This section provides further information on evaluating the risk of a fire and its prevention in your premises. You should spend time developing long-term workable and effective strategies to reduce hazards and the risk of a fire starting. At its simplest this means separating flammable materials from ignition sources.
Examples of what you should consider are:
- housekeeping;
- storage;
- dangerous substances storage, display and use;
- equipment and machinery;
- electrical safety;
- smoking;
- managing building work and alterations;
- existing layout and construction;
- particular hazards in corridors and stairways used as escape routes;
- insulated core panels;
- restricting the spread of fire and smoke;
- fire-resisting structures;
- arson; and
- help for people with special needs.
Housekeeping
Good housekeeping will lower the chances of a fire starting, so the accumulation of combustible materials in all premises should be monitored carefully. Good housekeeping is essential to reduce the chances of escape routes and fire doors being blocked or obstructed.
Keep waste material in suitable containers before it is removed from the premises. If bins, particularly wheeled bins, are used outside, secure them in a compound to prevent them being moved to a position next to the building and set on fire. Never place skips against a building they should normally be a minimum of 6m away from any part of the premises.
If you generate a considerable quantity of combustible waste material then you may need to develop a formal plan to manage this effectively. In higher risk areas you need to make sure arrangements are in place for close down, e.g. checking all appliances are turned off and combustible waste has been removed.
Storage
Many of the materials found in your premises will be combustible. If your premises have inadequate or poorly managed storage areas then the risk of fire is likely to be increased. The more combustible materials you store the greater the source of fuel for a fire. Poorly arranged storage could prevent equipment such as sprinklers working effectively.
Combustible materials are not just those generally regarded as highly combustible, such as polystyrene, but all materials that will readily catch fire. However, by carefully considering the type of material, the quantities kept and the storage arrangements, the risks can be significantly reduced.
In offices, the retention of large quantities of paper records, especially if not filed away in proprietary cabinets, can increase the fire hazard. Such readily available flammable material makes the potential effect of arson more serious. Many shops will take great care to present an efficient and attractive image in the retail area, while other areas are neglected and allowed to become over-stocked or dumping areas for unsold material.
To reduce the risk, store excess materials and stock in a dedicated storage area, storeroom or cupboard. Do not store excess stock in areas where the public would normally have access. Do not pile combustible material against electrical equipment or heaters, even if turned off for the summer, and do not allow smoking in areas where combustible materials are stored.
Consider how stock is displayed in shops and evaluate any additional risk of fire that it generates. For example, rugs stacked on the floor on top of each other would not present a high fire risk, but rolls of carpet stored vertically up against a wall or hung on displays present a vertical surface for fire to spread rapidly upwards. The display of large quantities of clothing on vertical hangers is also likely to increase the risk of rapid fire development.
Your fire risk assessment should also consider any additional risk generated by seasonal products such as fireworks and Christmas decorations. Consider the following to reduce these risks:
- ensure storage and display areas are adequately controlled and monitored;
- use fire-resistant display materials wherever possible (suppliers should be able to provide evidence of this); and
- ensure electrical lighting used as part of the display does not become a potential source of ignition.
Voids
Voids (including roof voids) should not be used for the storage of combustible material. Such voids should be sealed off or kept entirely open to allow for easy access for inspection and the removal of combustible materials.
Combustible waste and packaging
Delivery of some goods results in large quantities of combustible waste and packaging. The sighting use and removal of these materials needs to be carefully managed to ensure that they cannot come into contact with potential ignition sources and to not cause obstructions.
Dangerous substances: storage, display and use
Specific precautions are required when handling and storing dangerous substances to minimise the possibility of an incident. Your supplier should be able to provide detailed advice on safe storage and handling, however, the following principles will help you reduce the risk from fire:
- substitute highly flammable substances and materials with less flammable ones;
- reduce the quantity of dangerous substances to the smallest reasonable amount necessary for running the business or organisation;
Please Note: This page is lengthy and is split over 6 sections.
You can continue reading through Legislative Fire Safety Advice and move to Signs and Notices, or you cant read the rest of this article on Risks and Preventative Measures by going to Flammable Liquids.
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