In law, each flat block and every business establishment is legally required to carry out a risk assessment. But, not all people have an understanding of this vital measure to prevent fire.
Many people ask “what is an assessment of risk for fire?” A fire risk assessment should be at the heart of your building’s fire safety plan.
Risk assessments for fire Unfortunately, these assessments are frequently ignored. The result is the building being exposed to unnecessary fire hazards, and possibly the loss of life in some instances.
The fire risk assessment an examination carried out on a structure to evaluate the fire danger and make suggestions to make the structure safer, if needed.
If there are fewer than 5 people living in the building regularly there is no need to have the fire risk assessment to be recorded. Therefore, it’s not always a requirement to have a written document.
We do suggest that the fire risk assessment must be written down, because that’s the simplest way to ensure that the findings can be made public and to make sure that any recommendations are implemented.
Are there any laws or guidelines in relation to fire risk assessments?
Assessments of fire risk do include certain specific guidelines.
It is recommended that the Fire Risk Assessment must be regularly reviewed. It is suggested that the following items be included when reviewing the assessment:
Each year for 12 months following the assessment that was done in the beginning
Every five years, a new assessment must be conducted
If the function of the building drastically changed
If the building’s structure is altered, for example the layout has changed
If there is significant changes in the residents
The layout of a structure or the way it is utilized, or the type of occupants living in the structure can greatly impact your plans for fire safety. It is therefore crucial that you review your risk assessment for fire be completed if any of these has occurred.
If there are five regularly occupied occupants and more,, the assessment of the risk of fire must be written.
If your apartment block or commercial property typically has more than 4 people at one time If you’re legally required to document your Fire risk assessments to be recorded.
As we mentioned earlier It is highly recommended that you record your findings written, regardless of how big your space is.
There are some other scenarios where you’ll require an assessed fire risk report written even if you only have five regular residents. The most common include:
You’ve been told to do this by firefighters (for instance, following an inspection)
If your business is required to have a license
The most important conclusions and the actions to be taken need to be documented.
If or not it’s written down the fire risk assessment includes two parts that need to be prepared.
The first section is actually the review which evaluates the building’s fire safety in relation to a variety of factors.
The other part is a list of specifications to be followed to allow the construction to be compliant with the fire safety guidelines.
It is vital that these suggestions be followed up on as this is what will keep your home safe in the end.
Who is responsible for ensuring that an Fire Risk Assessment is conducted?
In law, each building, including flats and businesses, must be staffed by a person who has been designated as”the “Responsible Individual” who is accountable for the safety of the building’s firefighters.
The responsibility of the person designated as Responsible is to ensure that all pertinent fire safety procedures are carried out and that the appropriate action is taken to stop fires from happening and to stop the possibility of injury or death in case an incident of fire occurs.
The person who is responsible is thus, the one who must ensure that a proper assessment of fire risks is conducted for your building.
Small business owners are generally the responsible person for their property, unless else in the group is appointed.
In towers and blocks of flats the responsible person is typically the managing agent or the landlord however, it could be an active member of the Residents’ Association also.
The responsible person in flat blocks is responsible for common areas like corridors and stairwells. Residents are accountable for ensuring that their apartments are secure from fire.
Where can I get an exact version of the Fire Risk Assessment for my structure?
As a building owner has the right to have access for an Fire Risk Assessment on your building if you wish to have to have it.
First, you should contact the responsible person for your building. If you’re not sure who this person is, the best place to start is with the owner of the business or managing agent, Facilities department, or the landlord.
If you find that there isn’t any an appropriate fire risk assessment for your property, you must ask the responsible person to get one done immediately.
If you are concerned that your issues are not being addressed by the person who is responsible who is responsible for the building you live in, make sure you should call the emergency services of your local agency as the last alternative.
However it is important to note that the fire and rescue service shouldn’t be contacted for trivial issues as they are extremely busy. The emergency number 999 is not to be used. You should be able locate the general enquiry number for your local fire brigade.
What are the elements that are reviewed as part of a risk assessment?
Fire Risk Assessments need to be thorough and a variety of fire risk factors must be considered.
The amount of information included in a single review is contingent to a large extent on the structure’s complexity. For instance, a one compartment building, such as the kiosk or small shop will be able to contain much less to be reviewed as compared to a large block of flats or a huge office blocks.
While each fire risk assessment is unique, these fire prevention and risk factors must be inspected by the assessor in the course of the assessment
The structure’s design, construction and use
The type and quantity of occupants, including possibly vulnerable occupants
The electrical equipment at the site, which could be a possible ignition source
The building may have an incident history with any loss to fire
Protection against arson
Smoking areas and preventive measures have been implemented to prevent smoke-related fires that result from smoking
Protection against fires caused by light
Heating devices that are portable and installed that could trigger fires
All fire dangers that were caused by outside contractors or construction works
Housekeeping, general and important areas to be free of any materials that could ignite
The creation as well as the maintenance of escape route
Storage solutions for any hazardous liquids that are flammable or dangerous
Lighting for emergency purposes has been correctly installed and is working properly
The measures are in place for the prevention of fire spread
The proper methods are in place to signal alerts in the situation of a fire
Signs for fire safety are placed at the right places and are used in a correct manner
Other devices, such as sprinklers, have been installed and maintained.
The correct fire extinguishers are located in the right places.
If there are fire safety drills and evacuation drills regularly scheduled fire safety
Who is responsible for the building’s fire safety , and how is it managed
The correct records and documentation is being kept for the fire security measures
The correct testing procedures and maintenance is in place to ensure fire safety systems.
Who is qualified to conduct an Fire Risk Assessment?
As per the law the fire risk assessment could be performed by an “competent” person. However, that doesn’t mean an experienced Fire Risk Assessor is required to be employed.
But, what it really means is that the person who conducts the fire risk assessment should be able to evaluate your premises or building against the various elements mentioned above.
They should also be able to accomplish these things:
Document all of their significant conclusions with great detail, and in a clear manner.
Make sure you have a fire safety actions plan drafted if modifications are required and document the actions you take in writing
Make sure that the action plan is implemented If it is needed
The assessment of fire risk should be updated constantly
A certified fire risk assessor has a rigorous training and is well-versed in the most current guidelines and regulations, as well as how to apply them to various types of structures.
What are the penalties for not having an assessment of the risk of fire?
If you don’t have a risk assessment for fire and specifically don’t possess the appropriate fire safety procedures implemented, your result is prosecution, which can result in massive penalties. It could result in the incarceration of a person in severe negligence instances.
