Fire Safety
Legislation
Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regs 1999
• Detection & warning
• Means of escape
• Fighting fire
• Staff Training
• Risk Assessment
Management of H&S at Work Regs 1999
Fire Classification
Class A: Carbonaceous materials
Class B: Liquids or liquefiable solids
Class C: Gases
Class D: Metals
Class F: Cooking oils or fats
Part One:
Fire Risk Assessment
5 Steps to Fire Risk Assessment
Identify potential fire
hazards
Decide who might be harmed and how
Evaluate risks and decide whether more
needs to be done
Record findings – tell employees
Review from time to time and revise when
necessary
Step 1 – Identify Fire Hazards
FUEL
IGNITION
OXYGEN SOURCE
Identify Ignition Sources
Identify Ignition Sources
Other examples:
• Smokers materials
• Heating equipment
• Cooking
• Lighting equipment
• Arson
• Static electricity
• Friction
• Metal impact
Identify Fuel Sources
Flammable liquids, solvents and chemicals
Wood
Paper and card
Plastics, rubber and foam
Flammable gases
Furniture
Textiles
Waste material
Consider construction of building
Identify Oxygen Sources
Main source is air around us:
• Natural airflow (doors, windows etc.)
• Mechanical air conditioning)
Some chemicals (oxidising materials)
Oxygen supplies from cylinder and piped
systems
Step 2 – Decide Who Could Be
Harmed
Identify:
• Who may be at risk of fire;
• How they will be warned; and
• How they will escape.
Consider employees, customers, visitors,
contractors etc. and where they may be
Step 3 – Evaluate Risks
Decide whether existing precautions are
adequate, or whether more should be done
Consider:
• Chance of fire occurring;
• Precautions in place;
• Warning systems;
• Means of escape; and
• Means of fighting fire.
Types of Heat Transfer
Convection
Radiation
Conduction
Direct Contact
Smoke Spread
Ever-deepening layer of
smoke
Smoke rises
Step 4 – Record Findings &
Actions
Ifmore than 5 employees
Record significant findings & people at risk
Record could be simple list (see below), or
layout plan, or a combination of both
Significant hazards People/groups at Existing controls Further action
risk from hazards and risks which are required
not adequately -by when?
controlled -by who?
Step 5 – Review and Revise
Review when no longer valid or significant
changes
No need to review in light of trivial changes
Fires or near misses should initiate review
Ensure precautions are working effectively
Part Two:
Fire Precautions
Fire Detection & Warning
Shouting “Fire” may be sufficient in small
workplaces
Electrical fire warning system with manual
call points is likely to be required
Automatic fire detection may also be
necessary
Alarm should be loud enough for everyone
to hear it
Means of Escape
Should normally be an alternative means of
escape
Each escape route should be independent of
any other
Should lead to a place of safety
Should be wide enough for number of
occupants
Should not normally reduce in width
Should be available for use and clear at all
times
Means of Escape
Consider what people are doing when alarm
sounds:
• Operating machinery that will have to be switched
off
• Sleeping etc.
Disabled may need help to evacuate
Corridors should be 1m wide
Stairways should be of sufficient width
Should be sufficiently lit, and have emergency
lighting where necessary
Means of Fighting Fire
Portable fire fighting equipment:
• Water (red)
• Foam (cream)
• Powder (blue)
• Carbon Dioxide (black)
• Halon (green)