Fire Safety, Building & Regulations - Example

Fire safety Management Plan (Insert Name) (Institution Affiliation) Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 1.0Introduction 3 1.1Purpose 4 1.2Objectives 4 1.3Fire Safety Policy Statement 4 2.0Fire safety management structure 5 2.1Building Information 5 2.2Fire Prevention 6 2.3Fire detection and Alarm systems 6 2.3.1 Fire detection 6 2.3.2 Fire Alarm System 7 2.3.3 Fire Drills and Alarm Test 7 2.4Fire fighting and Suppression System 7 3.0Emergency response and Evacuation Strategies 8 3.1Escape routes 8 3.2Evacuation Procedure 9 4.0Fire Risk Assessment 9 5.0Conclusion 10 5.0References 11 1.0 Introduction Every year people are seriously injured and some due to fires in non- domestic buildings. Beside the risk factor on the human part, businesses and institutions in UK lose properties worth millions of pounds in terms fire damage, compensation, insurance premiums and fines. All these can be minimized through use of a well-designed fire safety management plan (CIBSE, 2003). The University of Central Lancashire has a legal obligation to ensure safety and health of all the occupants of Media factory building which was designed to help students and businesses drive forward the success of the North West’s creative sector. This fire safety management plan is designed in accordance with the UK fire legislation (Britain, 2005). Its main aim is to create fire safety awareness among the cosmopolitan occupants of the Media Factory building and formulate emergency procedures that will be observed in case of a fire outbreak. The plan also involves guidelines that will ensure that the fire systems in the building and the evacuation procedures are maintained properly. It also requires that all the permanent staffs undertake basic fire training that will ensure they are totally aware of their safety responsibilities in case of fire emergency. Media Factory building is a large infrastructure and fire is a considerable risk based on the nature of activities taking place in it. The Media factory building houses several facilities which includes; studio space, high tech workspaces and offices, theatre halls, centre for employability and has the space for a number of small businesses to take advantage of new PCs and internet connections. It also features its own publishing house, theatre space and art house cinema. Thus the objective of this fire safety management plan is to enable the University of Central Lancashire to manage the risk appropriately, safely and effectively. 1.1 Purpose The primary purpose of this fire safety management plan is to ensure safety of all occupants of the Media factory building is maintained. This document has been developed to provide information to the University and the building occupants on how to manage fire risks and ways in which the university fraternity will be informed or educated on fire safety measures. 1.2 Objectives The fire safety management plan has five main objectives (CIBSE, 2003): Ensuring that a comprehensive and effective risk management process is well applied across the building to ensure high safety level for property and its occupants Ensure fire safety problems are effectively and quickly contained or resolved as soon as they arise. Ensure the Media Factory building and the University in general fully complies with the fire safety legal obligations Ensure the occupants of the building are appropriately trained and provided with necessary information on fire safety Create awareness of fire safety systems and the emergency protocols to be observed in case of fire or explosion. 1.3 Fire Safety Policy Statement The University of Central Lancashire recognizes that fire poses a great risk to the life and health of its students, staff and visitors who visitors who visit the Media Factory building. Property damage due to fire also poses a significant risk. Therefore, the university is determined to ensure fire safety is a priority and will be managed in compliance with the legal and statutory requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) order 2005 (Britain, 2005). 2.0 Fire safety management structure It is essential that each building has adequate fire safety management in order to ensure a successful evacuation of all occupants during a fire incident (Authority, 2010). Even with the comprehensive safety provisions provided by the modern technology, the importance of fire management plan should never be underestimated. Fire safety management structure encompasses whole element of the management of fire safety which ensure that a fire incidence in this particular building is minimized and all the fire fighting equipment are maintained in good working condition. The primary concern of this management structure is the life safety of the occupants of the Media Factory building, the fire fighters and protection of environment, property and heritage. 2.1 Building Information Media factory building is located at the University of Central Lancashire and it is the university’s state of the art building which was officially opened in January 2008. It is a four storey building which consists of various facilities such as theatre, rehearsal studios, fully equipped TV studio, photographic studio and classrooms. On the ground floor, there are several theatre spaces and a cafeteria for students, staff and visitors. The building has lift and stairs on both eastern and western ends. It also houses several classrooms, staff offices, business incubation unit and the sand box centre on the fourth floor. All the emergency fire exits within the building are clearly marked. 2.2 Fire Prevention Fire kills and causes devastating damage on property thus it is of great importance that people are made aware of the serious fire consequences. To start and sustain a fire, three elements are crucial, that is a source of ignition, oxygen and fuel. The absence of any of these elements will stop fire. Therefore fire prevention is entirely based on separation or removal of some of these elements (Authority, 2010). Since oxygen is available in the natural air, it is vital that students and staff actively participate in ensuring ignition sources does not come into contact with the fuel in unnecessary situations. Many activities especially those in technology labs have inherent high fire risk the staff working in those areas should be careful in order to stop fire from starting or spreading. 2.3 Fire detection and Alarm systems The entire Media Factory is fitted with fire alarm system which includes smoke sensors and “Break Glass” points that are strategically located. 2.3.1 Fire detection Upon discovery of fire, a student, member of staff or member of the public who discovered it should perform the following actions (CIBSE, 2003): 1. Sound the fire alarm by activating the Break glass point or by shouting “Fire”. 2. Call the fire fighting authority if he or she is in a position to do so. 3. If the person who discovered fire has basic fire training and knows how to operate the fire extinguisher, he or she should try to tackle the fire. However, this should be done only if it is safe or the fire is small 4. Evacuate through the nearest fire exit quickly but without running 5. Remain in the fire assembly point until instructed otherwise. In case one hears the fire alarm (CIBSE, 2003): 1. Evacuate the building through the nearest fire exit 2. Use stairs if you are on a higher floor. Avoid lift totally. 3. Report to the responsible person and await further instructions. 2.3.2 Fire Alarm System The building is equipped with automatic fire detection system which comprise of smoke and heat sensors. Several parts of the building are also fitted with “Break Glass” point whose major purpose is to supplement the automatic system and provide a means of activating the fire alarm manually in case the automatic system fails. 2.3.3 Fire Drills and Alarm Test The University must ensure that the fire alarms within the Media Factory building are regularly tested in order to ensure that all the occupants can hear it as well as familiarize themselves with the alarm sound. The tests should be conducted at the peak time when majority of the students and staff are still within the building. Fire drill should be organised and carried out at least twice every year. In a fire drill, the entire building should be evacuated within 3 – 5 minutes and all the causes of evacuation delays should be eliminated. Sometimes it is necessary to temporarily close the main entrance during the fire drill in order to ensure that the occupants are made aware of the emergency exits. The outcomes of all fire drills and alarm tests should be well documented in the fire safety log book. 2.4 Fire fighting and Suppression System The Media Factory building is equipped with fire extinguishers which are located at strategic positions at every floor. The building is also equipped with sprinklers whose main purpose is to suppress fire. All the fire extinguishers within the media factory building conform to the British standard. They have clear icons indicating the type of fire that they are suitable for and a red body. Dry powder extinguishers are usually effective on most fire types but are mostly used on metal and flammable liquid fires. Carbon Dioxide extinguishers are most effective on electrical and flammable liquids fires (Wright, 2001). They are usually very noisy while in use and can hit a target at a distance of up to 2 metres. Foam extinguishers are effective on fires involving flammable liquids and carbonaceous. 3.0 Emergency response and Evacuation Strategies In the event of a fire incidence, the building Wardens and their assistants will evacuate the entire building in a manner that is prescribed under emergency procedures (Kobes, Helsloot, de Vries & Post, 2010). For safe evacuation, provisions are made that the disabled persons within the building should be helped to evacuate. 3.1 Escape routes All the fire escape routes should be kept clear of flammable materials and obstructions. The emergency doors which are clearly labelled open in the direction of travel and does not require key. The Media Factory building has protected escape routes which will be able to provide about 60 minutes of smoke and fire protection. All the occupants are advised to use the protected routes as much as possible in case of fire and avoid carrying luggage into the fire stairs (CIBSE, 2003). 3.2 Evacuation Procedure In the case of a fire incident, all the building occupants should follow the evacuation procedure outlined in section 2.3.1 above. Furthermore, during an emergency evacuation fire Wardens and Marshals will wear construction type helmet and highly visible jackets and perform the following duties (Kobes, Helsloot, de Vries & Post, 2010): Check all designated areas to ensure everyone is leaving. Assist persons to evacuate and prevent them from carrying bulky things into the fire stairs Assist persons with disability to leave the building. Prevent those who are outside from re-entering the building. Ensure fire Brigade have been called Liaise with the fire fighters attending the emergency and brief them appropriately. 4.0 Fire Risk Assessment The Media Factory building will be assessed by fire specialist for the fire precautions, the warning systems and the general risk of fire. The risk assessment will enable the Responsible Person to identify the potential hazards and the people who are in imminent danger. Risk assessment is accomplished through five main steps listed below (Hasofer, Beck & Bennetts, 2012): 1. Identifying fire hazards which include sources of ignition, fuel and location of dangerous substance if any. 2. Identification of persons at risk such as those working with dangerous substance, persons with disability and inexperienced members of the public. 3. Evaluate, reduce or totally remove the risks where possible. 4. Inform, instruct and train the relevant persons on action to be taken and also plan and record the significant actions and findings of the assessment. 5. Finally the fire risk assessment should be regularly reviewed. 5.0 Conclusion The main purpose of this fire safety management plan is to ensure that the safety of all the occupants of the Media Factory building is guaranteed. The University should dedicate some resources in training the building wardens, fire marshals and the staff working within the building and ensure that the contents of this document is made public. This management plan is subject to regular review in order to add new developments. Furthermore, copies of the fire action plan and the emergency evacuation procedures should be availed and conspicuously displayed in common locations within the building to enable the occupants and members of the public within the building to familiarize themselves with the emergency evacuation procedures. 5.0 References Authority, C. F. (2010). Fire Safety, Building & Regulations, Emergency Plans-Country Fire Authority. Britain, G. (2005, June 7). Regulatory Reforms, England and Wales. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. West Yorkshire: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Chen, Y. Y., Chuang, Y. J., Huang, C. H., Lin, C. Y., & Chien, S. W. (2012). The adoption of fire safety management for upgrading the fire safety level of existing hotel buildings. Building and Environment, 51, 311-319. CIBSE. (2003). Fire Engineering CIBSE Guide E. London: The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. Hasofer, A., Beck, V. R., & Bennetts, I. D. (2012). Risk analysis in building fire safety engineering. Routledge. Kobes, M., Helsloot, I., de Vries, B., & Post, J. G. (2010). Building safety and human behaviour in fire: A literature review. Fire Safety Journal, 45(1), 1-11. Wright, D. (2001). Legislation-Draft for Consultation: BS9999. FIRE ENGINEERS JOURNAL, 61, 34-35. Read More