Advice about safer premises

General fire precautions

It is impossible in this short guide to give detailed guidance for every type of premises. However, this section focuses on some of the things you should consider as a minimum when you are looking to reduce fire risks within your workplace.
For further information follow Directgov - Fire safety

Other matters to consider

Adequate lighting (you may have to consider emergency lighting).
Suitable fire safety signs in all but the smallest premises.
Training for your staff or anyone else you may reasonably expect to help in the event of a fire.
A management system to ensure that fire safety systems are maintained.

Some very small and simple premises may be able to satisfy all these steps without difficulty but you should still be able to demonstrate that an appropriate process has been carried out.

Safe routes for people, including those with disabilities, to leave the premises

The ideal situation is when there are alternative escape routes from all parts of the premises, although this is not always possible.
Where only one route is available other compensatory features may be necessary e.g. making escape routes fire resisting or installing automatic fire detection.
The stairway and area near the exit should be kept clear of combustibles and obstructions.
The escape route should lead to a final exit.
Where the stairway is not fire resisting, the final exit should be visible and accessible from the discharge point of the stairway at ground floor level. High-risk rooms do not generally open directly into a fire-resisting stairway.
If your fire risk assessment shows that people using any floor would be unaware of a fire you may require additional fire-protection measures, e.g. an automatic fire-detection and warning system.

Fire detection and warning systems

You must have a suitable fire detection and warning system. This can range from a shouted warning to a comprehensive electrical detection and warning system.

Whatever system you have it must be able to adequately warn people in all circumstances.

The fire detection and warning system should typically include the following:

automatic fire detectors (AFD), e.g. smoke, heat;
manual call points (break-glass call points) next to exits with at least one call point on each floor;
electronic sirens or bells; and
a control and indicator panel.

A means for fighting a small fire

There are three main types of fire extinguisher: powder, water and foam. No single type of extinguisher is totally effective on every kind of fire. Before buying one, it's vital to look carefully at what kinds of fires it can be used on. That way, you can make sure you get one suitable for your own needs.

Multi-purpose dry powder extinguishers or Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) extinguishers are usually the best choices for home use. They have the fewest dangers and are effective on many types of fire.

View a larger image of the types of fire extinguisher (pdf, 288Kb)

Tips for the safe use of any type of extinguisher:

make sure you read the instructions and are familiar with how to use it
only buy one you can carry easily
it is best placed in the hall and taken where needed
don’t put it near a heater or fire, but do fix it to the wall, so that it is out of the reach of children, but easily accessible by others
get it serviced once a year (or as often as the manufacturer recommends)
when using the extinguisher on a fire, keep yourself on the escape route side of the blaze

Suitable fire exit doors

Fire exit doors and any doors on the escape routes should be operable without a key and without any specialist knowledge.

In public buildings push (panic) bars or push pads may be required.

Risk assessments

Ensuring an assessment of the fire risks within your premises has been carried out is a key part of the "responsible person's" role. Performing a thorough risk assessment and acting on your findings will help to reduce risks, ensure compliance with legislation and could save lives.

5 Step Risk Assessment - short checklist (pdf, 42Kb)

Risk assessment example

Risk assessment example (pdf, 133Kb)

Changes to premises

If and when you make any changes to your premises, you must remember that you will be responsible for managing the risk you create and you will still have to comply with the planning process and Building Regulations. You will need to revisit your fire risk assessment and look at how the changes will affect the risk in your premises, assess if your risk management measures are adequate and if you need to adopt further measures.

In some higher risk premises, for example, those in which the risk to life can be said to be higher than normal or where particularly complicated fire safety arrangements are required, the fire authority will be able to issue an 'alterations notice'. An alterations notice can require a responsible person to inform the fire authority of any changes they intend to make to premises where those changes would create a significant increase in the risk.

Warwickshire Direct