Introduction to Fire Safety Management

see also
Arson
Fire alarm panels, 228–9
typical zone plan adjacent to, 229
zones, effective, 229
Fire alarm verifi ers:
deployment and training, 257
role, 257
specifi c duties, 42, 257
Fire alarms, delay in reacting to, 189
Fire appliances:
not standardised in the UK, 232
typical route specifi cation for, 232
Fire, chemistry of, 116–21
the chemical process, 120–1
conditions, 120–1
fi repoint, 120–1
fl ashpoint, 120
spontaneous ignition/auto-ignition 
temperature, 121
vapour density, 121
vapour pressure, 121
fi re initiation, 118–19
other common sources of heat in 
the workplace, 118–19
sources of ignition, 118
fi re triangle, 116–17
main elements of fi re process, 117
fuel sources, 119–20
dusts, 120
gases, 120
liquids, fl ammable, 119, 120
oxygen, 120
solids, 119
stages of combustion, 117–18
effects of smouldering, 118
endothermic reaction, 118
fl ashover, serious risk during fully 
developed stage, 117
process is exothermic, 117–18
rate of reaction and heat output, 
118
Fire classifi cation, 121–2
none for electrical fi res, 122
Fire compartment, defi ned, 173
Fire detection and alarm systems, 225–6
automatic fi re detection installations, 
173
automatic, types of, 226
benefi ts of automatic systems, 225–6
larger premises require automatic 
systems, 225
RRFSO and MHSWR require 
employers to have adequate 
emergency arrangements, 225
Fire detection methods, 226–8
aspirating smoke detectors, 227–8
automatic, 227
ionisation units, 227
optical units
smoke detectors, 227
beam smoke detectors, 227
fl ame detectors, 228
heat detectors, 227
linear heat detecting cable (LHDC), 
228
integrating and non-integrating 
cable, 228
manual, 226
Fire doors, 182–3
common requirements for, 183
fi re resistance of certifi ed in BS 476, 
182
inspections of, 183
marking regime suggested in BS 
8214:1990, 183
release mechanisms, 173
self-closing, 205
see also
emergency escape doors, 
securing mechanisms; escape 
exits
Fire drills, 253–4
advantages of, 253
conducted on a six monthly basis, 
253–4
debrief is a critical element, 254
purpose of, 261
and training, reviews, 279, 283
Fire effl uent and/or heat, exposure to, 
246
fl ames, 246
heat, 246
smoke, 246
Fire, environmental impact of, 312–27
containing water runoff, 318–21
emergency containment systems, 
318–19
emergency material and 
equipment, 319–20
waste management, 320
containing water runoff fi re 
fi ghting strategies and run-off 
management, 320–1
legal obligations related to 
environmental protection, 
314–15
Control of Major Accident Hazards 
Regulations 1999 (COMAH), 315
Pollution Prevention and Control 
Act 1999, 315
surface water drainage, 315
Water Industry Act 1991, 314–15
preplanning to minimise 
environmental impact, 315–18
emergency procedures, 316–17
incident response plan (IRP), 316, 
324–7
training to support the IRP, 317–18
sources of pollution in the event of 
fi re, 312–14
Fire and explosion, principles of, 
116–35
chemistry of fi re, 116–21
classifi cation of fi re, 121–2
explosion, 127–34
principles of fi re spread, 122–6
see also
Explosion
Fire fi ghters:
power in emergencies, 354
power to obtain information, 354
supplementary powers, 354–5
Fire fi ghting, in basements, 234–5, 236
Fire fi ghting equipment, portable, 221–5
extinguishing equipment, 222–5
managing portable equipment, 225
siting, 223, 225
for dealing with specifi c fi re risks, 
223, 225
for general protection, 223
mounting, 223, 225
types, 222–3
AFFF, 222
carbon dioxide (C02), 222–3
dry powder, 222
foam, 222
water, 222
wet chemical, 223
types and uses, 224
Fire fi ghting strategies and run-off 
management, 320–1
allowance for fi re fi ghting agents:
design of remote and combined 
systems, 321
in designing on-site bund capacity, 
321
Fire fi ghting systems, fi xed, 216–21
automatic water sprinklers, 217–21
types of, 218–19
drenchers, 219–20
fl ooding and inerting systems, 220–1
water mist systems, 221
water supplies, 217–18
control valves, 217–18
pipes, 217
Fire fi ghting water/foam run-off, 313–14
Fire hazard, 328
Fire and health and safety, failure to 
manage, 21–5
court structure, 22
fi nancial consequences, 24–5
fi nancial costs to industry, 26
legal consequences, 21–3
appeals, 23
civil court system, 21
criminal court system, 21
enforcement arrangements, 21–2
fi re fi ghters’ switches for luminous 
discharge tubes, 23
fi re safety alterations notices, 23
fi re safety enforcement notice, 23
health and safety and fi re safety 
prohibition notices, 23
health and safety improvement 
notice, 22
powers of inspectors/enforcers, 23
prosecutions, 23–4
by enforcement authorities, 23
Fire and health and safety, legal 
framework for regulation of, 4–21
civil law, 5, 18–21
defences against compensation 
claims due to negligence, 20–1
Limitations Act 1980 applies, 21
negligence, 18–20
criminal law, 5, 6–8

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Index
409
Acts of Parliament, 6
Approved Codes of Practice 
(ACoPs), 6–7
EU/BS and industry guidance, 7
Guidance notes, 7
legal standards, 7–8
Regulations and Orders, 6
Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (FSA), 17–18
other supporting legislation, 16–17
specifi c fi re and health and safety 
legislation, 8–16
Fire hydrants, 354
Fire incident controllers (FICs), 42, 
356–7
confi rming buildings are clear, 261–2
roll-call, 262
sweep, 262
deployment, 256–7
availability, 256–7
use of high visibility surcoat, 257
role, 256
grab bags, 256
training, 257
Fire investigation process, 300–1
Fire loading:
of some common commodities, 126
within buildings, 126
Fire marshals/fi re wardens, 41, 255–6, 
262
deployment, 256
example of responsibilities of, 266–7
may undertake part of safety 
inspection, 273
role, 255, 266–7
emergency role, 255
identifying fi re hazards, remove of 
report, 255
monitoring fi re protection 
measures, 255
proactive and reactive, 255
training, 256
two distinct roles, 42
Fire, preplanning to minimise 
environmental impact, 315–18
emergency procedure, 316–17
incident response plan (IRP), 316, 
324–7
subjects to be included, 317
producing an incident response 
plan, 317–18
training to support the IRP, 317–18
Fire prevention, 147–66
arson and site security, 165–6
precautions to be taken, 165
secure fencing required, 165
chemicals and LPG (hazardous 
materials), 150–6
storage, external and internal, 
151–4
substitution, 151
training, 154
ventilation of storage areas, 155
ventilation/fume cupboards, 155–6
construction and maintenance, 
159–61
contractor management, 159
initial selection stage, 159–60
safety performance, 160
tender stage selection, 160–1
construction phase fi re safety check 
list, 170–1
cookers, associated cooking 
equipment and installations, 
148–50
planned preventive maintenance 
(PPM), 149
use of CORGI installers for gas 
equipment, 149
use of fi xed fi re fi ghting 
installations, 149
demolition, 165
combatting high risk of fi re and 
explosion, 165
demolition surveys must be 
undertaken, 165
electrical appliances and 
installations, 147–8
PAT testing, 148
electrical and gas supplies, 
installations and equipment, 
162–3
electrical safety, 162, 163
use of CORGI gas fi tters only, 
162–3
heaters and heating systems, 150
need for awareness training, 150
hot work, 163–5
hot work permits, 163–4, 167–8
use of temporary fabrication (fab) 
shop, 163
managing the contract, 161
areas needing consideration, 161
naked lights and fl ames, 150
avoidance of, 150
avoidance of rubbish burning, 150
other signifi cant hazards, 157–8
electro-mechanical equipment, 158
electrostatic discharge, 157–8
performance review, 162
formal review, 162
monitoring contractor’s 
performance, 162
safety conditions of the contract, 
161–2
safety conditions/rules that might 
be imposed, 161–2
safety conditions of the contract 
.effective communication 
channels, 162
smokers and smokers’ materials, 
156–7
provision of smokers’ booths, 156
reducing risk in nursing homes, 
156–7
vehicles, 158–9
battery recharging, 158
formal procedures for refuelling or 
recharging, 158
refuelling LPG-powered vehicles, 
159
rudimentary control of fl ammable 
vapours, 158
waste and waste management 
systems, 157
written policy for, 147
‘Fire Prevention on Construction Sites’ 
(code of practice), 24
compliance with for insurance 
purposes, 24
Fire protection (preventive and 
protective measures), 173
active fi re protection, 173
passive fi re protection, 173
Fire and Rescue Service:
capacity of remote and combined fi re 
fi ghting systems, 321
discussion of fi re fi ghting strategy 
with, 321
false alarms, diversion from fi re 
prevention duties, 294–5
investigation of fi re-related events, 
293–5
must report all fi res in buildings to 
DCLG on form FDR1, 296, 297, 
307–10
powers of, 298
late calls, 298
supplementary powers, 298
Fire and Rescue Services Act (2004) 
see
FRSA
Fire resistance, defi ned, 172, 188
Fire risk, 328
Fire risk assessment, 45, 321, 328–44
defi nitions relating to, 328–9
and emergency evacuation 
procedures, 254
introduction section, 330
record and action plan, 340–4
risk assessment process, 329–39
HM Government guidance 
documents, 329
in small offi ce facility, 95