Managing Fire Risk in blocks of flats – Preventing occurrences of fire
It may seem an obvious statement, but prevention of a fire is a more successful strategy than dealing with a fire which may occur as a result of neglecting fire prevention. Good fire safety management involves the provision of physical barriers to fire spread, fire alarm systems where appropriate, but perhaps most importantly, effective fire safety management involves vigilance for risk factors that might cause fire in your block of flats. This blog will look at some of the contributory factors which may cause fire and how to prevent them.
Within a block of flats, the most common place for a fire to occur is within one of the residences. Of course, the landlord has limited access and influence over what occurs in each flat, and so this is where effective fire resistant compartmentation is key to stopping fire spread between flats and into the common areas.
Additionally, the landlord can ensure that all residents are aware of the fire safety plan within the building and can discuss and advise or even provide individual fire alarms for each of the properties.
It is not fires within individual flats, however, which are the most dangerous within a block. Fires which occur in the common areas – corridors, landings etc. pose a much greater risk to life safety and the building than those within a kitchen, for example.
Risks to common areas from smokers
Although smoking is banned by law in common areas of blocks of flats, there is a very real risk that some smokers may either be unaware of this or may feel that it is something they will do in any case. It is essential, of course, that appropriate signage is displayed, but often this is insufficient.
It is recommended that each flat resident is educated via appropriate literature of the risks of smoking within a communal area and that receptacles are provided at each outside entrance door to the block to encourage smokers to extinguish their cigarette before entering the building and safety dispose of the cigarette butt.
Signage and the cigarette bins should be checked and maintained regularly, as an overfull wall mounted ash-tray can become a fire risk in itself.
Fire risk in blocks of flats from Arson
In Britain in the year 2012/13, 11% of dwelling place fires were not accidental. (Source: Government Fire Statistics in Great Britain 2012/13)
Of the 266 deaths in dwelling fires in that period, 48 of these could be attributed to non-accidental fire. Fire prevention, therefore, must take into account those persons who may wish to maliciously set fire within the premises and guard against fire spread in those circumstances.
Building security can help to safeguard residents from the dangers of arson. Examples of ways which have been shown to reduce instances of deliberate fire setting include: physical building security with locks on external windows and doors in common areas, access control to the block, good lighting both outside and inside the common areas, monitored CCTV cameras at entrance points and inside the common areas, enclosures on letterboxes designed to contain fire, maintenance of common areas to reduce instances of rubbish and littering and a staff presence where that is practical and possible.
Next week’s blog on fire safety in blocks of flats will continue discussing building security and will look at the importance of housekeeping. In the meantime, if you have any queries or wish to discuss your own block with a fire engineer, please contact Peter Gyere in the first instance on 0208 668 8663.
The Complete Fire Safety Management Platform is the only fully comprehensive online fire risk assessment and fire risk management platform. Our aim, at CFSM, is to make the process of becoming fire safe, straightforward and, to use our expertise in fire risk assessment and fire safety management to guide you through each step, resulting in your premises meeting all legal, insurance and ethical fire safety considerations.
