Angus has been involved in developing and writing British and International Fire & Safety standards since the mid-1980s. The list of standards that he has participated in is impressive and includes BS5839-1, BS8629, EN54-18 and ISO7240-2. Angus utilises his extensive experience to provide an authoritative perspective on the key issues that affect the Fire & Security Industry today.
The Government continues to implement new legislation following the Hackett review and Grenfell Tower Inquiry. As a result, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (Fire Safety Order) has been modified.
The Fire Safety Act 2021 (FSA 2021) is now fully operational in both Wales and England.
The Fire Safety Regulations apply to multi-occupied residential buildings in England only and impose rules for:
- non-high-rise buildings – for example, fire safety instructions must be provided to residents.
- buildings over 11 metres – for example, annual checks of fire doors must be carried out.
- buildings over 18 metres – for example, floor plans must now be provided to Fire and Rescue Services.
Does it apply to your Building?
The new regulations apply to existing multi-occupied buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises, with various duties applying to buildings of differing heights.
While the legislation will also apply to new buildings when completed, it should also be noted that the Government has updated the Building Regulation’s guidance, Approved Document B to meet the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. This means such buildings face enhanced obligations, and that the Building Safety Act introduces a much tougher building regulations process which will apply in late 2023 to multi-occupied residential buildings that are 18m, or seven storeys or more.
Are you a Responsible Person?
The concept of a “Responsible Person” is not a new one. The Fire Safety Order already places several duties on the “Responsible Person”. In the context of the New Regulations, the Responsible Person is the person who is responsible for the safety of themselves and others who use a regulated premises.
This is usually the owner, but in residential buildings, will include any other person in control of the common parts or exterior of premises.
Fire Safety Act (FSA) 2021
If you own, manage, or operate from a building you are likely to be a Responsible Person. If so, you should carefully consider whether the obligations under these Regulations apply to you.
Where you rely on third-party managing agents, they will need to be aware of the duties imposed by the Fire Safety Regulations and you must ensure they are obliged to and are in a position to action the new requirements, noting that the Regulations are criminally enforced and that the duties they create are non-delegable, meaning you may still face prosecution if things go wrong.
Industry opinion has voiced its concern regarding the capacity of the building safety industry to be able to provide sufficient resource to implement the new checks and reviews required under the Fire Safety Regulations and other recent changes to fire safety legislation. Thought should be given to the availability, and competency, of personnel when making plans to action requirements of the Fire Safety Regulations.
When reviewing internal or external expertise consideration should be given to whether the individual or organisation has the necessary technical expertise to evaluate and communicate the relevant control measures, and particularly to determine technical compliance and to devise controls. In our view, increasingly attention will be paid to whether individuals carrying out risk assessments and identifying control measures have recognised industry accreditations. Examples such as membership of accredited schemes such as NAFRAR or FRACS, BAFE, and compliance with the latest technical guidance and British Standards, such as PAS 9980, should all be considered when looking for evidence of competence.
Plan of Action
To help the Responsible Person meet some of those New Duties outlined above we can supply you with a range of signs and products that are designed to tackle some of those requirements mentioned. Fire Action Notices are perhaps the easiest way to convey instructions on what to do if you discover a fire – we have a wide range of options for various scenarios (e.g., does the building have a lift, is the fire service called automatically or does someone need to phone them manually, are there likely to be non-English residents in the building etc). Similarly, we offer a wide range of fire door signs to cover multiple scenarios to ensure the correct instructions are provided at each fire door.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 made it a legal requirement for responsible persons for all multi-occupied residential buildings in England with storeys over 11 metres in height to undertake a range of checks and to provide residents with specific information.
These checks include:
- undertaking quarterly checks of all fire doors (including self-closing devices) in the common parts
- undertaking annual checks of all flat entrance doors (including self-closing devices) that lead onto a building’s common parts.
We recommend installing an Inspection Record next to each Fire Door to inform residents that the necessary checks are being carried out.
It is recommended that fire doors in flats be routinely checked at least every three months to ensure they are in good working order.
Got a question about the new regulations? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today.
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems, and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000891999
Following the recommendations of BS5839 Part 1 2017 (Fire Alarm British Standard), it is a mandatory requirement to have an up to date, clear and accurate Fire Alarm Zone Chart adjacent to your Fire Alarm Control Panel and any repeater panels you have in your premises.
The purpose of the Zone Chart is to assist persons responding to an alarm to quickly identify the specific location in the building and to help the Fire Brigade understand the building layout before they enter.
When the Fire Alarm System is installed, the building is divided into Fire Zones. Any Manual Call Point (Red Box) or Fire Detector that is fitted will trigger a particular zone when activated.
The Zone Chart shows the division of each zone area with a ‘You are Here’ arrow to identify the position of the Fire Alarm Panel. The view of the building should be orientated in relation to the Fire Alarm Panel position to minimise confusion.
What is involved in producing a Zone Chart?
- Hard copy
- Or preferably AutoCAD (dwg) format
You have a legal duty of care to dispose of waste legitimately and safely via a licensed waste carrier. Failure to do so can result in prosecution, even if you have outsourced the disposal to a third party.
The Fixfire® Extinguisher Recycling Process is your reassurance that any Fire Extinguishers we remove from your premises have been disposed of in a safe and legal manner. 97% of each processed Fire Extinguisher is recycled.
Our contracted Extinguisher Recycling Unit (ERU) is a dedicated facility offering a service for the safe processing and recycling/disposal of fire extinguishers. The facility operates closely with the local Water Authority and the Environment Agency to develop safe, efficient and environmentally friendly processes, ensuring that ISO14001 certification is upheld.
Got a question about Fire Extinguisher Disposal? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
False Fire Alarms remain a huge concern within the education sector- interrupting already carefully scheduled, planned and well-prepared lessons or even causing major disruption and distress to exams.
Clearly, these false alarms cause significant inconvenience and disruption to students, staff, and visitors. They compromise everyone’s safety in the school and present a significant risk to the local community since the Fire Brigade will prioritise the school over other emergency callouts.
Solutions you should consider:
The first and most straightforward way is to use anti-tamper products.
Fixfire® supplies a wide range of solutions designed to protect Fire Alarm Devices from inadvertent damage or deliberate misuse/vandalism.
Products include:
- Local plastic cover flaps which attach directly to manual call points.
- The stopper consists of a clear, tamperproof, tough polycarbonate cover, frame and spacer that retrofits over a break glass call point. When lifted to operate the break glass unit, its optional battery powered integral sounder emits a piercing 96dB (at 1m). Immediate attention is drawn to the area and a prankster will either run or be caught!
- A range of steel web stoppers designed to protect fire detectors and warning devices. They are constructed from heavy-duty galvanised steel rod which is plastic-coated for durability and external use.
- A range of polycarbonate enclosures are available for the protection of devices such as fire alarm control panels and associated control equipment. The enclosures combine tough rugged construction with stylish design and offer excellent protection with a key lock for authorised access.
We also provide anti-tamper devices for fire extinguishers and associated products.
KeyCall® is a patented anti-ligature Fire Alarm and Access Control call point. It is designed to use the same key as the doors, providing simple operation for staff whilst eliminating nuisance activations by service-users.
KeyCall® has been developed by Fixfire® specifically for approved applications where standard versions would be vulnerable to abuse.
It is one of the best solutions for SEN schools and it is also compatible with a wide range of Conventional and Addressable Fire Alarm Systems.
Got a question about False Fire Alarms? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
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