Accredited Fire Risk Assessor Register (CFRAR) Tier 2 Institute of Fire Safety Managers’ (IFSM) Competent
We are very pleased to report that we have just been reassessed as competent for the prestigious Institute of Fire Safety Managers’ (IFSM) Competent Fire Risk Assessor Register (CFRAR). We have achieved Tier 2 in their standard, thus assuring our clients of our competence to carry out fire risk assessments. JCH Safety work across the Midlands carrying out fire risk assessments for businesses and schools. In light of what we regularly see, we thought it would be a good opportunity for us to share some experience of how you can improve fire safety for your organisation.
Each year there are too many fires and way too may lives lost as a consequence. Businesses fail as a result of fires and people suffer from the loss of jobs. Many fires are preventable, and with good planning, there is no need for anyone to die as the result of a fire.
If a fire was to start on your premises, are you totally sure that your building could be easily evacuated and that no one would be hurt? How do you know this for certain?
This blog is designed to remind those responsible for fire safety of what they can do to improve fire safety in 2023. This will help you to be certain that your building is fire safe.
3 Easy Steps to Improve Fire Safety
1. Review your fire risk assessment and Fire Safety Training
Your fire risk assessment should be reviewed regularly. It is advised that this should be done at least annually or if you have a significant change to the building. A fire risk assessment involves a detailed scrutiny of your premises and work practices to determine the level of risk to life. JCH Safety carry out fire risk assessments for schools, colleges, warehouses, factory facilities, pubs, and clubs, HMOs and even hotels. If you require any assistance with your fire risk assessment, please get in touch.
A fire risk assessment will always review the level of training. Make sure your team are properly prepared and trained in the risk of fire. You have a duty to ensure your staff are aware of the risks identified in your fire risk assessment and to train them to prevent and manage the risk from fire. All staff should receive basic fire awareness training and certain key staff should be trained as fire marshals who help to manage a fire evacuation of a building. It is important to review where fire marshals are located and to replace people when they leave or rescind their duties as a fire marshal. It is good to have fire marshals based in the areas they are responsible for and to ensure they understand what is required of them.
2. Install sprinklers
Have you got a sprinkler system installed? Many organisations are having sprinkler systems installed to mitigate the risk of fire. Sprinkler systems are great for warehouses, factories, and schools for example. They prevent fires spreading and allow people to safely evacuate from a building. In addition, sprinkler systems prevent fire spread and are great for property protection. Sprinkler installations often cost less that you might think, depending on your building. Residential buildings with a top floor height of 11 metres above ground level, must have sprinkler systems installed by law.
It is greatly understood that fire sprinkler systems are one of the best measures to tackle and contain fires. If you haven’t got a sprinkler system but feel it would be good addition to your building, consult your fire risk assessor for more information.
3. Carry out maintenance: service your fire alarm, emergency lighting, fire doors and building condition
Keep your building in good condition and it will help to keep you safe.
It is critical to ensure that your fire alarm and emergency lighting systems work properly. Your fire risk assessment should determine if your fire detection provision and emergency lighting is sufficient. Should further expansion of automatic detection or lighting be required, this should be detailed in your FRA. It is vital that your installations are regularly serviced. This should include regular inspection and servicing by a competent person as well as in house testing. All in house testing and service records should be maintained. Check that you are keeping records and that your service history is up to date. If you are not sure how to test your systems or if you are keeping suitable records, speak to your fire risk assessor or health and safety consultant.
If the worst happened and a fire started, can you rely on your fire doors and the condition of your building to keep you, your team, and visitors safe? Fire doors are vital to fire safety and evacuation. They should be regularly maintained, frequently inspected, and replaced when necessary. You should have an inventory of your fire doors, detailing where they are and their type. They ideally should be numbered to allow easy identification of the door and they should be kept closed or be connected to the fire alarm for automatic actuation if a fire broke out. If you are not checking your fire doors regularly, make this your goal for 2023. Ensure to visually inspect your fire doors regularly and keep a log of this. See what your fire risk assessment says about the condition of your doors and ensure to keep them in full working condition. In addition to the fire doors, keep a close eye on the building condition. Check for holes and cracks in compartment walls and arrange to have any required fire stopping carried out. Again, check your fire risk assessment to see what the assessor identified as a starting point. If necessary, arrange for a fire compartmentation survey to be carried out.
JCH Safety are third party accredited fire risk assessors. If you require any assistance with your fire risk assessment or general health and safety, please do not hesitate to contact us.