Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Figure 1.18
Emergency plans required under CDM

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Fire safety foundations
17
➤
Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for 
Supply) Regulations 2002 (CHIP)
➤
CHIP requires that chemical products provided 
from an approved supplier are required to be pro-
vided with a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) 
which provides information under 16 headings. 
The MSDS provides information among other 
things on fl ammability, storage arrangements, boil-
ing points, etc. all of which are extremely useful 
when determining fi re risks and control measures.
➤
Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004
➤
This piece of legislation places prevention at the 
heart of the role of the fi re and rescue service, 
but also introduces powers for fi re fi ghters to 
gain entry in the event of fi re, and undertake fi re 
investigation.
➤
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
➤
The Act principally identifi es who has duties 
and responsibilities, the need to ensure that 
‘reasonable adjustments’ have or will be made so 
as to ensure that those employing or providing 
services to people who are disabled have ade-
quate arrangements in place which would include 
arrangements for effective safe evacuation in the 
event of an emergency, e.g. a fi re.
➤
Building Regulations 2000
➤
The Building Regulations are designed to secure 
the health and safety, welfare and convenience 
of people in or about buildings and of others who 
may be affected by buildings or matters con-
nected with buildings. In addition they develop 
and control the conservation of fuel and power 
and prevent waste, undue consumption, misuse 
or contamination of water.
➤
Building Regulations approval is required under 
the following circumstances:
➤
The erection or extension of a building 
(including loft conversions)
➤
The installation or extension of a service 
or fi tting (e.g. washing and sanitary facili-
ties, hot water cylinders, foul and rainwater 
drainage, replacement windows and fuel 
burning appliances)
➤
Alteration works which may have an effect 
on the building in terms of structure, fi re 
safety and access and facilities for all (e.g. 
openings in walls, removal of fi re doors, 
changes to accessibilities)
➤
The insertion of insulation into a cavity wall
➤
The underpinning of a building’s foundation
➤
The change of use of all or part of a build-
ing (e.g. conversion of a shop into a dwell-
ing, conversion of a house into fl ats and 
conversion of a garage into a room)
➤
Replacement 
windows
➤
Electrical installations in dwellings.
➤
Building Regulations are enforced by local build-
ing control authorities and in relation to fi re they 
consult with the local fi re and rescue authorities.