International Experts & Consultants

Association
‫إتحاد الخبراء والسإتشاريون الدوليون‬
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENTS

FIRE SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR BUILDING OCCUPANTS

The following Checklist has been designed to be used by non-specialists to check the fire safety of their buildings. The questio
worded such that a 'Yes' answer is the ideal outcome.

General precautions which are applicable to all areas of all buildings.

Check Item Yes No N/A Comments Guidance Notes

1 Are all fire escape routes Items which pose a potential fire hazard and those which could
clear of potential fire cause an obstruction must not be located in corridors or
hazards and staircases used as a means of escape. Flammable or
obstructions? combustible materials, eg. paper packaging, foam filled
furniture, provide the fuel for a fire which could jeopardize an
otherwise protected route out of the building. Notice boards
should not contain an excessive amount of paper, eg.
overlapping or multi-sheet notices. Storage of materials in
corridors, staircases, etc. seriously impedes rapid evacuation
from buildings, particularly for disabled people. Temporarily
stored items, including items in transit, e.g. furniture and
waste bins, must not be located in corridors or staircases which
serve as the sole means of escape from a building or part of a
building.

1
 International Experts & Consultants
Association
‫إتحاد الخبراء والسإتشاريون الدوليون‬

2 Are all final exit doors Some buildings still have final exit doors that can only be
from the building capable opened in an emergency by retrieving a key from a glass-
of being easily and fronted box adjacent to the door. This is acceptable within the
immediately opened terms of the building's Fire Certificate but such 'key boxes'
without use of a key from will be phased out in due course.
the inside whenever the
building is occupied?

3 Have tripping hazards Note particularly worn or 'curling' carpets, loose or missing
along fire escape routes nosings on stairs.
been eliminated?

4 Do all fire doors close on Fire doors can be recognized by a small notice on each side
their own securely into with the wording "Fire Door - Keep Shut" or similar. Pay
the door frame? particular attention to fire doors to staircases as these are used
as refuges for wheelchair users during a fire

5 Where a vision panel is Vision panels are fitted to give early visual warning of a fire on
fitted in the door can you the other side of the door. There is a tendency to obscure them
see clearly through the with posters, leaflets, curtains, etc.
full area of the panel?

6 Have you taken steps to You will need to speak to each person individually and explain
identify wheelchair users what he/she needs to do when the fire alarm sounds. Persons

2
 International Experts & Consultants
Association
‫إتحاد الخبراء والسإتشاريون الدوليون‬

(and others with with impaired vision should be "walked" along the escape
restricted mobility) and routes including, particularly, the routes which are not in
persons with a learning general use.
or sight impairment who See Appendix 2 of Manual of Safety Section 29 for further
may need assistance guidance on the use of lifts.
during a fire emergency?

7 Are fire The correct location of fire fighting equipment can be checked
extinguishers/hose reels if necessary with the Safety Office. All such equipment is
in position and ready for serviced bi-annually and a servicing sticker on the appliance
use? should show a date within the previous 6-month period. Fire
blankets do not have stickers. All fire extinguishers should be
mounted on brackets.

8 Are fire evacuation Notices are generally positioned at final exit doors adjacent to
notices in position with break-glass alarm points. In larger buildings there may be a
up to date information notice at each staircase landing. In residential buildings, there
are additional notices in each study/bedroom.

9 Are smoking prohibitions The University policy on Smoking at Work is contained in the
enforced where Manual of Safety, Section 7.
appropriate?

10 If smoking is permitted, Discarded smoking materials are often the cause of fires

3
 International Experts & Consultants
Association
‫إتحاد الخبراء والسإتشاريون الدوليون‬

are persons encouraged

to dispose of smoking
materials in a safe
manner and are suitable
receptacles provided in
communal areas where
smoking is permitted?

11 Are flammable/ A slow build-up of heat has been known to cause fires. Plastic
combustible materials chairs have been known to catch fire in this way.
kept away from radiators
and other heating
appliances?

12 Does random sampling of Faulty or poorly-maintained electrical appliances have been

test labels indicate that known to cause fires. The frequency of safety electrical testing
portable electrical can be found in the Manual of Safety, Section 6. Testing is
appliances are within the organized by Estates
correct interval for safety
testing?

13 Have steps been taken to In the evenings and at weekends, many doors which provide an
identify persons who may exit from buildings during normal working hours, are locked
work alone in the for security reasons. Lone workers must be made aware of any
building? changes to the opening mechanisms on the doors on the escape

4
 International Experts & Consultants
Association
‫إتحاد الخبراء والسإتشاريون الدوليون‬

routes outside normal working hours. All means of escape

required during normal hours must be available whenever a
person works in the building outside normal hours. See
Manual of Safety, Section 23.

Additional precautions that are applicable to laboratories, workshops, service areas, etc.

Check Item Yes No N/A Comments Guidance Notes

14 Is the amount of Up to 50 liters of flammable liquid in total can be stored in

flammable liquid stored in each workroom. Quantities greater than this should be kept in
the work place kept to a a properly designated storage area.
minimum?

15 Are flammable liquids When not in use flammable liquids must be kept in closed,
being stored correctly? properly labeled containers in a fire-resisting bin or cupboard
designed to contain leaks.

16 Are spillage kits, or other

appropriate means of

5
 International Experts & Consultants
Association
‫إتحاد الخبراء والسإتشاريون الدوليون‬

containing and clearing

up spillages of flammable
liquids, readily available?

17 If freezers/refrigerators Sparking thermostats inside appliances have been known to

are in use, are the cause explosions when flammable vapor has ignited.
thermostats spark-proofed
or located outside the
appliance?

18 Are flammable liquids Vapor from flammable liquids can travel long distances across
kept well away from floors or surfaces and be ignited.
"hot" activities such as
welding, brazing, flame
cutting, use of blow lamps
and grinding machines?

19 Are spare compressed gas/ Compressed gas/LPG cylinders can overheat and explode in
LPG cylinders kept in fires. Only during changeover periods are additional cylinders
properly designated permitted in workplaces.
storage areas?

20 Are such cylinders If the contents of cylinders ignite, the means of escape may be
positioned away from jeopardized, particularly if the workplace has only one exit.

6
 International Experts & Consultants
Association
‫إتحاد الخبراء والسإتشاريون الدوليون‬

exits?

21 Where equipment, or Static sparks have been known to ignite flammable liquid
parts of equipment, are vapors.
likely to produce static
sparks, is adequate
earthing provided?