FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT CONSULTANCY & TRAINING

Each year over 40,000 fires occur in non-domestic buildings and over 69,000 fires in dwelling premises resulting in over 600 tragic deaths. Millions are lost from damage to property, loss of business, fines, compensation claims and increased insurance premiums.

Your Responsibilities

Legislation establishes a duty on employers to achieve a risk appropriate standard of fire safety for persons in the workplace, including common areas of buildings in multiple occupancy.

The legislation applies to virtually all premises with the exception of private dwellings.

  • An employer/responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment of the workplace, and take appropriate action to either reduce the risk to persons in case of fire, or implement procedures to counter risks.
  • The emphasis is to:
    • Create a regime based on Risk Assessment, Fire Prevention and Mitigation measures;
    • Require that Fire Safety facilities and equipment are maintained, and
    • Impose a duty to maintain those Fire Precautions which are provided under the building regulations for the use and protection of the Fire Service.
  • Organisations that employ 5 or more persons must record the significant findings of their risk assessment.
  • There is a duty to maintain those fire precautions which are provided under the Building Regulations for the use and protection of the fire brigade.
  • The fire authority has powers to enforce the regulations by criminal prosecution, which may result in a fine, imprisonment or both if found guilty of failing to comply.

For a full list of the latest legislation affecting the Management of fire, please visit www.hberm.com

HBE’s Fire Risk Assessment

The HBE fire risk assessment has been developed in conjunction with PAS79 and other British Standards. It is designed to minimize the risk to life and covers the following fire safety issues including a written document covering the:

  • Identification of combustible loading
  • Identification of ignition sources
  • Identification of oxygen sources
  • Means of escape
  • Fire detection and communication
  • Fire fighting equipment
  • Structural precautions
  • Fire prevention and management including provision of relevant instruction and training
  • Fire brigade access
  • Maintaining relevant records
  • Recommendations, if necessary, to achieve satisfactory fire safety standards

In summary, anyone who has control to any extent of premises has a duty to ensure that those using or occupying the premises are safe from harm caused by fire. This is achieved by carrying out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment on their property and implementing the findings. This must be conducted by a competent person and be reviewed on a regular basis or when change occurs.

HBE Risk Assessors are competent as defined within the legislative interpretation, in terms of training, qualifications, knowledge and experience.

Businesses must understand that in addition to an initial assessment, the person(s) responsible must provide an effective on-going management of the fire safety process to minimize the risk to life and the associated benefits of avoiding huge financial costs through the loss of the premises and/or litigation.

Enforcement

The Fire Service has powers to enforce the Regulations, through the issue of notices and by criminal prosecution, which if successful would result in a fine, imprisonment or both.

 

Specialist Fire Consultancy Services

HBE can also provide consultancy and advice on the following:

  • Pre-Building Control Submissions. HBE can assess the plans of a building scheme prior to submission and, in liaison with Building Control if necessary, can give assurance that the fire precautions
  • Representation and Advice in the Event of Diffi culties with the Regulatory Authorities for example, when a Notice has been issued by the Fire Service.
  • In the event of diffi culties with the regulatory authorities eg Building Control or the Fire and Rescue Service regarding details of a proposed building scheme, it is often helpful to have an experienced third party assess the proposals and recommend an appropriate way forward.
  • Assessment of the Eff ect of Building or Renovation Works on an Existing Building.

Any building programme in an existing building will have implications on the fi re safety of the occupants of the building while the works are on-going. It is a legal requirement that the fi re risk to occupants of a building is assessed and kept under review. This is particularly important during building or renovation works which are likely to aff ect the fi re safety provisions in a building eg fi re alarms, means of escape, fi re risk etc. during the works. HBE can assess the fi re risk to occupants of the building and make recommendations on appropriate ways to ensure that the fi re safety provisions remain satisfactory during any building or renovation works.

Implementation of recommendations from a Fire Risk Assessment

HBE is not a provider of remedial action services so we are in an ideal situation to oversee the work to be carried out by other contractors to ensure a satisfactory service. Plus HBE can also provide training in a range of fi re safety issues at the place of employment.

Fire Safety Awareness Training

HBE can provide training in Fire Safety Awareness at a level relevant to the requirements of occupancy. This training is available as an induction, initial or renewal and can be provided at the place of employment.

Fire Warden and Key Person Training

In addition to General Fire Safety Training there is a requirement for training of those people who are responsible for specifi c fi re safety issues such as Fire Wardens, people in charge of departments with specific fi re safety diffi culties or risks and people who need advice on a specifi c issue. This training is available as an induction, initial or renewal and can be provided at the place of employment .

Means of Escape and Fire Evacuation Planning

Fire precaution legislation requires all employers to establish appropriate fi re evacuation procedures and to carry out fi re drills. With extensive experience in preparing evacuation strategies, HBE off er services in the following areas:- evacuation planning for small premises, planning/procedure policies with training workshops for larger premises, evacuation of people with disabilities and use of fi re evacuation lifts.

Web Based Risk Compliance System

We understand how important it is to have access to up-to-date information. With HBE, you have the option to access your reports via our secure online Risk Compliance System, MBR, detailing the fi ndings of all surveys and tests undertaken.


About HBE

With over 30 years’ experience as trusted advisors to some of the UK and Ireland’s largest private and public sector organisations, HBE Risk Management, has the knowledge and expertise to ensure that our clients’ buildings not only meet, but exceed all legislative and health and safety requirements.

As an R&D-led organisation, our unrivalled team of health and safety experts, engineers and industry-leading scientists – working from locations right across the UK and Ireland – is constantly innovating and diversifying to ensure that we can respond to our clients’ needs with the latest, state-of-the-art health and safety solutions.

Whether you are responsible for an acute hospital, a manufacturing or industrial facility, an office block, a school, a sheltered housing scheme or other building to which the public have access, our industry-accredited team off ers leading environmental health expertise and a range of specialist services.

For more information about Asbestos Management Services call HBE Risk Management, email info@hberm.com or visit www.hberm.com






For more information or to view a demonstration of the MBR system, call HBE Risk Management, visit www.hberm.com or email info@hberm.com