Aspect of Fire Safety Management - Term Paper Example

Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Topic: Fire Safety Management Plan Introduction The University of Central Lancashire is under legal obligation under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) 0 Order 2005 to enforce the requirements of fire safety of the university students, workers (referred here as occupants) and any other person entering the University. This regulation is enacted to ensure that fire safety procedures and systems are properly maintained. It also provides for training requirements to be undertaken for the occupants to be fully aware of their responsibilities in case of fire occurrence. In October 2006 the new fire regulation came in to force, this regulation was basically to ensure both the occupants and building owners are safe from fire. Fire has been identified as one of the high risk in any institution with a large building. Fire safety management plan is developed to assist in managing various programs that prevents fire which has a potential to loss of life, loss of property and compliance with fire regulations. This plan will address issues on carrying out fire risk assessments; maintain suitable precautions in buildings to secure occupants, evacuation and rescue procedures. The fire safety provision for JB Firth Building from the Fire Strategy developed by the Fire Engineers has been adopted. The plan has also adopted the fire safety risk assessment for education premises for guidelines. Fire safety policy statement The fire safety management plan has been developed to ensure there is a comprehensive procedure for fire risk management process that is adopted across the University and the JB Firth Building. This will ensure that there is a high level of safety for occupants, owners and the property. With the help of this plan, the university will be able to comply with the set standard on fire safety together with other regulations and laws. The plan will also provide for effective solution to fire safety problems. The staff training and awareness creation is also key, this plan with therefore provide guideline on staff training and proper record keeping. Fire safety management structure The fire safety management guidance procedures from BS9999: 2008 Code of practice has provided clear guidelines on this plan development. Fire safety management structure The guideline gives the fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings. It has also highlighted the duties and responsibilities of occupants, owner and responsible persons. Responsibility Duty University Council Endorse fire safety plan Departmental heads Ensure department compliance with fire safety plan. University accountants Ensure budgetary allocation to fire safety University Engineering Ensure the buildings are designed according to the fire codes. Regular inspection and maintenance of Fire Safety systems. University Warden Ensure exit rout are free from obstruction. Prepare a program to do Risk auditing in order to identify hazards and provide corrective actions. Fire Safety Officers Ensure all the FSMP is dully followed and effectively maintained. University Occupants Ensure that their own activities do not cause fire and comply with FSMP. Take part in fire drills. Fire safety management structure Responsibilities of the warden The person in responsibility will presume the duties of a chief fire warden; this person will ensure all the exit routs are clear in the JB Firth Building. The emergency exit doors are clear and free from obstruction. Ensure the doors are able to open from the inside when occupants are inside. Conduct a fire drill to test on evacuation practice and note areas that need improvements. The wardens should also update regularly the list of occupants in the building. The person should after evacuation account for all the building occupants at the fire assembly point. Responsibilities of the Occupants All the occupants should vacate to the assembly point for safety once a fire alarm is raised unless advised otherwise by the warden. The occupants can close all the doors and windows if that will not compromise the lives of fellow occupants. The occupants can as well stay in their offices if evacuation is impossible, however it is their role to signal their presence through the window and follow the warden’s instructions. The occupants should remain calm at the assembly point until all the occupants have been accounted for. They are not supposed to enter the building until proper assessment has been conducted and advised to enter. Evacuation strategies Evacuation procedure varies from building to building. The evacuation strategy for the JB Firth Building in the University will adopt the simultaneous evacuation strategy. Here everyone reacts to the alarm signal once fire is detected. The occupants will then make their way to through the escape route to the safe place that is already marked. The procedures gives clear direction for the occupants to take whenever there is fire occurrence. This should start by an alarm sound. The main objective of this procedure is to safely evacuate the occupants to a safe place in case of fire. Emergency response The university fire evacuation from the JB Firth Building shall be conducted in accordance with the enacted fire regulations. The sign for evacuation must be posted in a visible location on strategic points of the building where everyone can see it. This should be in compliance with BS 5499-1 & 4. The signage will enable the occupants see the contents regularly and easily master it for use in case of fire. The evacuation sign gives exit paths and emergency exit doors for use in evacuation process. There must also be an emergency light which is installed tthroughout the building in accordance with BS5266-1. The emergency lighting shall be installed at the roof plant level. Fire assembly point Fire alarm and detection The entire JB Firth Building needs a fire detection and alarm system, the system should be able to automatically detect fire. The system must have a control panel that can identify the location where the alarm is sounded. The fire detection must have an automatic trigger to give evacuation procedure for the occupants to follow. Research has been conducted and has clearly established that people do not swiftly respond to conventional alarms, this therefore call for Emergency Voice Communication System to be used to ensure swift response to fire alarms. The Emergency Voice Communication System installed should be Compliant with BS5839-9. There must also be constant review of alarm system. Fire detection and alarm system Fire prevention and arson awareness Fire prevention and management is essential because if well conducted, fire is not likely to occur and if it occurs it can easily be managed or controlled safely and effectively. There is also the aspect of escape, if fire occurs all the occupants are able to escape safely to the assembly point. Death has been reported caused by fire, this mostly is due to locked exits or poor maintenance of exit routs. Regular checking of building emergency exits is crucial as fire safety management is concerned. Routine procedures for staff 1. Alert other residence and report to the management whenever you see smoke, fire of fire alarm. 2. Press the call point to activate the alarm 3. Ensure fire is confined by closing all the windows and doors. 4. Exist through the nearest point of exit, this you do by slowly following the exit sign to the assembly point. 5. Notify the fire marshal through the phone No. xxxxxxx 6. Where evacuation is not possible, stay in your office and signal your presents through the window for assistance. 7. A fire office will give instructions; kindly follow his/her instructions. Fire evacuation procedure Selection and control of materials The risk is reduced when materials used in the escape route is in a position to prevent the fabric of the building from catching fire. Fire safety management should incorporate engineering phase where selection and control of materials is done. Here all the plans are reviewed before new construction is done or re-modeling of building where certain provisions required by fire code were omitted. The exercise will ensure all the buildings are built to conform to the current fire codes. Where the materials are inadequate or inappropriate, fire can easily occur and get out of control. Moreover, water availability is crucial since it is used by fire fighting, failure to avail this resource will jeopardize the work of fire fighters hence rendering lives of occupants at risk. The waste materials should always be kept in a suitable place to prevent combustion. Used containers from chemicals should be removed from the building immediately. Maintenance and testing of fire safety systems The fire systems and equipment should be regularly tested and maintained to ensure proper functioning. This can be contracted to specialists who will professionally handle the task. The maintenance should be conducted in compliance with the fire Acts, regulations and other codes of practice. The contractors conducting the testing and maintenance should have appropriate experience in the field of fire safety field. Staff training and fire drills Training and education is an important aspect of fire safety management. The training if well conducted can assist occupants and owners of building to prevent fire from occurring and also to know what to do if fire breaks out in their location. The training should touch on fire prevention, first aid and use of firefighting equipment. All the university staff and students must be provided with adequate training on fire safety and precautions. The course content of the training must be based on the nature of duty, features of building occupied, and level of risk involved. Any new occupant in the building must be given induction on the evacuation procedures, exit paths, assembly point and where to locate of firefighting equipment. There is need to conduct fire drill annually within the university building. This exercise will educate the occupants in the right procedure to follow in the event of evacuation. It is also for the purpose of compliance to the fire regulation as a legal obligation of the university. The fire drill shall be conducted by a fire warden who is assisted by fire safety officer; the exercise will be conducted in accordance to the set out procedure. The fire drill findings will be recorded and occupants consulted on areas of improvement. Escape rout Fire risk assessments This refers to a systematic and organized view at a building, the activities conducted within and the chances of fire occurrence and causing harm to the occupants and neighbors. The University of Central Lancashire is under legal obligation to conduct risk assessment in order to identify potential fire hazards. This exercise should be conducted once in two years. A good risk assessment will ensure effective fire safety procedures, efficient prevention measures and functional equipment. Record keeping Records keeping are important in fire safety management. There is the need to keep all the records on maintenance of firefighting equipment. The fire regulation requires that records on the details of evacuation practice within the building are well kept. The training of building occupants and neighbors should be done and records well kept. There is need also to keep all the records on training. Records on fire occurrence should also be well kept. There is need to investigate the origins of fire. This will help in determining both the cause of fire and the areas where appropriate corrective measures need to be improved to avoid future fire occurrence. The exercise will only be effective if proper records management is done. Audit and updating of this manual Researchers have confirmed that fire safety management is a field that is on the rise. There is therefore need for regular auditing and updating of this manual. Skilled personnel should be studying more on the aspect of fire safety especially structure fire because the probability of fire occurrence is potentially high. References and bibliography Johnson, B., 1983, "Evacuation Techniques for Disabled Persons: Research Summary and Guidelines", National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, 35 p. Pauls, J., 1989, "Evacuation and Other Behavior in Emergencies in Buildings", Meeting Special Needs of the Disabled in Evacuation and Sheltering Systems, March 22, 1989, Federal Emergency Management Agency, USA, 11 p. Rudabiri, L. and Roberts, J. P., 1994, "Evacuating Workers with Disabilities", The Safety & Health Practitioner, Institution of Occupational Safety & Health, Leicester, UK, pp. 21-24. Sime, J. D., 1980, "The Concept of 'Panic'", in Fires and Human Behaviour, D. Canter (Ed.), John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester, UK, pp. 63-81. Traynor, J., 1994, "Building a Truly Universally Accessible Building", Construction Canada, May/June, Vancouver, BC, pp. 6-7. Read More