The purpose of emergency lighting is to ensure that if the normal lighting fails the escape routes routes are maintained safe to use.    The alleyway above, which is a pathway from an exit, leading round the building, has no lighting at all.  A night shift operates, so that persons are at work when the escape route is in darkness.  When the Fire Risk Assessment looks at the need for emergency lighting, we take into account borrowed daylight and borrowed street lighting.   There was none in this area, so the argument in favour of emergency lighting is hard to disagree with.  A further complication is that there is no no provision of lighting at all.  It would save money to install a maintained system, that is a system that is on, powered by the mains supply, possibly operated by a daylight sensor.   If the electrical supply fails, lights stay on under their own battery power.    The fittings are not high users of electrical power, normally using about 8 watts, so running costs are not excessive.

This provision can be seen as a nuisance: it should be seen, however, as a step forward in ensuring the Health and Safety of persons in the premises.

Typical construction in factories will include roof lights like these.  Should a fire occur, the steelwork in the structure loses 2/3 of its strength by about 550 degrees C.   Fires can easily bring about temperatures in excess of 1000 degrees C.  Structural collapse becomes a distinct possibility.  Pictures of the aftermath of fires in industrial units often show twisted, tangled steelwork that has fallen in.   Fire-fighters may be understandably reluctant to enter a steel-framed building if a fire is well developed.   The rooflights shown above are made of polycarbonate plastic that softens and falls out by about 200 degrees C.  This buys time, as the heat and smoke from the fire are ventilated.   It clearly takes longer for the steelwork to heat up.  Smoke-logging is reduced, allowing fire-fighters a better view of what they are dealing with.    There is an improved chance that the Fire Brigade can control the fire.  The low melting-point roof lights are therefore a very good property protection measure.   The provision of automatic fire detection to ensure a prompt call to the Fire Brigade if ignition occurs, in combination with these roof lights, can be very effective in protecting the property.

What we do during the Fire Risk Assessment is identify any relevant property protection measures and put them forward for consideration.  We also make it clear whether or not a significant hazard arises in respect of persons in the building.  Business continuity and protection of the property are nevertheless important considerations, whether or not persons in the premises are at risk.

Sometimes the Fire Risk Assessor is the bearer of bad news.   Above, we see a typical factory unit and the bad news is that (a) if a fire breaks out, it is contained by the steel covering (making for difficult fire-fighting because of high temperature and smoke-logging); and (b) if the steelwork gets overheated there is a significant risk of structural failure (so that fire-fighters decide to contain the fire from outside) ; and severe damage to the business is likely to follow if a fire occurs.

What can be done about this?   First of all the Fire Risk Assessment has to make it clear whether there is a significant hazard to persons in the premises, or whether this is simply a property protection issue.   Possible solutions are (a) the provision of smoke ventilation; and (b) the installation of a sprinkler system, to control any fire that may occur.    You may have noticed that a cheap solution is not available, or if it is I would be grateful to hear of it.

Installing an automatic fire detection system can effectively reduce any perceived hazard to persons in the premises.  If an automatic relay is installed to ensure a prompt call to the Fire Brigade, this goes some way to reducing the risk of severe damage, but it is generally not considered to be enough.

Your Fire Risk Assessment will make it clear whether there is risk to persons or only to the property.   We will always advise in respect of both aspects.

What we at Armstrong Fire Management work to is the new guide: Fire Safety in Purpose-Built Blocks of Flats, issued by the Local Government Group.   This guide tells us that a fire detection system in the communal areas is not normally required.   Domestic fire detection within each flat is of course an absolute necessity.   Where automatic vents are installed, smoke detectors may be installed in the stairway to cause them to open up if smoke enters the area.    The Fire Risk Assessment may occasionally find a need for a fire alarm, such as in older, converted buildings.

The primary aim of the Fire Risk Assessment is to  determine whether a “stay-put” policy is acceptable in the building.   A new development in Fire Risk Assessment is that the guide tells us to bring in a builder to assess the construction where there is some reason for doubt.  After all, we want to be able to say that if fire occurs in a flat, it will not spread to other flats before the Fire Brigade, having been called, can arrive and make the situation safe.    Clearly, sending for the Fire Brigade promptly is vital and the Fire Action Notices should reflect this.    So the occupiers of the affected flat should evacuate, but others can “Stay Put”.    The Fire Risk Assessment has to address the issue of getting information to the occupiers as to the correct actions to be taken if fire occurs.

There are other issues to address under the Fire Risk Assessment.  These depend upon the block and the way it is used.

We can take the ignition hazard from smoking out of the equation for workplaces, so what’s likely to cause a fire?   Electrical hazards are a common source of ignition.  The picture above shows a portable heater that is supplied from a multi-adaptor extension lead.   This poses a hazard because (i) an overload may occur at the supply socket, possibly followed by overheating and ignition; and (ii) there are several temporary contacts in what is a power circuit to the heater.     Solution: every heavy user of power should be supplied direct from its own mains supply socket.   The use of adaptors to supply computer work-stations is acceptable as the total power output remains low.   People sometimes arrange the supply to several work-staions from one socket, however, and this is again likely to result in an overload.

And of course, storage up against the electrical intake is just asking for trouble.

The use of coiled extension leads adds another hazard: the coils can generate a magnetic field, heating up when the appliances are in use.  The extension wire can’t cool down because it is coiled in on itself.   Again, the kettle, toaster and microwave being supplied here should each have their own mains supply sockets.

Storage of tyres in a building brings in the potential for tremendous output of heat and smoke.   Fire-fighters could well have real difficulty in approaching such a fire.

And how do people in this building get at the extinguishers?

Calor gas in the building – only if it is in use!  Otherwise, stored cylinders must remain outside, in a secure, ventilated enclosure.

Storage on the landing – fire here would block the stairs and block everyone’s way out.

Some of these occupiers just don’t seem to care.

Storage in the electric cupboard makes an obvious hazard for fire-fighters if ignition occurs.

And the same in this electrical cupboard.

The premises is a four bedroom bungalow, in which there is supported living for mentally and physically disabled persons.   John is  a large person whom staff cannot lift manually, to the extent that a special hoist has to be used to lift this unfortunate person in and out of bed.  They have considered the difficulty of moving John quickly in the event of a fire occurring when he is in bed - and it can’t be done.  Hence, the fire procedure when this person is in bed is for everyone else to evacuate, leaving poor old John in alone in his room.   Yes, there is full fire detection in the bungalow and yes, there is fire separation between the bedroom and the rest of the building, but is this really the best provision in this case?  John is still at risk if a fire occurs.

The answer is to provide a fire suppression system – that is, to arrange to put the fire out so that anyone who cannot leave the building quickly is not put at risk.  A domestic sprinkler system fits the bill.  You can find a supplier by contacting the Residential Sprinkler Association.  (A quick search of the internet will throw them up).     Another development, still pretty much in its infancy, is water mist systems, which appear not to flood the area when they go off.   They simply leave everything damp and they certainly suppress an outbreak of fire.

My general view is that a sprinkler system provides a robust, reliable system that is not prone to false operation and is well worth considering.   I remember a talk given by a solicitor, several years ago now, about the consequences of a fire in his offices.     He was insured, he was able to carry on in other premises.  And yet, to see a life-time’s work in ruins was still devastating.   He said that, looking at his damaged offices, he felt bereaved.   Maybe one of these small sprinkler systems could have prevented the damage.   I’m sure that with hindsight he would agree.

I am of course aware that sprinkler actuation can lead to water damage.   It is an absolutely hard and fast rule that a sprinkler system should not be turned off until the Fire Brigade are sure they can control the fire – otherwise your building might burn down anyway.  Fire damage would far outweigh any water damage, however, so the sprinklers are much the better option, in the commercial or the domestic environment.   The provision of sprinklers can compensate for other short-comings in fire precautions.   Your Fire Risk Assessment will take this into account, resulting in possible savings, say, on providing automatic fire detection or compartment walls.

Sawdust accumulations make for a severe hazard because if the sawdust is stirred up it acts like a gas and is well capable of exploding.   The worst case is that a fire starts, a fire-fighting jet stirs up the dust, an explosion follows; more dust is stirred up and then an even bigger explosion follows.  Hazard to fire-fighters?  You bet it is, plus the extra hazard to persons in the premises when a fire starts.

We will advise improvements in line with HSE document HSG 103.  This states as a starting point that clearing away the dust and keeping the place clean are the most effective methods of controlling dust accumulations.   You need some measures for controlling sawdust in place before the local Fire Officer walks in.   Extract systems are always good provisions to prevent dust accumulations.   We can give the right advice or put you in touch with a Health and Safety professional where the most cost-effective measure is not apparent.

If there’s one thing guaranteed to annoy your local Fire Officer, it’s a key in a box to open up the fire exit.   Arrangements like this simply don’t work over a long period.  Someone gets to the exit. desperate to get out because there’s a fire. and the key no longer fits the lock.     ( I’ve recently seen an escape route that went through an apartment, with a key in a box outside, so anyone wanting to go in the flat only had to get the key out of the box.   Would you put up with that arrangement if it was your apartment?   If I lived there, I’m sure I’d have an extra lock on before you could turn round.   We were able to solve that little dilemma by discounting the escape route altogether.)

The answer: the door has to be easily openable, from inside, without use of a key.   A thumb-turn opener is the best solution where the escape is through a door that may be an entrance: persons can enter from outside using a key.  A push-bar or push-pad fitting fits the bill where there’s no need to get in through the door.

Think about this.  Aerosols are stored in a cupboard.  A fire starts, for whatever reason.    The canisters heat up.  As they get hotter they pressurise.     The contents are flammable – you can see the warning symbol on the back of most aerosol canisters.   The pressure increases as the aerosols get hotter, until finally one fails, exploding violently and releasing its contents to make a fire-ball and greatly increase the severity of the fire.  Other canisters fail in quick succession.   Should this happen just as a fire-fighter gets to the fire, he could be injured.   If you left the aerosols in this location, could you be accused of (inadvertently) making a hazard for fire-fighters?    What to do, what should I do?

Your Fire Risk Assessment should address this issue.  Immediately, you can put all the aerosols on the floor.  Heat and smoke from a fire rise upwards, so it takes longer for the temperature on the floor to rise to a dangerous level.     Secondly, if space permits, store aerosols away from other combustibles.