COMMERCIAL SAFETY & SECURITY
Ongoing protection
A fire safety risk assessment is designed to help identify the fire hazards within an educational premises . As part of the risk assessment , the RP must inspect everything from fire-fighting equipment and fire doors to staff training and pupil understanding towards the school ’ s procedures in the event of a fire . As highlighted by the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service , a fire risk assessment consists of five steps :
• Identify the people at risk
• Identify all potential fire hazards
• Evaluate the risk
• Record the findings
• Review and revise
Under the evaluation of risk stage , various areas of a school ’ s fire protection systems are assessed , including fire detection methods and emergency escape routes . Escape routes , for example , are fundamental in the event of a fire and rely upon passive fire protection methods , such as fire door sets , that will require ongoing assessment and maintenance .
Under The Fire Safety Order 2005 , fire door sets in the education sector are a legislative requirement and form a critical role in providing a safer educational environment . Emergency exits conclude escape routes and should be assembled with ‘ fire rated ’ doors , which can be rated to FD30 or FD60 , and will delay the spread of smoke and fire by 30 and 60 minutes respectively . As part of the risk assessment process , the correct location of all fire doors - whether FD30 or FD60 - is determined based on the risk of the area ( FD60s are more likely to be installed in kitchen areas for example ).
All fire doors should also be signed appropriately , with a British Standard sign attached to the face of the door on both sides for FDKS and AFDKC ( 1.5m
from the floor ). Above all else , they must operate as intended . In the circumstance of a fire , it ’ s vital that fire doors close fully independently , and their hardware - including hinges , handles , door closers , locks and signage - is correctly installed and maintained . Upon inspection of a fire door , the RP must review the certification , gaps , seals , hinges and the closing elements to ensure all is functioning appropriately . Passive fire protection is described as the backbone of fire safety , and so , in the event a fire door is identified as defective , it ’ s imperative that maintenance is carried out swiftly and professionally to retain the integrity of the escape route and compartmentation .
Fire doors and their hardware are just one element of a successful fire safety strategy , and thus one stage of a fire risk assessment . Yet , these simple , routine checks can help save lives and livelihoods . It ’ s true , fire safety is a significant responsibility , and it ’ s one that should never be overlooked .
Sources ; https :// www . bbc . co . uk / news / uk-47923843 , https :// www . firesafe . org . uk / how-to-combat-arson-in-schools /, https :// www . legislation . gov . uk / uksi / 2005 / 1541 / contents / made , https :// www . gov . uk / government / publications / fire-safety-risk-assessment-educational-premises , https :// www . cheshirefire . gov . uk / business-safety / your-responsibilities / fire-risk-assessment , https :// www . allegion . co . uk / en / blogs / 2018 / fire-door-safety-the-ins-and-outs . html
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