East Sussex Village Halls & Community Buildings Conference 2017 Roger Easey ESFRS Business Fire Safety Inspector

AIM To provide an introduction to Fire Safety Legislation and the application of the “Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order 2005” (The FSO)

OBJECTIVES Provide an overview of the fire safety legislation history and the introduction of the Fire Safety Order (FSO) Understand “practically” what is required to comply with the Order Understand the principle requirements of a Risk Assessment

Legislation Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order 2005 Applies to all premises (except domestic) Replaced/amended over 70 pieces of legislation

Legislation Places the onus of fire safety on the responsible person Takes a risk assessment approach Need to reduce/eliminate all risks Self compliance

Legislation East Sussex Fire Authority is the enforcing authority East Sussex & City of Brighton & Hove Offences It is an offence to fail to comply with any requirement imposed by Articles 8-22 & 38 Penalties Magistrates – Up to £5,000 per offence Crown Court – Unlimited fine and/or two years imprisonment

Legislation Responsible Person Employer Occupier Owner

Responsible Person “3. In this Order “responsible person” means— (a)in relation to a workplace, the employer, if the workplace is to any extent under his control; (b)in relation to any premises not falling within paragraph (a)— (i)the person who has control of the premises (as occupier or otherwise) in connection with the carrying on by him of a trade, business or other undertaking (for profit or not); or (ii)the owner, where the person in control of the premises does not have control in connection with the carrying on by that person of a trade, business or other undertaking.

Relevant Person In the order relevant persons are defined as; Any person (including the responsible person) who is, or may be lawfully on the premises; AND Any person in the immediate vicinity of the premises who is at risk from a fire on the premises

Guidance

Guidance Issued by the Secretary of State under Article 50 They are not the Law … However – if you choose an alternative solution, you will need to show how it meets the same “Functional Outcomes” so that persons are not placed at risk in case of fire BS 9999 and BS 7974 More complex , however may be needed if a “benchmark” guide compliant solution is not practicable

Supplementary Guide Means of escape for disabled people Should be read alongside other guides in the Fire Safety Risk Assessment series It provides additional information on accessibility and means of escape for disabled people Provides examples and information to help carry out the assessment and record Personal Emergency Escape Plans (PEEPs)

Government Guides Legal advice Risk reduction Alarms and detection Fire fighting Escape routes Emergency lighting Signs Training and instruction

Government Guides They are written in plain English Written for responsible person, fire safety inspectors & consultants Part 1 – Explains process of fire risk assessment Part 2 – Further more detailed guidance Appendices – Provide technical information

Government Guides Two parts Part 1 Simple, straightforward advice About 35 pages Details the risk assessment process Government believes that many businesses will only need to read this part

Government Guides Part 2 More detailed advice Designed to be ‘dipped into’ Not expected to be read from cover to cover Provides diagrams of many premises configurations

Risk? What risk?

What is a fire risk assessment ? An organised and methodical look at your premises, the activities carried on there and the likelihood that a fire could start and cause harm to those in and around the premises.

Aims of the fire risk assessment To identify the fire hazards To reduce the risk of those hazards causing harm to as low as reasonably practicable To decide what physical fire precautions and management arrangements are necessary to ensure the safety of people in the premises

5 Steps to Fire Risk Assessment Step 1 – Identify fire hazards in your building E.G.; Sources of ignition: naked flames, poorly maintained electrical equipment, heaters, kitchens Sources of fuel: build up of waste, textiles, furniture Hirers of hall: decorations, electrical equipment, tables & chairs

5 Steps to Fire Risk Assessment Step 2 – Identify those at risk E.G.; People in and around the hall Users / hirers of the hall People especially at risk Children, or parents with babies The elderly, infirm or disabled People unfamiliar with the building layout

5 Steps to Fire Risk Assessment Step 3 – Evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from risk Means of escape Means of raising an alarm Emergency lighting Fire exit signage Fire fighting equipment Maintenance

How many people can be in the hall? How many exit routes Width of doorways (single or double) and escape routes Outward opening single exit = 100 persons Inward opening = 60 persons Securing of emergency exit doors

CALCULATING CAPACITY FLOOR SPACE CAPACITY Measure the venue Draw a scale plan Work out the floor space capacity factors Total AREA square mtrs (m²) Separate the AREA Within 2m of Bar 0.3 divided by Standing 0.2 X Seating 1 Offices 9 This is your Exit Routes/stairs X Floor Space Capacity Cupboards & Toilets X

CALCULATING CAPACITY EXIT CAPACITY Count the doors 5. Work out how many people can exit. Measure the usable exit width Mark them on the scale plan Amount per minute through exit width Stick to the Rules 750 mm = 100 1050mm = 200 Only 1 door = max 60 Thereafter 15 people per 75 mm Doors within 45 deg = 1 door This is your Assume largest door is lost to fire Inward opening doors = max 60 Exit Capacity Take each door individually Do not combine exit widths

CALCULATING CAPACITY TOTAL CAPACITY Calculate the Floor Space Capacity Calculate the Exit width Take the lowest of the two figures Ensure using the scale plan that the numbers can reach a Protected Route or a place of Ultimate Safety within the travel distances. Single direction of travel = 18m More than one direction of travel 45 mtrs This is your Total Capacity

Simple floor plan

Hirers agreement multi purpose use Maximum permitted numbers Floor plans Seating layout Location of fire exits Means of raising an alarm Emergency procedures

5 Steps to Fire Risk Assessment Step 4 – Record, train, instruct, inform and retrain; You will need to record your findings from steps 1,2 & 3 and create an action plan for any works that need to be carried out Carry out any staff training (including volunteers) Produce a Fire Safety Action plan in the event of fire and communicate this with all staff & hirers of hall

5 Steps to Fire Risk Assessment Step 5 – Review; Your Fire Risk Assessment – You should keep a regular review of it to ensure it is kept up-to-date. Consider new staff on induction or staff/guests with disabilities Any building alterations Or any other reason that causes you to suspect that your risk assessment is no longer valid

Records Fire Safety Log Book; (It’s FREE) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Guidance & Records Part 2 Fire risk assessment guidance Part 3 Fire risks and prevention measures

Complying with the Law There is usually more than one solution Guides are there to help and most are free including fire log book www.esfrs.org – business safety ACRE information sheets 15 & 37

Summary to carry out a fire risk assessment Step 1 - Identify fire hazards Step 2 - Decide who could be harmed Step 3 - Evaluate the risks Step 4 - Record findings & action taken Step 5 - Keep assessment under review

Any Questions ?