Category Archives: Fire


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Fire door inspection and maintenance regimes

Fire exit door and fire extinguish equipment

Fire exit door and fire extinguish equipment

Focus on fire door inspections and maintenance regimes has intensified recently following updates to fire safety regulations, especially in multi-occupied residential buildings. Fire doors are an essential passive fire protection measure that must perform as intended in the event of a fire so as to prevent the spread of fire and smoke.

However, they are often the most used and abused passive fire protection measure in a fire compartment. As such, it is essential that the organisation responsible for fire safety legislation has in place an appropriate inspection and maintenance regime.

Legal requirements and best practice

Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires (where necessary) that the responsible person must ensure that “any facilities, equipment and devices provided in respect of the premises under this Order […] are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.”

With reference to Article 17, guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council notes that this Article will apply to fire doors and as such should be “subject to a suitable system of maintenance: they must be regularly checked and properly maintained (including inspection and testing by a competent person, as necessary) at suitable intervals and any faults found rectified as quickly as possible.”

Best practice in the form of BS8214: Timber-based Fire Door Assemblies. Code of Practice, notes that fire doors do deteriorate since they are used in locations along pedestrian transit routes where they might be subject to significant damage or normal wear and tear due to repeated operation and abuse.

BS8214 states that “it is important, therefore, for inspection, maintenance and repair of any damage to be undertaken on a regular basis if the required fire resistance is to be maintained.”

Determining needs

Having set out the legal and best practice requirements, the responsible person will need to determine how best to achieve compliance. Factors to consider will include:

  • roles and responsibilities for managing and undertaking the necessary elements of a fire door inspection and maintenance regime
  • competency requirements in respect of inspection, testing and maintenance
  • the inspection and testing frequency and requirements for fire door sets or assemblies (including hardware)
  • the fire door elements and hardware to be included in any inspection regime
  • the inspection and testing frequency of any cause and effect systems associated with fire doors
  • the management and co-ordination of remedial work that may be required following any inspection and testing
  • ongoing fire door validity following any remedial work required to maintain compliance
  • recording and reporting of the inspection, testing and maintenance regime.

When considering the above, there can be various influences on the decision-making process. These will include:

  • the overall responsibility for fire safety in the premises
  • the fire risk profile of the premises
  • the fire evacuation strategy for the premises
  • the outcomes of fire risk assessment/s
  • the number and type of fire doors within scope
  • the age and current condition of fire doors
  • generic best practice recommendations
  • any sector specific best practice requirements
  • any sector specific legislative requirements.

Clearly, to develop an inspection and maintenance regime, it is important to have an understanding of the fire doors within scope. Development of an inventory or asset register would be beneficial and can include:

  • the location of fire doors
  • the configuration of the fire doors and rating (eg FD30S)
  • the details of any ancillary elements such as hold-open devices
  • the condition of fire doors and associated hardware
  • the asset number for each fire door within scope.

Regime requirements

The organisation should develop an appropriate document that clearly sets out the requirements of any inspection and maintenance regime. This could form part of an overall fire safety policy in smaller organisations or be a separate (ratified) “protocol” in larger organisations.

Perhaps the most problematic requirement is to determine the type and frequency of inspections. The organisation may decide to follow guidance such as that contained in BS9999: Fire Safety in the Design, Management and Use of Buildings. Code of Practice. This publication recommends the following.

  • Daily release of hold-open automatic release mechanisms.
  • Monthly operation of fail-safe mechanisms on automatic opening doors.
  • Monthly operation of hold-open devices simulating power failure.
  • Monthly operation of all emergency and panic escape devices.
  • Six-monthly inspection of fire doors.

If outsourcing, due diligence should be undertaken to seek assurance that prospective contractors have the necessary competency, for example through membership of appropriate professional bodies and validation to inspect to relevant standards (such as BM Trada Q mark or LPCB LPS 1197).

If undertaking in-house, there are a number of courses available that an organisation may wish to consider, depending on the inspection regime to be implemented (eg FDIS).

It is recognised that some minor works can be undertaken in-house without compromising the fire doors’ performance but other more intrusive works should be undertaken by appropriate competent persons/organisations who are validated to certify that the fire door will still meet its designed and tested performance specification.

Finally, it is important that all testing, inspection and maintenance activities are recorded and made available to relevant stakeholders.

In smaller organisations this could be as simple as having a spreadsheet but in larger organisations there are various off-the-shelf software packages that can be utilised.

Summary

To retain their operational integrity, fire door sets or assemblies must be tested, inspected and maintained to a standard and level that is commensurate with the premises’ fire risk profile and fire evacuation strategy.

Developing an appropriate regime will require consideration of various factors and will be subject to a number of influences.

The organisation may be asked to provide proof of its regime to enforcing authorities and other stakeholders.

As part of this, the organisation will need to provide proof of the regime that is in place, including the necessary competency of those given responsibility to implement the inspection and maintenance regime.

Contact us if you have any queries.

 

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Preparing for Change: Alternatives to Foam Fire Extinguishers as 2025 Ban Approaches

Starting July 2foam-fire-extinguisher025, the use of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) fire extinguishers, widely used to combat flammable liquid fires, will be banned due to their harmful environmental and health effects.

The ban primarily targets C8-based firefighting foams containing long-chain PFAS compounds like PFOA. These substances are being phased out due to their environmental persistence and associated health risks. However, C6-based foams, which use shorter-chain PFAS compounds, are not currently included in the ban. They are considered a safer alternative and are still permitted under UK regulations.

That said, the UK government and environmental agencies are keeping a close watch on PFAS regulations, and future restrictions on all PFAS-based products, including C6 foams, remain possible as part of broader environmental policies .

Here are some recommended alternatives for various industry needs if your business has C8 foam fire extinguishers on site:

  1. General Building Safety
  • Water Extinguishers: Effective for Class A fires involving materials like wood, paper, and textiles.
  • Water Mist Extinguishers: Safe for fires involving solids, liquids, and even electrical equipment, making them versatile and environmentally friendly.
  • CO2 Extinguishers: Ideal for electrical fires, these also offer a clean, residue-free option.
  1. Industrial and Manufacturing Facilities
  • Dry Powder Extinguishers: Suitable for Class A, B, and C fires, though their residue may require clean up in confined spaces.
  • Fluorine-Free Foams (F3): Environmentally safer and effective on liquid fires; these create a seal over the flammable liquid, preventing vapor release.
  • C6 Foams: These contain shorter-chain PFAS, which are more easily broken down, though their safety continues to be evaluated.
  1. Food and Hospitality Industries
  • Wet Chemical Extinguishers: Essential for kitchens, especially for fires involving cooking oils and fats, where they effectively cool and neutralize flames.
  • Water Mist: Safe for use around delicate equipment and in environments where cleanliness is crucial.
  1. Automotive and Transportation Sectors
  • Dry Powder or CO2 Extinguishers: Suitable for garages or areas with mixed hazards, including electrical risks.
  • Fluorine-Free Foam: For fuel or oil-related fires, this foam offers a comparable solution to traditional AFFF without the environmental drawbacks.

Businesses should plan now to transition their equipment, as proper disposal of existing C8 AFFF extinguishers will also be required by certified hazardous waste disposal services.

This proactive approach will ensure compliance with the 2025 deadline and maintain a safe, environmentally responsible fire safety system.

Contact us if you have any questions.

 

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The maintenance of ageing fire precautions

Fire extinguisherAs part of an overall maintenance strategy, organisations should identify ageing fire precautions and have in place a regime to maintain such items.

Many buildings will have fire precautions that can be described as physical assets that need to be properly maintained to ensure that they are fit for purpose and continue to function as efficiently and effectively as possible. This will ensure legal duties in relation to protecting relevant persons from the risk of fire are met.

All fire precautions will be subject to ageing, which if not managed appropriately can lead to equipment failure, which in turn can lead to future regulatory non-compliance, increased fire risks to life and greater business continuity issues in the event of a fire.

As part of an overall maintenance strategy, organisations should identify ageing fire precautions that may require a maintenance regime that goes beyond “best practice”, and put into place the regime to maintain such items.

Legal duties

Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that “where necessary in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons the responsible person must ensure that the premises and any facilities, equipment and devices provided in respect of the premises under this Order … are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair”.

It should be noted that similar requirements are contained in the respective legislation for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In this context, “where necessary” can be taken as meaning that the duty holder must do what is reasonable to protect relevant persons in terms of the maintenance needs of the facilities, equipment and devices provided under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

In turn, these can be described as the general fire precautions that will include measures:

  • to reduce the risk of the spread of fire on the premises
  • in relation to the means of escape from the premises
  • for securing the safe use of the means of escape
  • for fighting fires on the premises
  • to the means for detecting and giving warning of fire.

The key part of Article 17 is the requirement for these elements to be maintained in an efficient state, efficient working order and good repair. Guidance for enforcing authorities notes that this is a three-part test that can be best described as follows.

  • The equipment/device/facility works to its required design and specification (eg the fire warning system is functioning).
  • The equipment/device/facility is in good repair, free from physical damage or disrepair (eg call points not hanging off walls).
  • The equipment/device/facility is subject to regular testing, inspection and examination to remain in an efficient state.

Maintenance of general fire precautions is an essential part of the overall fire risk management framework and can form part of any formal enforcement procedures.

Government publication, Guidance Note No 1: Enforcement, states that risk assessments should include references to maintenance. It continues by stating that enforcing authorities are “expected to use their professional judgement in evaluating the maintenance of any equipment and devices provided in accordance with the risk assessment to protect all relevant persons in and around the premises from the dangers of fire”.

Ageing asset issues

To meet the above requirements, those responsible for fire safety will normally adopt a regime of planned preventative maintenance based upon best practice (such as detailed in relevant British Standards) in conjunction with a reactive repairs regime in the event of defects occurring/being identified between maintenance schedules.

However, during its lifecycle all fire precautions can degrade due to age-related mechanisms and it may be the case that maintenance frequency and regimes could be required that are beyond those recommended in the British Standards. It is therefore essential that as part of the overall maintenance regime, such ageing is identified, considered and appropriate measures are taken to manage the risks.

When referring to ageing fire precautions, it is important to note that this does not necessarily relate to the chronological ageing process, rather ageing is “the effect whereby a component suffers some form of material deterioration and damage with an increasing likelihood of failure over the lifetime of the asset”.

As an example, a property can have fire door assemblies of the same age and specification throughout the premises, yet one assembly could be subject to greater ageing due to its location, frequency of use and potential for damage to occur through use.

The management of ageing fire precautions therefore begins with an awareness that ageing is not about how old the equipment is, but what is known about its condition, and the factors that influence the onset, evolution and mitigation of its degradation. This suggests that for those with responsibility for maintaining ageing fire assets, there is a need to:

  • organise ageing management in terms of identifying the assets, what they do and their criticality to the business
  • make an assessment of current condition through appropriate condition surveys, inspections and associated risk assessments including how condition may change over the asset lifecycle
  • implement an “ageing management programme” including the use of preventative or condition-based maintenance regimes
  • ensure there is feedback and analysis of the process to ensure it remains fit for purpose, including the use of performance indicators.

As well as the physical ageing process, other factors will need to be given consideration. This can include obsolescence and a lack of spare parts or the disappearance of the original equipment manufacturer, or non-conformance with current safety requirements, codes, standards and procedures.

Competency, availability and organisation of the employees/contractors responsible for asset management are also essential to ensuring that this understanding of current and predicted asset condition is used when making asset management decisions.

Management programme

BS 9997: Fire Risk Management Systems notes that organisations should “plan, document, implement and manage the processes for maintenance and testing of fire safety systems to ensure that they operate correctly in the event of fire”.

As part of this, an organisation may require an “ageing maintenance programme”. This should detail the actions necessary to ensure any ageing fire precautions are maintained in an efficient and cost-effective way. The main elements of such a plan will be as follows.

  • Scope of the ageing management programme (AMP) (selection of systems, structures, components and understanding of ageing).
  • Preventative actions (operating procedures/controls to minimise ageing).
  • Detection of ageing (inspection, testing, plant monitoring).
  • Monitoring of trends (data analysis, predictive analysis, etc).
  • Acceptance criteria (performance standards, incredibility/probability of failure).
  • Mitigation actions (maintenance, repairs, replacement, etc).
  • Corrective actions (revised operating procedures, de-rating, refurbishment).
  • Feedback of operating experience (failure database).
  • Quality management (record keeping).

It should be noted that within an ageing maintenance programme there may be differing schedules from those in relation to statutory compliance requirements being met through normal best practice. Where this is the case, the ageing maintenance programme needs to interface with such compliance requirements.

It should be noted that management of ageing fire precautions will require regular monitoring, review and revalidation following any unwanted incidents, major repairs, refurbishment or replacement of key items.

Summary

Managing ageing fire precautions effectively may require a shift in the way fire asset condition is regarded, assessed and maintained. This requires a proactive approach with a thorough understanding of the fire asset ageing mechanisms and condition, and the ways in which assets interact (including cause and effect).

The characteristics of an “ageing asset” can be defined as when:

  • damage due to degradation has accumulated and may have become widespread and be accelerating
  • design or performance margins may have eroded to a point where future acceptable performance cannot be assumed
  • a different more quantitative approach to proactive and reactive maintenance may be necessary for determining the extent and rate of damage to demonstrate fitness for service
  • proactive ageing management and asset care is required through revalidation, major repairs, refurbishment and replacement of key items at various times.

If you require further information, please contact us.

7 Fire Safety Precautions Every Employer Must Know To Ensure A Safe Work Environment

7 Fire Safety Precautions Every Employer Must Know To Ensure A Safe Work Environment

7 Fire Safety Precautions Every Employer Must Know To Ensure A Safe Work Environment

Lets face it, it’s easy to have the “it won’t happen to me” mentality when it comes to fire safety in your workplace. But the truth is, a fire can be catastrophic for your business, your employees and of course your brand reputation. This is why fire safety is an incredibly important aspect of risk management that needs to be taken seriously by every employee and manager in your business. 

So, to help you improve the fire safety of your workplace, here are 7 precautions you must know to keep those detrimental fires at bay. 

Appoint fire wardens

First and foremost, you should appoint at least one fire warden in your workplace. Fire wardens are members of staff who are responsible for taking control of creating and maintaining fire safety procedures. In the event of a fire, they’ll know how to keep employees, contractors and customers safe, and will be the person in charge coordinating the evacuation. 

Stock relevant fire safety equipment

In the event of a fire in a workplace, having the right equipment is essential for alerting employees and members of the public, and potentially extinguish the fire before it gets any bigger and out of control. 

With this in mind, ensure your workspace has working universal smoke alarms, the correct fire safety signs, fire escape ladders if necessary and fire prevention systems such as fire extinguishers and sprinklers. 

Communicate appropriate fire escape routes

In the event of a fire, clear escape routes out of the building are absolutely vital. All escape routes must be easily identifiable and with instructions about the means of escape displayed. You also need to provide training for your employees on how to escape in the event of an emergency.

Escape routes must be adequately illuminated and free of any obstacles. As an employer, yourself or the fire warden should do daily checks to ensure these areas are not blocked in case a fire were to occur that day. 

Keep your workplace tidy and clean

You don’t have to be a genius to work out that messy workplaces contain more health and safety hazards than tidy ones, and many of these hazards are related to fire safety.

Any spare stock should be stored safely, and appropriate control measures implemented to safely store flammable materials and liquids in line with COSHH regulations. You should also ensure that you are regularly removing combustible waste, including accumulations of dust, before it has a chance to build up and become a safety hazard. 

Create a fire safety plan

When it comes to keeping your employees, contractors and visitors safe, it is crucial that you have a clear fire safety plan in place. Delivering a fire safety plan is also a legal requirement for workplaces operating in the UK and employers, business owners and landlords are all equally responsible for delivering an adequate fire safety plan.  

If you’re unsure where to start, here is everything you need to know about how to create a fire safety plan for your workplace

Carry out thorough risk assessments

You can’t effectively safeguard against fire if you’re not fully aware of the hazards in your workplace and the risks they pose. So before you begin implementing fire safety control measures, carry out a thorough risk assessment of your workplace.

For businesses with more than five employees, risk assessments are a legal requirement, but they’re also hugely important for protecting your business from harm.

Risk assessments should identify fire hazards i.e. what could cause a fire to start? 

Then they should assess the level of risk posed, consider who could be affected, and how fire risks can be alleviated. You can then implement control measures proportionate to the level of risk. To ensure long-term fire safety in the workplace, it’s important to review and potentially revise risk assessments regularly. 

Crack down on electrical safety 

Last but certainly not least, don’t forget electrical safety! Most businesses will use electrical equipment of some sort – and where there’s electrical equipment, there are fire risks. Faulty wiring or overloaded plug sockets can overheat and spark fires that can quickly spread across the room. 

To reduce the risk of electrical fires, repair or get rid of faulty electricals as soon as possible, don’t overload plug sockets, and make sure equipment is regularly inspected and PAT tested.

Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Guest blog by Kate, on behalf of Morsafe Supplies

Published · Updated

Fire Safety and Risk Assessments

What is a fire risk assessment?

A fire risk assessment helps you to identify risks from fire hazards on your premises and work out what actions you need to take to make sure any risk is as low as reasonably possible.

Help with the fire risk assessment?

A responsible person must carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment of the premises. This will identify what you need to do to prevent fire and keep people safe.

You can do the fire risk assessment yourself with the help of standard fire safety risk assessment guides. Alternatively, if you do not have the expertise or time to do the fire risk assessment yourself you need to appoint a ‘competent person’ to help, contact us for further details.

You’ll need to consider:

  • emergency routes and exits
  • fire detection and warning systems
  • fire fighting equipment
  • the removal or safe storage of dangerous substances
  • an emergency fire evacuation plan
  • the needs of vulnerable people, for example, the elderly, young children, or those with disabilities
  • providing information to employees and other people on the premises
  • staff fire safety training

We have put together an infographic. I would recommend that you share the information with employees as it could be beneficial to them.

Contact us for further information.

Fire Safety Infographic