’t have a current Fire Risk Assessment for your Building you are in breach of the Fire Safety Laws. If you wish to arrange a Fire Safety Inspection and Audit by an accredited Fire Risk Assessor then contact London Fire Risk Assessments now on 0781 8888626 London or 07824 185293 Manchester alternatively click here

Updates to Fire Safety Regulations: Implications for Private Landlords in London and Manchester

If you are a Landlord and privately rent out residential accommodation or you appoint a Managing Agent to manage the premise for you, you are both responsible for the Fire Safety of the Premise and the Tenants.

The following are just some of the Fire Safety requirements you should be providing

·         Sufficient Fire Detection and Alarm

·         Fire Doors – must have effective Self Closing devices, never wedged and regularly checked for damage.

·         Fire protection and Fire stopping to service risers, and between individual flats, corridors and the means of escape routes.

·         Storage – there should be no storage on the means of escape, communal areas and electrical and gas risers.

·         A current Fire Safety Risk Assessment which must include an Emergency Escape Plan.

·         Communication – Fire Safety information and the Emergency Escape Plan must be given to the Tenant and kept up to date.

Every Purpose Built Block of Flats or Houses converted into Flats in London and Manchester must have a ‘suitable and sufficient’ Fire Risk Assessment – it’s the law.

The Landlord or Managing Agent for the premise must also ensure that the Fire Risk Assessor they appoint is accredited. But how do they know if a Fire Risk Assessor has met the competency criteria?

A third-party certified provider gives assurance that the risk assessment will be conducted by a competent assessor who will go beyond the cheap, basic tick-box approach in order to meet the ‘suitable and sufficient’ legislative requirement.

London Fire Risk Assessments are completely independent of any companies offering Fire Safety Protection Services therefore their advice is unbiased. They have been established for over 15 years and all their Fire Safety Risk Assessors have qualified with the Institution of Fire Engineers the Fire Protection Association, CS Todd Associates and the Institute of Fire Safety Managers. They are on the IFSM Register of accredited Fire Risk Assessors and the National Register of Accredited Fire Risk Assessors. They are fully insured, and all their Assessors are retired Fire Brigade Fire Safety Officers, so they know how to put Fires out and how to prevent them!

 If you are a Landlord or Managing Agent and don’t have a current Fire Risk Assessment for your premise you are in breach of the Fire Safety Laws. If you wish to arrange a Fire Safety Inspection and Audit by an accredited Fire Risk Assessor then contact London Fire Risk Assessments now on 0781 8888626 London or 07824 185293 Manchester alternatively click here

 

Ensure Up-to-Date Fire Safety of Manchester Pubs, Clubs, Bars & Restaurants

Manchester Pubs, Clubs, Bars and Restaurants summer is approaching and the crowds will arrive! Your responsibility is to keep your customers safe from Fire, so check that your Fire Safety Risk Assessment is up to date!

Getting ready for the summer season is hectic, but one important thing that should be on top of your job list is checking that the Fire Safety Assessment for your premise is up to date.

Fire risks increase when there are crowds, alcohol, patio heaters and candles – just one slight knock and the inevitable happens. So, the identified ‘Responsible Person’ or ‘Duty Holders’ must make it a priority to check that all the Fire Safety Actions identified in their Fire Risk Assessment, are completed and that their Staff are all up to date with their Fire Marshal Training.

Manchester Pubs, Restaurants Night Clubs and Entertainment Venues not only have a Responsibility to keep their Staff and Building safe from Fire, but most importantly they must keep their customers safe.

Every Manchester Pub, Club, Bar and Restaurant must have a Fire Risk Assessment for their premise – it’s the law. If you haven’t got one or your Fire Risk Assessment has expired, then there is still time to book a Fire Safety Inspection and Audit with an accredited Fire Risk Assessor.

With the recent changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 amended 2022 introduced by the Fire Safety Act, it is now the responsibility for the identified ‘Responsible Person’ or ‘Duty Holder’ to ensure that the Fire Safety Risk Assessment is ‘suitable and sufficient’. If the ‘Responsible Person’ or ‘Duty Holder’ decides to appoint a Company or a Fire Risk Assessor, they must have proven competency in Fire Risk Assessments and be on an Accredited Register of Risk Assessors.

If you are a Pub, Restaurant, Night Club or Entertainment Venue in Manchester and require a Fire Safety Inspection and Audit of your premise then contact London Fire Risk Assessments.

London Fire Risk Assessments have a new Manchester division who are completely independent of any companies offering Fire Safety Protection Services therefore their advice is unbiased. They have been established for over 15 years and all their Fire Safety Risk Assessors have qualified with the Institution of Fire Engineers the Fire Protection Association, CS Todd Associates and the Institute of Fire Safety Managers. They are on the IFSM Register of accredited Fire Risk Assessors and the National Register of Accredited Fire Risk Assessors. They are fully insured, and all their Assessors are retired Fire Brigade Fire Safety Officers, so they know how to put Fires out and how to prevent them!

 

If you wish to arrange a Fire Safety Inspection and Audit, then contact London Fire Risk Assessments, Manchester Division now on 07824 185293 alternatively click here

 

 

A Fire in the Electrical Intake Room Shows Properly Maintained Electrical Intake with Updated BS7671 Certificate

A Fire in the Electrical intake room in a Pub in Enfield highlights the importance of ensuring the Electrical intake is regularly serviced and maintained and has an up to date BS7671 Certificate.

Electrics are one of the main ignition sources in a commercial premise, so it is imperative that they are regularly serviced and maintained. A 5-year BS7671 certificate should be in place and issued by a qualified electrician.

It is the responsibility of the identified ‘Responsible Person’ or ‘Duty Holder’ to ensue that the Electrics are tested. Any deficiencies should be picked up and included in a ‘suitable and sufficient’ Fire Risk Assessment.

London Pubs, Restaurants Night Clubs and Entertainment Venues not only have a Responsibility to keep their Staff and Building safe from Fire, but most importantly they must keep their Public safe.

With the recent changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (As Amended) introduced by the Fire Safety Act, it is now the responsibility for the identified ‘Responsible Person’ or ‘Duty Holder’ to ensure that the Fire Safety Risk Assessment is ‘suitable and sufficient’. If the ‘Responsible Person’ decides to appoint a Company or a Fire Risk Assessor they must have proven competency in Fire Risk Assessments and be on an Accredited Register of Risk Assessors.

If you are a London Pub, Restaurant, Night Club or Entertainment Venue and require a Fire Safety Inspection and Audit of your premise then contact London Fire Risk Assessments.

London Fire Risk Assessments are completely independent of any companies offering Fire Safety Protection Services therefore their advice is unbiased. They have been established for over 15 years and all their Fire Safety Risk Assessors have qualified with the Institution of Fire Engineers the Fire Protection Association, CS Todd Associates and the Institute of Fire Safety Managers. They are on the IFSM Register of accredited Fire Risk Assessors and the National Register of Accredited Fire Risk Assessors. They are fully insured, and all their Assessors are retired London Fire Brigade Fire Safety Officers, so they know how to put Fires out and how to prevent them!

 

If you wish to arrange a Fire Safety Inspection and Audit, then contact London Fire Risk Assessments now on 0781 8888626 alternatively click here