Residential and commercial premises are at risk from fire and the associated costs in terms of loss of life, injury and damage to property. Fire risk in commercial premises is generally greater because office buildings, restaurants, hotels etc are frequented by a large number of people every day. Not taking the initiative on fire risk management means putting the lives of these people at danger. This is why; employers and building managers are bound by law to install fire detection and warning systems, fire fighting equipment and maintain suitable evacuation routes.
A fire risk assessment is necessary to establish the building’s vulnerability to fire and the controls necessary to reduce the risks. There are some basic steps to carrying out a fire risk assessment as follows:
Identification of possible causes and people at risk
Causes of fire incidents are generally related to a source of ignition together with a fuel source (types of combustible materials), sources of heat and the presence of oxidizing agents. A proper risk assessment identifies these factors and eliminates or controls them to reduce the fire hazard.
A comprehensive fire risk assessment also identifies those people that are subject to risk from fire and their ability to respond to a fire detection warning. In some cases it may be necessary to provide a protected area of the building and establish a ‘stay put’ policy rather than an evacuation policy .
Evaluating the risk and keeping records
When fire risk evaluation is carried out, risk percentage is calculated by an accredited fire consultant who then makes recommendations to lower the risk. The assessment report is maintained for future reference and referred to in the creation of an emergency plan. The risk assessment should be reviewed regularly and whenever there are changes to the building or occupants.
Checking the effectiveness of existing fire safety guidance, policies and procedures is also very important. When the safety guidance is reviewed, information provided by incident data is compared to the current guidance. This comparison highlights any gaps through which fire incident could be caused. The possible reasons are that the guidance wasn’t followed properly or that while implementing the guidance, there was a miscommunication or an area of mismanagement. It could also be that findings from past evaluations were not properly acknowledged or acted upon.
Finally the level and effectiveness of staff training is reviewed. Lack of proper training and awareness amongst employees can lead to a poor response in the event of a fire and an increased risk to individuals. The fire risk assessment would make recommendations for the appointment of fire wardens and other responsible individuals that can assist should a fire occur in the workplace but it is equally important that all staff are trained in the general procedures of raising the alarm and evacuating the building.