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

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

3. 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

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

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

6. 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

7. Legislation
Responsible Person
Employer
Occupier
Owner

8. 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.

9. 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

10. Guidance

11. 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

12. 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)

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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Risk?
What risk?

21. 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.

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. CALCULATING CAPACITY EXIT CAPACITY
Count the doors
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 = mm = 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

29. 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

30. Simple floor plan

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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

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

36. 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

37. Any Questions ?