Fire Safety Plan - Term Paper Example

Fire Safety Plan Name Course Name and Code Institution’s Name Instructor’s Name Date Table of Contents Introduction 3 Analysis of the Structure 3 Fire Safety Strategy 4 Detection and Warning Strategies 4 Provision of Means of Escape 4 Means of Fire Fighting 5 Access for fire fighting and fire fighting facilities for fire service 5 External and internal fire spread 6 Fire Safety Management Strategy 6 People at risk in case of fire incidents 6 Remove, Protect, Evaluate and Reduce from Risk 7 Plan, Record and Instruct 8 Conclusion 9 Recommendations 9 References 10 Introduction Construction and re-designing buildings is a common occurrence in changing occupational and organizational practices that requires sound judgment factoring into consideration varied regulations that are in place (Belington, & Ferguson, 2002). Some of the important regulations and statutory laws are based on fire engineering (Department for Communities and Local Government, 2006). Thus, the aim of this report is to formulate a fire safety report for the University based on the fire safety standards that are defined by the Building Regulations (Communities and Local Government, 2006). The fire safety report is aimed at determining the viability of converting a fire laboratory to a lecture theatre. Moreover, the report analyses fire growth and smoke production and other fire safety engineering concerns into ensuring that the planning authorities grants permission for the conversion. Analysis of the Structure The fire laboratory that is aimed to be converted to lecture theatre is located on the first floor of the Harris Building. The dimensions of the compartment are 12.5 metres by 10.2 metres with three openings (doors). The two doors in which one of dimension 2.5 metres leads out of the compartment into outside of the building while the other two doors of dimensions 1.6 metres and 0.8 metres leads into the corridor. However, the drawings are not exhaustive to determine the materials used in building the walls or any other fire safety mechanisms in place. Some sections of the paper will assume that the other parts of the building complied with the regulations and standards that are in place. This is based on the fact that granting of any building construction permit or improved is only controlled by a single regulatory body. Fire Safety Strategy Detection and Warning Strategies Since the building was used as a fire laboratory, it means that the walls and supporting structure can withstand or are resistant to occurrence of fires. Numerous methods can be incorporated into the compartment that can make detection and warning of fire incidents easy (Belington, & Ferguson, 2002). This is an institution meaning that students can either observe or smell occurrence of fire and they may raise warning sound such as “FIRE” and hence warning other people within the building (Communities and Local Government, 2006). In addition, manual call systems may be installed near all the exits, or electrical fire systems within the standards of BS 5839-1: 2002, and especially categories L1 and L2, can be incorporated (Communities and Local Government, 2006). Moreover, automatic system assisted by public address systems can be incorporated into ensuring that all the people within the vicinity are informed on fire occurrence (Leeds Fire and Rescue Department, 2011). This means that when the students and staff are informed in advance, high chances exist for these people to run to safety (Department for Communities and Local Government, 2006). In addition, these devices should be installed in a manner that is convenient, and hence ensures that they are efficient and effective. Provision of Means of Escape In any building or compartment, there should be means in which the occupants can easily exit into safety (Communities and Local Government, 2006). In the case of lecture theatre, many students can access it meaning that the escape routes should be easily accessible and accommodate all people within the room (Belington, & Ferguson, 2002). The compartment has three exits in which the students and occupants can use to exit the building. Even though the 2.5 metres exit is not clearly labelled, the remaining exits of 0.8 metres and 1.6 metres can be sufficient since they are strategically located and any person within the compartment whatever the specific location in the room can exit. In this circumstances, it means that there is enough means of escape during emergencies and thus the compartment can be converted into a lecture theatre. Means of Fire Fighting According to legislations in place, all buildings should have fire-fighting systems that address issues of fire incidents promptly (Belington, & Ferguson, 2002). The lecture theatre can utilize fire sprinklers that can be activated manually or automatically; automatically after the fire detectors have been activated. Moreover, and according to the drawings, fire extinguishers should be positioned near the exits while horse reels should be within the corridor (Department for Communities and Local Government, 2006). In addition, the fire extinguishers should be able to address different type of fire incidents. Access for fire fighting and fire fighting facilities for fire service This is a multi-stored building (since the fire laboratory is located on the first floor) meaning that consideration should be in place to determine how fire and rescue services may provide effective services (Communities and Local Government, 2006). There should be enough space in which fire extinguishers can turn and hydrants should be strategically located. Moreover, directions to where fire extinguishers should be indicated for easiness in extinguishing any fire incident (Belington, & Ferguson, 2002). However, according to the drawings, other fire prevention and mitigation strategies are not indicated and hence this section is not conclusive (Diamantes, 2004). Nevertheless, original construction of the building had placed into consideration means of access in cases of emergencies and thus fire and rescue services n operate without any difficulty as far as the design of the building is concerned. External and internal fire spread Walls are an important incorporation in any fire incident since it controls how fire and smoke affects or move to the adjacent rooms. Occurrence of fire may spread from inside to outside and vice versa meaning that the walls should try to inhibit both cases (Belington, & Ferguson, 2002). Linings usually play a major role in controlling spread of fire, smoke and flames and thus appropriate glazing (using thermoplastic materials) should be utilised (Communities and Local Government, 2006). Moreover, the walls should be structurally strong to prevent the building from collapsing if the fire become worse (Department for Communities and Local Government, 2006). In addition, the external walls should prevent spreading of fires from other buildings or environment into the lecture theatre (Great Britain, 2006). Fire Safety Management Strategy People at risk in case of fire incidents The lecture theatre houses students and lecturers with different physical conditions. This means that some individuals may require assistance when fire incidents occur (Patterson, 1993). For example, students and teachers with disabilities and the elderly may be within the building and their welfare should be considered. This means that the building management should know most of the students and to monitor the movement of the student through knowing when they enter or leave the building (Communities and Local Government, 2006). Generally, it means that even though the project initiative is based on a single room, it is important to incorporate the impact of the entire building on individual rooms and people visiting the building (Diamantes, 2004). Management is an important requirement to mitigate and prevent any emergencies and thus appropriate management strategies should be championed (Great Britain, 2006). Remove, Protect, Evaluate and Reduce from Risk Cooperation is an important requirement that increases the chances of removal or preventing hazardous materials from or within the building (Belington, & Ferguson, 2002). In the case of the lecture theatre, the chances of fire occurring is minimal because ignition materials are minimal or absent. Since the compartment is within a public building, smoking is prohibited meaning that fires that result from negligence and ignorance are reduced (Communities and Local Government, 2006). Even though fires start without any prior knowledge meaning that addressing the issue and preventing it is important. Thus, in determining the appropriate furniture, doors and other accessories, it is important to incorporate the HSE initials ALARP in determining measures and precautions that can be taken (Gipson, 2003). The management of the institution should ensure that means of detection and reporting are strategically located in a manner that all occupants can acknowledge them when fire occurrence is reported; this means that people with disabilities such as the don’t see can usually utilise the sound alarm system (Diamantes, 2004). It generally means that all people within the building can easily be informed on what is happening and be ready to exit to safety (Health, Safety & Environment, 2011). The escape routes are important since people within the compartment can escape easily. In the case of the drawings provide, three escape routes are provided (Belington, & Ferguson, 2002). This means that the escape routes should be able to address maximum number of people within the building (Communities and Local Government, 2006). The escape routes should be clearly labelled in a manner that it indicates the route to safety, and the nearest point to safety. Moreover, the routes should be well light to ensure that people can see their route out of the building easily. After ensuring that all the equipments and signs are in place, it is important to ensure that all these equipments are available and can be used at any moment (Diamantes, 2004). This means that appropriate maintenance and frequent checking of these equipments should be encouraged (Communities and Local Government, 2006). Since it is an institution means that apart from maintenance, the students and staff should be informed on how to use these equipments. Plan, Record and Instruct The management should have appropriate recordings on what is going on in the building and what hazardous materials are within or in the building (Belington, & Ferguson, 2002). Moreover, the planning should put in place measures and means in which emergencies can be addressed (Communities and Local Government, 2006). The planning should incorporate appropriate means of dealing with emergencies and also the people can easily escape to safety (Diamantes, 2004). In addition, the staff and students within the building should be educated on the appropriate means of addressing emergences and what are the ‘dos’ and ‘donts’ in addressing emergencies. Conclusion Safety is an important requirement for humans to accomplish day-to-day activities. Safety varies from individual position to the way the society operates. A major safety issue in buildings is fire safety and in this report, it has extensively discussed the issue of conversion of a fire laboratory into a lecture theatre. The report presents numerous recommendations that have been summarised on the recommendation sections. Recommendations The fire laboratory room can easily be converted into a lecture theatre provided that; Fire detection and warning systems should be strategically placed within the building to accommodate persons with disability, elderly and normal population. This means that no person is disadvantage when a disaster occurs. Enough space should be provided within and around the building plus appropriate equipments and support that ensure if external assistance especially from fire and rescue services can assist without any difficulty. The management should monitor, train and ensure that all people within, using or visiting the building are know, have a brief of the building either through orientation or graphical representation of the corridors or pathways of the building. This means that the management can predict or have prior knowledge of what strategies should be incorporated when emergencies occurs. The walls, furniture and any accessory within the room should be fire retarded. This can be achieved through painting or spraying the accessories and walls with paint that inhibits spread of fire. Moreover, the openings should be structured in a manner that prevents spread of smoke. References Belington, M. & Ferguson, A., 2002, Means of Escape from Fire, New York: Blackwell Publishers. Communities and Local Government, 2006, The Building Regulations 2000: Fire Safety – Approved Document B, London. Department for Communities and Local Government, 2006, Fire Safety Risk Assessment, London. Diamantes, D., 2004, Principles of Fire Prevention, London: Cengage Learning. Gipson, L., 2003, Fire Safety and Fire Prevention Strategies, New York: Prentice Hall Publishers. Great Britain, 2006, Fire Safety, London: The Stationery Office. Health, Safety & Environment, Introduction, Accessed at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/hse/fire/index.html [Accessed on 22 March, 2011] Leeds Fire and Rescue Department, Fire Safety Strategy and Operational procedures, Accessed at: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/safety/fire/documents/fire_safety_strategy.pdf [Accessed on 22 March, 2011] Patterson, J., 1993, Simplified Design for Building Fire Safety, New York: Wiley-IEEE. Read More