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 has updated fire safety guidance on responsible persons' (RPs') obligations regarding fire safety in advance of Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 taking effect in October 2023.
These requirements apply to all non-domestic and non-domestic parts of multi-occupied residential buildings.
The new legislation has the effect of amending the Fire Safety Order to require that all responsible persons must record:
- a full and completed Fire Risk Assessment
- all the fire safety arrangements within their premises
- the identity of the individual and/or if applicable, the organisation engaged by them to undertake/review any or all of the Fire Risk Assessment
- their contact information, including a UK based address, and share this with other Responsible Persons and residents of multi-occupied residential premises where applicable
In addition, the amended legislation requires that:
- Responsible person must maintain their contact information and share this with other responsible persons and residents of multi-occupied residential premises, where applicable
- In buildings containing two or more sets of domestic premises, provide residents with relevant fire safety information in a format that can be easily understood
- All responsible persons take reasonably practicable steps to ascertain the existence of other responsible persons who share or have duties in the same premises, and of accountable persons (the new legal entity made under the Building Safety Act in the case of higher-risk residential buildings) for the premises – and must identify themselves to them
- Outgoing responsible persons share all “relevant fire safety information” with incoming responsible persons
For more information on Fire Safety Responsibilities under section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 click here.
There is also a legislative requirement that, where the Responsible Person appoints a person to make or review the Fire Risk Assessment, they must be competent. This legislative requirement will be brought into force at a later date, and we will provide relevant guidance in that regard at the commencement date.
The Fire Risk Assessment service offered by Fixfire® is conducted by accredited Compliance Consultants with a thorough understanding of ‘Fire Prevention’ and the requirements of the RRO.
You should ensure that your Fire Risk Assessment is completed by a suitably qualified fire risk assessor. All Fixfire® Fire Risk Assessments are completed by a specialist third-party BAFE Accredited Fire Risk Assessment organisation.
Got a question about Fire Safety Risk Assessments? Need a 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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