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Fire Safety Housekeeping & Management

Housekeeping, to many people, may refer to domestic chores, such as shopping or cleaning. However, in the world of fire safety, it is a term frequently used to describe a range of day-to-day issues and tasks relating to fire prevention which, if left outstanding can have adverse effects on the residual risk posed by fire.

Fire Safety Management

Management will have a significant impact on the housekeeping issues that might arise. In construction, the phrase “a tidy site, is a safe site” is often used and whilst this is not strictly true, the essence of the saying is. The key to good management is keeping ahead of simple activities, such as general tidiness and it follows that ‘a tidy site’ would indicate that the same organisational principles are followed throughout other work processes.

Management of fire safety is paramount. If the management system is poor, common deficiencies are frequently highlighted. These include, inaccurate and/or incomplete documentation and records, which, in turn, often lead to fire safety systems etc. not being tested appropriately, therefore increasing the likelihood of...

Dealing with False Fire Alarms | Part Three – Damage & Design

In the last two parts of this series we have looked at how changes to procedure, accidental interference and the environment can all have an impact on the amount of false fire alarms experienced. This third and final article looks at potential damage to a fire warning system that had previously worked well and discusses how poor design, lack of knowledge and planning poor installation can all lead to regular disruptions through fire alarms. If you are concerned at the amount of false fire alarms in your premises, don’t despair! There are solutions.

Mechanical Damage

Like poor maintenance, most mechanical damage should result in the generation of a fault signal. However, there are exceptions to every rule, and it is possible for damage to the system to result in an unwanted alarm. There are proprietary guards available, to protect detectors in areas where they may be very prone to damage, the use of metal sheathed, or similarly protected cables, complying with the British Standard recommendations, should make alarms caused by cable damage so...

Dealing with False Fire Alarms | Part One – A little detective work

A suitably designed fire detection and fire alarm system provides a very tangible form of insurance and fire safety. When working properly, it will protect property and the most valuable of all business assets - the staff. However, when business is being constantly interrupted by false fire alarms, the system which causes them becomes a liability. Eventually it may be ignored, with potentially disastrous results.

The issue has become so common that unfortunately many managers deal with false alarms by adopting an air of resignation. There appears to be a widespread belief that all fire detection systems give false fire alarms and that not much can be done about it. This is far from the truth, and it is generally quite simple to put a plan of action into place which should free any business having to suffer from this particular drain on their resources.

In most cases an inability to solve a false alarm problem stems from a lack of understanding of the root causes. False alarms are very often...

Balancing Means of Escape and Security | Pt 3 – Effective Management Procedures

The third and final part of this short series looks at how effective management procedures can alleviate the potential issues encountered when balancing fire safety and building security.

One of the most effective tools in the arsenal for business owners, aside from physical and electronic forms of protection, is a well designed and sustainable management procedure.

The advantages are many, if implemented correctly, and the low cost involved makes it an attractive option; however, as with all management issues, if procedures are not controlled effectively, they can fail. No matter what strategy is implemented and what methods of protection are used it is vital the strategy adopted gets full support and co-operation from all staff, as well as total endorsement from the board.

Once a strategy has been determined, any fire safety/security provision implemented can only be truly effective if the correct level of management and staff training is in place. Only effective management together with a cohesive policy and procedures can ensure that the correct actions are taken and that the occupants within a building are able...

Balancing Means of Escape and Security | Pt 2 - Risk Assessment

When attempting to balance means of escape issues with the security of your building, various factors should be examined in some detail. This blog series began last week, looking at the cost of criminal damage, arson and burglary compared to the risk of securing your premises at the expense of fire safety. We continue by examining effective Risk Assessment strategies in relation to security and fire safety.

Fire and Security Risk Assessment is not a new concept; it is merely a practical and methodical approach to identifying problems and providing solutions. In this context, its primary purpose is to:

• Identify actual risks
• Identify hazards
• Establish risk of hazards being realised
• Evaluate existing safety/security measures
• Evaluate compensatory features which may reduce the risk to an acceptable level

Once the risk assessment is complete, it is possible to identify the most effective strategy and implement the one that will provide the optimum level of protection without causing conflict between fire and security issues.

Only by fully understanding what it is they want to prevent, can a manager select the most suitable strategy.

There are a variety...