Fire is potentially the greatest of all risks to personnel, business continuity and property. It can spread extremely quickly producing toxic, asphyxiating smoke. It is therefore essential to minimise the likelihood of a fire starting, to ensure the safe evacuation of people, and have appropriate measures for tackling fires. These are achieved through careful design of premises and stringent management procedures. However, the risk will always remain, and everyone must be vigilant at all times. See also Fire Safety Policy HSP - 10 and Hot Works HSP - 06 for further direction.
Standards
The design and fabric of university premises must comply with building and fire safety regulations and standards. Fire safety signs must comply with relevant regulations and standards.
All university buildings are currently subject to fire risk assessments (annually for residential premises and every 2nd year for non residential - with some exceptions for higher risk buildings) as required by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These risk assessments address the fire hazards, the necessary controls, and the implementation and effectiveness of the controls. The fire hazards arise from structural features, the use to which the building is put, and the people occupying and using the building. The necessary controls include provision of fire alarm systems and fire escape routes, provision of portable fire fighting equipment, good housekeeping supported by fire safety inspections, emergency response procedures in accord with the local Fire and Rescue Authority, and training of staff. The implementation and effectiveness of the controls are measured and reviewed to ensure that they fulfil their objectives of minimising the risk to people. Documentation of fire risk assessments, precautions, and the results of action plans and services are held by the Health and Safety Department. The results and subsequent actions of local fire inspections are filed locally.
Responsibilities
The Health and Safety Department ensures that fire risk assessments are undertaken; precautions are specified; appropriate fire safety training is provided; and audits of fire precautions are carried out.
The Director of Facilities and Estates and the Facilities and Estates Operations Manager, ensure that modifications to buildings do not compromise fire precautions or fire risk assessment requirements.
The Director of Facilities and Estates, the Facilities and Estates Operations Manager and the Head of Projects (along with relevant external professional advice and support) ensures that modifications to buildings receive the necessary statutory approvals from appropriate authorities (eg Building Control) and that associated changes to fire detection and warning systems, emergency lighting, fire fighting facilities, fire signage, and devices for limiting the spread of fire and smoke are installed to the correct specifications. The Director of Facilities and Estates, the Facilities and Estates Operations Manager and the Head of Projects ensures that the Health and Safety department is advised of all such alterations at the design stage.
The Facilities and Estates Operations Manager ensures that fire detection and warning systems, emergency lighting, fire fighting facilities, fire signage, and devices for limiting the spread of fire and smoke are maintained to the correct specifications.
The Facilities and Estates Operations Manager ensures that for academic buildings, relevant staff complete the regular and periodic tests of the fire detection, warning and fighting systems, and ensure that fire escape doors are serviceable while the buildings are occupied.
Those responsible (University and / or 3rd party Managers) for student accommodation, ensures regular and periodic tests of the fire detection, warning and fighting systems are recorded.
Heads of Departments ensure that fire risks are addressed as part of the risk assessments and local inspections within their departments; their staff are instructed in how to respond in the event of a fire or fire alarm; proposals for any structural alterations are submitted to the Director of Facilities and Estates; and a permit to work (see Permits to Work) is obtained prior to any operation that may restrict or obstruct fire resisting doors or a fire escape route.
Workplace inspections
Heads of department ensure that fire safety inspections are carried out for all their areas at least quarterly using the 'Fire inspection checklist'. Faults in fire detection, warning and fighting systems are reported to Maintenance for repair.
Inspections and test procedures
Nominated persons (University or 3rd party) carry out tests and inspections in halls of residence. Faults are reported to the relevant University or 3rd party contractor manager for remedy.
Fire detection and warning systems
Break glass units are tested weekly (on a preplanned schedule to cover all areas over a period of time) and appropriately recorded. The test involves checking that the break glass activates the fire panel and the alarm sounders.
Annual service and test of the full system by a competent engineer is implemented by the Facilities and Estates Operations Manager.
Emergency lighting
Emergency lighting is fitted in all buildings and comes into action when the mains power to the unit is interrupted.
Nominated persons carry out monthly and 6-monthly checks of the emergency lighting by switching off power for a given period (monthly=10 minutes, 6-monthly=1 hour) and confirming that the lighting is still operating at the end of the period. Faults are reported immediately.
Servicing and testing of the emergency lighting is carried out annually by a competent engineer implemented by the Facilities and Estates Operations Manager.
Fire fighting equipment
The seals on extinguishers are checked by competent persons during the annual servicing of this equipment.
Extinguishers that have been discharged or had their seals broken are reported to Maintenance who will replace them.
Servicing and testing of fire fighting equipment is carried out annually by competent personnel implemented by the Maintenance and Estates Operations Manager.
Fire signage and escape routes
All 'fire resisting' doors must fulfil their function of restricting the spread of fire and smoke in the event of fire. Stewards check that 'fire resisting' doors operate correctly as part of their weekly checks of the fire systems. Stewards open fire exit doors fitted with panic bolts on a rolling weekly programme and check them for ease of operation.
Fire escape routes must be kept clear at all times and are checked during local inspections of workplaces. Stewards ensure that common areas including corridors and stairwells are kept clear and that all fire escape doors are serviceable while the buildings are occupied.
Any activities / storage / works, etc. that may temporarily restrict or obstruct a fire escape route requires a permit to work.
Fire training
Staff are provided with general guidance on how to respond in the event of a fire as part of their health and safety induction to the university. Further information on the nature of fire is provided in the e-learning on 'Essentials of H&S', and 'Successful H&S Management' and 'General Fire Awareness'. Fire Warden training is also provided via the e-learning system above, with a requirement that sufficient numnbers are appointed and trained.
Additional training in the detail of the fire emergency response plan is covered under 'Fire emergency response plan'.
Fire drills
The effectiveness of fire emergency response arrangements is tested with fire drills. Fire drills are carried out annually. Fire drills are arranged by the Health & Safety department.
Fire emergency response
In the event of a fire, the aim is to clear the building leaving the Fire and Rescue Authority to manage the unfolding fire event.
The University's fire emergency response plan for all premises except halls of residence is based on the following principles:
1. Anyone discovering a fire immediately raises the alarm, breaks the glass of the nearest fire call point, and reports to the Building Evacuation Controller (BEC).
2. On hearing a fire alarm:
3. No one is allowed back into a building unless the BEC has authorised it.
Heads of department ensure that there are local practices in line with these arrangements for areas occupied by their staff, and that their staff are aware of these arrangements.
There are assembly points for staff for each building. It is important that staff congregate at assembly points in case their knowledge or skills are needed. If an assembly point becomes at risk then staff should move back but remain contactable by the BEC.
Dos and Don'ts
Do make sure that you know the escape routes from buildings that you enter.
If you are a lecturer you also need to inform your classes of the fire escape routes and evacuation arrangements from their specific lecture or class room.
You can improve fire safety by closing fire doors that you find open. Fire doors are there to prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
Don't lock yourself into a room: areas that are locked will not be swept during an evacuation.
Don't use lifts or otherwise put yourself or others at risk when evacuating premises.