Fire Safety Management Plan - Literature review Example

Contents Page Introduction 3 Fire safety policy statement 3 Fire safety management structure 4 Evacuation strategies 4 Emergency response 4 Fire alarm and detection 5 Sprinkler system 5 Fire prevention and arson awareness 5 Routine procedures for staff 6 Selection and control of materials 6 Maintenance and testing of fire safety systems 6 Decoration, alterations and extensions 7 Staff training and fire drills 7 Fire risk assessments 8 Duties/Responsibility of the Vice-Chancellor 8 Voice Evacuation 8 Responsibility of the Development and Maintenance Manager 8 The Accommodation, Building and Grounds Manager 9 Safety, Health and Environment Manager 9 Record keeping 9 Audit and updating of this manual 10 References 11 Appendix 1 12 Introduction There have been legislations and standards that have been set to ensure that cases of fire outbreaks and controlled and in the event of occurrence, their effect is mitigated. Fire Safety Order (2005) and BS 9999 (2008) has been instituted to ensure that when designing fire safety plan for Media Factory Building, it complies with the required standards. Based on the above guideline, the report will give the procedure needed to design fire safety plan for Media Factory Building. Fire Safety Policy Statement Fire safety policy statement will be inclusive statement that seeks to detail what Fire Safety Order (2005) defines as responsibility of “responsible person.” Everybody while determining fire safety plan for University of Central Lancashire, will be expected to be in charge of a given responsibility in accordance with articles 8 to 22 of the Fire Safety Order (2005). Diagram for Responsibilities within the University Evacuation Strategy This area has been recognised by BSI (2008) and to mention evacuation strategies within Media Factory Building and the University, the responsible people will be in charge of reports especially when there are incidences of fire The office tasked with evacuation will be mandated to make calls to 122 or 999---depending on the urgency of the matter. The office in accordance with Educational Premises (2006) should ensure constant surveillance Emergency Response According to the standard set by BS 9999 (2008) and articles 8 to 22 of the Fire Safety Order (2005), the staff related to Media House Factory will be tasked with responding to fire alarms and whenever necessary, assemble people at the fire points (British Standard, 2008) According to association for Specialist Fire Protection (2007), the fire marshals available should be able to be deployed according to the emergency of the fire Fire Alarm and Detection In accordance with BS9999 (2008) sub-section dealing with Management of Fire Safety, there are elements that should be considered during fire alarm and detection. These should the responsibility of the office concerned; Creation of awareness among people Increasing probability of the appropriate behaviour so as to reduce threat from fire Fire related materials should be tested periodically Sprinkler System According to BS 9999 (2008) section 3.106 (Sprinkler installation), the institution will be advised to ensure that the systems has control valve set BS 9999 (2008) section 3.107 further explains that there should be means of ensuring that the sprinkler is protected in the premise On variation of guidance, BS 9999 (2008) Section 5 permits variations to be made to travel distances and door and/or stair widths on the basis that the level of risk can be reduced by the provision of additional fire protection measures when Sprinkler System is involved Fire Prevention and Arson Awareness The institution will be responsible for intrusion detection mounted at entrance points There should be installations of gadgets that will detect fire (Arson Prevention Bureau, 1997) The institution and Media Factory Building in particular should have video surveillance and that be checked regularly (HM government, 2007) Routine Procedures for Staff The routine procedures for staff will be to detail responsibility of different staff members within the institution including Media Factory Building. For instance; BS 9999 (2008) section 9 and Fire Safety Order (2005) article 13 explains that when designing Media Factory Building, adequate training of the staff should be considered There should be regular checking of the fire related gadgets to ensure that they are in a good condition In the event of fire, mechanisms should be put in a place that are geared towards the reduction of the spread of fire (HM Government, 2006) Selection and Control of Materials According to clause 39 of the BS 9999 (2008) selection and control of materials will encompass limitation of fire development by the control of materials or the provision of automatic suppression systems When designing fire safety plan for the University, articles 8 to 22 of the Fire Safety Order (2005) and BS 9999 (2008) (Section 2) require that the above named “responsible person” to provide fire control systems S/he will be aiding financial requirement in the institution. The financial stretch of the institution should be governed by Article 17 of the Fire Safety Order (2005). The total number of fire marshals within the compound and those marshalling Media Factory Building are recorded The number of people responsible in the event of fire will have to be put in the record and statistics taken for references Maintenance and Testing of Fire Safety Systems Allocation of the needed funds to cater for assessment of risk as well as provision of requirements for fire safety training To ensure that all gadgets are functioning, track of all statistics related to fire safety within the institution should be taken There should be financing of the needed maintenance to facilitate the needed fire safety systems Decoration, Alterations and Extensions According to the guidelines provided by BS9999 (2008), the university should be told that in most cases, the premises itself do not cause fire but the furnishings and decorations within the said premise. There the standard explains that there need to be enough space so as to minimise the chances of fire spreading in other parts of the buildings Fire Safety Order (2005) further explains that decoration needs to be made with emulsion polish but not wax related polish On the decoration of floor surface, the materials that should be used should not be those that propagate fire in the event of one On maintenance of fire safety equipment and provisions as stipulated in section 43.3 of BS 9999 (2008), alterations additions and repairs have been mentioned. Such should be mandated to competent individuals There should also be periodic inspection of devices and gadgets that are related with safety fire management Staff Training and Fire Drills The institution should be responsible, according to Fire Safety Order (2005) allocate the needed funds to cater for assessment of risk as well as provision of requirements for fire safety training Ensure that staffs handling the materials have the required competencies through formal training Test evacuations or fire drills as explained by BS 9999 (2008) sub-section 44.6 indicates that such should be tested periodically, preferably twice within a period of 12 months. Therefore to ensure the competency staff deployed in the designated zones need to take part in the test process for easy facilitation The function or the basis of fire drills should be set clearly the fire safety manager within the institution There should be identification of weakness in the emergency communications procedures and systems Fire Risk Assessments In the event of assessment, all features related to fire protection in the institution or Media House Factory should be put into consideration Power supply to the third and second floor through lifts should remain usable throughout the time evacuation is required According section 3.70.2 and annex G of the BS 9999 (2008) in the event of fire and the floors are served with lifts then a non-evacuation lift which in this case should be remote from a fire should be used Duties/Responsibility of the Vice-Chancellor According to the guidelines that have been set by BS 9999 (2008) (Section 2) and Fire Safety Order (2005) vice chancellor will be tasked with the following; Develop a working relationship that ensures the policies set within the institution are followed to the latter. Coming up with objectives (both long and short term) that ensure proper management of fire safety. Voice Evacuation This device should be fitted to ensure that once alarm rings it sounds throughout the premise, BSI (2008) (Large Places of Assembly, 2006) Responsibility of the Development and Maintenance Manager The standard set requires the above named to comply with paragraph 1 of the Fire Safety Order (2005) and Section 3: 7.1 of BS 9999 and 13 which both agrees that inspection of the gadgets or fire related material be done periodically In the event of fire, the above named persons will be tasked with the responsibility of raising the alarm Signs that are fire related are supposed to be put at points where they can be easily seen (examples of these signs are attached in appendix 1) The Accommodation, Building and Grounds Manager The personnel or “responsible person” as Safety Order (2005) puts it are expected to uphold article 21 of the Fire Safety Order (2005) by availing necessary measures to control accessibility of the University or Media Factory Building As explained by British Standard (2002), all potential hot spots or ignition points should be under the control of the above named person As also suggested by Protection Association and InFiReS, (2003), they will also be expected to ensure that all flammable objects are kept at bay. This is also related to cleanliness of exit points Safety, Health and Environment Manager S/he should ensure that fire safety plans are put in place before the event of fire When section 3: 7.1 of BS 9999 (2008) is consulted, the persons above should be tasked with the responsibility of inspecting hot spots within the university The buildings within the University or Media Factory Building should be given risk profiles that comply with the emergency plan arrangement (CIBSE, 2010) Record Keeping As required by Fire Safety Order 2005 keeping records of the following information has been deemed necessary; Prepared plans for the salvage in the event of fire Safety measures that have been taken to reduce injury People who are at risk Hazards likely to cause fire Other reasons such as information the institution will need for fire safety management Audit and Updating of this Manual The institution will be expected to be in liaison with the director of estates who ensures that fire risk assessment within the building are audited with certain exceptions carried out through competent persons. References Association for Specialist Fire Protection (2007). Fire resisting ductwork. Second edition. Aldershot: Association for Specialist Fire Protection. Arson Prevention Bureau, (1997). How building design can reduce the threat from arson. London: Arson Prevention Bureau. British Standard (2008). Code of practice for fire safety, in the design, management and use of buildings. London: BSI. P53-238-232-94. British Standard (2002). Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for system design, installation, commissioning and maintenance. London: BSI. P15-16-18 CIBSE (2010). Fire safety engineering- Guide E. London: CIBSE. P78-96-97. Fire Protection Association and InFiReS, (2003). Design guide for the fire protection of buildings – Essential principles. London: Fire Protection Association. HM Government (2007). Fire safety risk assessment, Means of Escape for Disabled People. London: the Department for Communities and Local Government, Eland House. P6-7- 20-21. HM Government (2006). Fire safety risk assessment, large places of assembly. London: the Department for Communities and Local Government, Eland House. P37-109-21-55-56- 112. Appendix 1 FIRE SAFETY MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST Yes No N/A Comments Daily checks (not recorded) Escape routes Can fire exits be opened immediately and easily? Are fire doors clear of obstructions? Are escape routes clear? Fire warning systems Is the indicator panel showing ‘normal’? Escape lighting Are luminaires and exit signs in good condition and undamaged? Do any emergency lights and sign lights have any visible defects ? Firefighting equipment Are fire extinguishers in place? Are fire extinguishers clearly visible? Yes No N/A Comments Read More