Fire Service International Ltd

Fire Wardens Course

REQUIREMENT

It is a legal requirement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 that all employers MUST appoint
persons to assist in fire safety. The Fire Wardens course is for all designated personnel to outline the importance
of fire safety and staff duties in the event of a fire. FSI consultants will deliver the course.

CONTENT

Chemistry of Combustion

The fundamentals of fire, its constituents and the methods employed to achieve its extinction.

Sources of Ignition

The main causes of ignition and how to avoid them.

Spread of Fire

How fire spreads and the precautions that can be taken to minimise it.

Firefighting Equipment

The location and identification of the correct type of extinguisher for a specific fire. An explanation of the
method of operation, use and the location of appropriate types of fire extinguishers. The precautions to take
when dealing with electrical fires. The impact of BS EN3.

Fire Prevention and Fire Precautions

Good practices to ensure a safe environment. Growth of legislation and the implications of the Regulatory
Reform Fire Safety Order 2005.

Means of Escape

The practical application and maintenance of effective means of escape. The meanings of signs as per the Health
& Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996.

Fire Procedure and Policy

Requirements of fire notices and staff duties in case of fire. Raising the alarm, location of call points.

The Role of the Fire Warden

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The duties of designated personnel in the event of a fire and the evacuation of the premises.
© 18 January 2019

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 Fire Safety Risk Assessment
IDENTIFICATION OF FIRE HAZARDS

1. Abnormal fuel loads

2. Potential sources of ignition
3. Other hazards

Abnormal fuel loads should be monitored, removed if possible or contained within proper storage. Sources of
ignition should be kept to a minimum and separate from fuel particularly abnormal fuel loads. Other
contributory hazards such as occupants and work activities should be carefully monitored.

PERSONS AT SIGNIFICANT RISK

Persons who are at significant risk should be identified and the risk reduced, removed or controlled in order to
minimise it. In particular, disabled persons and lone workers.

EVALUATION OF RISKS
Risks should be identified and reduced, removed or controlled in order to minimise them.

FIRE PROTECTION MEASURES

1. Means of Escape
2. Fire Alarm
3. Emergency Lighting
4. Signs and Notices
5. Firefighting Equipment
6. Training

MEANS OF ESCAPE

Exit routes must be free from obstruction and available at all times.

Doors provided with a self-closing device MUST NOT be secured in the open position.
Fire-resisting self-closing doors form an integral part of the means of escape in case of fire from the premises.
Any such doors secured in the OPEN position place at hazard the lives of the occupants and contravene the
requirements for means of escape in the premises.
Occupants should be made aware that fire doors are to minimise the risk of serious casualties and to protect
occupants from the rapid spread of fire and products of combustion. Staircase, cross-corridor doors and
high-risk rooms (kitchens, laundries, boiler rooms) are a priority and should be monitored regularly.

Intumescent strips and smoke seals should be undamaged and not painted over.

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FIRE ALARMS

In accordance with BS5839 the fire warning system should be tested weekly using a different call point for
each successive test. The duration of a test need only be sufficient to check that the system operates
satisfactorily and is audible above normal background noise throughout the whole of the building. Any
defects must receive immediate attention. The results of any test must be recorded in a logbook. Additionally
the system should be checked and tested by a qualified engineer annually. Regular testing of the fire alarm
helps to ensure that all occupants are familiar with the sound of the fire alarm.

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

Emergency lighting units should be checked to ensure that the monitor lights, where fitted, are illuminated. The
lenses should be clean and in good condition.

SIGNS & NOTICES

Fire action notices and a simple single line drawing indicating the route to the assembly point should be
displayed adjacent to all break glass alarm points. Similar notices and drawings should be displayed on all
staff notice boards. A simple single line drawing should be displayed adjacent to all fire alarm annunciator
panels to indicate visually the location of fire zones.

Fire exit and/or directional signs should be visible as follows:-

a) From within large rooms;
b) By looking along the corridor in the appropriate direction after leaving small rooms;
c) At all changes in direction of the escape route;
d) Where appropriate, directional signs should extend beyond the final exit into open air and up to the
point of ultimate safety clear of the building.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Where fire extinguishers are to be provided they should be sited as follows:-

a) One 13A/9 litre water type or equivalent extinguisher per 200 sq m;

b) At least two per storey or one if less than 100 sq m;
c) On escape routes leading away from the hazard area;
d) In a similar location on each floor;
e) In groups forming fire points by break glass alarms and fire action notices;
f) Within 30 metres of all occupants;
g) On brackets with the handle of the larger heavier extinguishers about 1 metre from the floor or
in fixed floor receptacles;
h) Near to special risks e.g. Electrical-CO2 Flammable liquids-Dry Powder;
i) Not dangerously near to special risks e.g. too close to cookers or so far into a room as to place
the extinguisher further from the exit door than the risk it is protecting.

TRAINING

It is a requirement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 that all employees are informed of the
fire risk assessment and their duties in case of fire.

On induction and annually thereafter, all personnel should receive fire safety training from a competent person.

© fire service international ltd Tel: 01492 878880 Fax: 01492 879667 E.Mail: JT@fsiuk.co.uk URL: www.fsiuk.co.uk
 FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT MONITORING GUIDE
DATE
DEPARTMENT
(six monthly)
ASSESSMENT WORK
AREA ACTIVITY
ASSESSOR SIGNATURE
Display a copy in the Department. Send copies to Premises H&S Coordinator, Manager, H&S Officer
YES RISK
FIRE HAZARDS IF “NO” THEN DESCRIBE
/NO H/M/L
A. FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS
& GASES:
a) Stored safely and
appropriately?
b) Adequately marked
c) Clear of corridors/escape
routes

B. COMBUSTIBLE
MATERIALS:
Is the area free of abnormal
or additional combustibles?

C. SOURCES OF IGNITION:
Is the area free of any
abnormal or additional
ignition sources?

If not, who is at high risk and why?

D. PERSONS AFFECTED:
Are all persons at low risk
from a fire resulting from A,
B or C above?

E. PREMISES:
Are the premises in a safe
state of repair?

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 RISK
FIRE HAZARDS YES/NO IF “NO” THEN DESCRIBE
H/M/L
1. Is area clear of rubbish; tidy, furniture
covers in good condition with no
exposed filling?
2. Are corridors & escape routes
unobstructed to allow free passage of
beds, wheelchairs etc?
3. Do self-closing devices on fire doors
work and close the doors fully onto
their rebates?
4. Are fire exit doors easy to open with
simple single action handles/devices?
5. Are corridor fire doors, exit routes &
final exit doors clearly indicated with
clear visible signs?
6. Are all break glass fire alarm call
points undamaged, unobstructed and
clearly visible?
7. Are fire action/procedure notices
complete & displayed by all fire alarm
call points?
8. Are flexible cables kept to a minimum
and not run under floor coverings or
via doorways?
9. Are there safe facilities for disposal of
smoking materials? No signs of illicit
smoking?
10. Are emergency lighting units
undamaged, clean and displaying a
monitoring light?
11. Are fire extinguishers on brackets
with their seals intact and serviced
within last 12 months?
12. Are test records up to date & readily
available?
a) Fire alarm tested weekly & audible;
b) Emergency lighting in working
order & clean;
c) Training of all personnel within last
year?

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 Conducting a Fire Rehearsal Drill
Initials of person
Task
completing
Select Date DATE:

Select Time (morning, afternoon, evening) TIME:

Send email, memo or poster seven (7) days before the day of the drill

ON THE DAY

Place a sign in foyer before the start of the pertinent shift

Arrange for someone to be present to reset alarms, valves etc

Inform Alarm Company or Brigade 5 minutes before starting the drill

Consider putting main exit or a staircase out of use by placing a sign in it

Select an employee and ask them what they would do if their area was on fire (Expect
answer to include: Raising the ALARM, calling the BRIGADE, evacuation of
CLIENTS & COLLEAGUES)

Have fire alarm call point key available and ask employee to show you to the nearest
fire alarm call point. Operate call point (yourself) with the key.

AFTER THE DRILL

Reset alarm

Reset gas valves

Inform Alarm Company or Fire Brigade that the drill is over

Remove sign from foyer

Remove sign from out of use exit or stairs

Complete Records

Inform staff of outcome

If unsatisfactory programme another drill as soon as practicable

Comments:

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