Fire Safety | Prioritisation of Works

When any Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) or safety assessment is made, it is inevitable that the process will result in some issues requiring action.  These actions can be extremely varied; from a recommendation to place an adhesive sign on a fire door, to the installation of a new fire alarm system, for example.

Is undertaking an FRA enough?

If your FRA has been undertaken using the Complete Fire Safety Management online system, you will already be aware that it is the actions taken as a result of the FRA which are important. Sometimes, people believe that undertaking an FRA is sufficient to comply with current legislation, when in fact; it is acting on the findings that reduces risk and assists in meeting legislative requirements.

Prioritisation of Fire Safety Actions

Whilst a standard FRA will recommend works and actions to be undertaken, it is not necessarily the norm for the risk assessment process to prioritise those works, although it is noted that some 'natural prioritisation' will occur based on the risk level that is established.

As with most required actions, external factors have a significant influence.  Arguably, one of the most common considerations is the cost involved, although there are a number of others; lead times for contractors, ordering materials, ability to undertake works without severely compromising the 'day to day' running of the organisation, to name a few.  

Even taking into account all those factors, it is evident that a clear, prioritised programme of works must be developed and whilst it can take on board considerations, life safety will always take precedence.

The current economic climate has seen budget constraints placed on the majority of commercial and public sectors, therefore the ability to prioritise has become more important than ever.  It is clear that a defined budget may be allocated to such works, and for that budget to be spent without due consideration may lead to the fire safety objectives not being met and additional expenditure required.

With this borne in mind, which works should be prioritised?  This question is fundamental and can only be answered on a case by case basis, with each proposed action being reviewed against its risk grading.  

Should the FRA find that the lack of a fire alarm system, for example, leads to a significant life safety concern, focus must be placed on this finding.  However, it is likely that the decisions will not always be this obvious.  Similarly, it is not as simple as the most expensive works will reap the greatest benefits.

'Reasonable' actions

On this basis, all actions must be considered and set against life safety objectives. However, with the term 'reasonable' within legislation, it is clear that cost can taken into account to ensure that the right fire precautions are installed (and maintained) commensurate to the risks.  If this was not the case, the latest guidance could have introduced facilities such as sprinklers within every building and a fire station on the corner of every street, however, this is not deemed necessary to mitigate the risk posed in most buildings.

A prioritisation programme will also look at the potential for interim measures.  Should a recommendation not be feasible immediately or have a time delay due to various constraints, a detailed programme could be formulated with other fire safety measures considered as an immediate (but temporary) risk reduction measure.  

In complex buildings such as hospitals for example, the formulation of such a programme can ensure life safety objectives are maintained whilst the building remains in operation.

Where FRA actions can not be implemented immediately, these may need to be discussed and agreed with the Enforcing Authorities.  Our experience indicates that if minimum safe conditions are maintained, improvement and remedial works can be programmed in with interim measures adopted where necessary.

If you would like to know more about the Complete Fire Safety Management online system - or would like to arrange an appointment with one of our senior fire safety advisers - simply call Peter Gyere on 020 8668 8663.