Role of the Fire Warden

THE
THE UK’s
UK’s NATIONAL
NATIONAL FIRE
FIRE SAFETY
SAFETY ORGANISATION
ORGANISATION
Protecting
Protecting people, property, business and
people, property, business and the
the environment
environment
What to expect
During the next three hours you will gain an understanding of:
• the number of fires and fire deaths and the common causes of fire;
• how fire starts and spreads;
• current UK legislation and its effect on fire safety in premises;
• spotting hazards and protecting against fire;
• fire warden roles and responsibilities;
• how to select and use a fire extinguisher;
• what to do in the event of a fire; and
• when and how to safely evacuate your building
You will see a fire safety DVD
You will take a short 16-question quiz

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 Fire facts and figures
UK fire statistics

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‘It will never happen to me!’
In the United Kingdom:
• the fire brigade attends over 800,000 fires and false alarms per year;
• on average 475 people are killed by fire each year and 13,000
seriously injured;
• losses due to fire exceed £1.15 billion annually;
• our rivers and air are damaged by pollution;
• businesses fail; and
• our heritage is destroyed.

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Windsor Castle 1992

Images courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images

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Fire deaths and injuries 2007

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Location of fire deaths 2007

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Causes of fire deaths 2007

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Cause and source of ignition for
fires in all buildings 2007
Cause S.O.I. Hot work 3%
Heating 6%
Smoking/matches 8%
Arson Other 19%
44%
Cooking appliances 24%

Accidental
56% Electrical 40%

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Percentage of all fires by occupancy
Dwellings 61%
Other and unspecified 9%
Private garages and sheds etc 8%
Retail premises 5%
Hotels, boarding houses, catering, pubs 5%
Other industrial premises 3%
Recreational 3%
Education 2%
Hospitals 2%
Agricultural premises 1%
Construction industry premises 0.3%

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Percentage of fires caused by arson
Private garages and sheds etc 70%
Construction industry premises 57%
Education 42%
Agricultural premises 39%
Retail premises 37%
Hospitals 23%
Hotels, boarding houses, catering, pubs 19%
Other industrial premises 16%

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Motives for arson
• Revenge
• To conceal another crime
• Mental illness
• To further political ends
• Terrorism
• For financial gain
• Vandalism

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 What is fire?
Some aspects of fire science

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The Fire Triangle

Ox
at

yg
He

en
Fuel

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It is the gases that burn
Vapour given off... Vapour ignites

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Heating and ignition of liquids
Vapour +
oxygen

Vapour

Volatile liquid

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How fire moves
Convection

Radiation
Conduction

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Speed of fire 10 seconds

1 minute

2 minutes

3 minutes

Images courtesy of BRE Global

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What is the first thing we see?

Smoke is the ‘silent killer’

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Smoke
Reduces visibility
Carbon/soot
Chokes

Carbon monoxide Kills

Hydrogen cyanide Kills

Acid burns
Hydrochloric acid
Can kill
Acid burns
Sulphuric acid
Can kill
Burns
Heat
Kills

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How do we protect against fire?
• Staff training
• Fire escape routes
• Exit signs
• Fire detection and alarm system
• Fire wardens/marshals
• Fire extinguishers
• Sprinklers
• Emergency procedures
• Fire doors
• Fire suppression systems

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Do fire doors work?

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 Fire safety legislation
The purpose of fire safety legislation is to preserve
life and to prevent injury in the event of fire

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The Fire Safety Order
In 2006, the Fire Precautions Act 1971, and hence fire
certificates, were withdrawn (as were the Fire
Precautions (Workplace) Regulations) and the new
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order took their place.

This continued a legislative trend from a prescriptive

approach to a risk assessed approach to fire safety.

A similar approach has been taken in Scotland and

Northern Ireland.

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Key responsibility
This new approach to the management of fire safety in
premises requires the person responsible to carry out a
specific fire risk assessment

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Initial fire risk assessment
• Step 1: Identify fire hazards including:
- Combustible materials, sources of ignition, work processes
• Step 2: Identify people at significant risk
• Step 3: Evaluate the risks:
- Are existing fire safety measures adequate?
- Control of ignition sources/sources of fuel
- Fire detection/warning, means of escape, means of
fighting fire, maintenance and testing of fire precautions
- Fire safety training
- Travel distances
- Carry out any improvements needed
• Step 4: Record findings and actions taken:
- Prepare a fire management plan
• Step 5: Keep risk assessments under review:
- Revise as and when necessary

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 Hazard spotting
Many fires start through small, minor hazards

Our aim is to create greater awareness of hazards likely to lead

to fire or breach of safety

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Kitchens and cooking equipment
• Deep fat fryers
• Cooking food left unattended
• Faulty electrical appliances
• Toasters/microwaves left
unattended or poorly sited
• Combustible materials left too
close to sources of ignition

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Wiring hazards

All electrical work should be done by a properly trained person

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Lighting

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Smoking hazards

The tip of a cigarette reaches very high temperatures

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External security
• An arsonist will take any
opportunity to start a fire
• Windows to rooms that
are not in use should be
kept shut
• All windows should be
closed when the building
is unoccupied
• Keep all combustible
materials clear of site
perimeter

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External waste storage
• Builders’ skips and
rubbish bins are
attractive to arsonists

• If sited close to a
building, fire may
spread from a bin
to the building

• Place skips a suitable

distance from the
nearest building
A steel bin with a lockable lid may
deter an arsonist, or at least contain
the fire

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Self-closing fire doors
• Self-closing doors prevent
the spread of smoke and
flames around a building

• Fire doors must not

be wedged open
• Doors may be
held open by
electromagnetic
devices

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Blocked escape routes
• A blocked escape route
could mean people
turning back towards fire
• Partially blocked routes
will cause delays and
accidents
• Escape routes should
be kept clear at all times

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Portable and fixed heaters
• Placing combustibles
too close
• Covering air vents on
top of heaters
• Fixed appliances sited
incorrectly
• Portable heaters left running
without supervision
• May run on electricity, LPG or
diesel

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Flammable materials

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Hot work
• Special attention should be
given to areas in which hot
work is being carried out
• The area should be clear of all
combustible materials and a
suitable extinguisher provided
nearby
• A thorough check must be
made of the area an hour after
the work is completed

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People at risk
• Mobility impairment, frailty
• Hearing impairment
• Visual impairment
• Learning difficulties
• Mental health, dementia
• Children
• Mixture of the above

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How to help people at risk
Safety policies
• PEEPs
• GEEPs
• Work location policies for people at particular risk
• Staff training
• Buddy systems
• Good housekeeping (eg keeping escape routes clear)

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How to help people at risk
Physical measures
• Refuges
• Strobes and beacons
• Vibrating alarms
• Braille and large font signs
• Evacuation lifts
• Accessible exits
• Handrails
• Evacuation chairs
• Step edge marking

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Evacuation techniques
This section looks at how to
identify and address individuals’
needs in a fire situation.

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Evacuation strategies
Single stage
• Alarm sounds and everyone exits the
building

Two stage
• (Staff alarm)
• Allows for investigation of the incident
before sounding the evacuation signal

• (Phased or horizontal evacuation)

• Alarm sounds and only the people in
the proximity of the fire evacuate

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Progressive horizontal evacuation
• Alarm sounds
• People close to the fire are moved away from the
affected area to an adjoining area
• Continue horizontal evacuation until the fire is put
out, or the need to further evacuate is determined

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Delayed evacuation
• Fire alarm sounds
• Specific people wait but prepare to evacuate
• Await further instructions

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 Fire warden roles

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Fire precaution routines and checks

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Detector checks
User checks
Visual check for damage
Check addressable panel
where appropriate

Competent person checks

Types of detector Annual inspection and test
• heat detectors
• smoke detectors
• flame detectors
• gas detectors
• Multi-sensor detectors
• CCTV

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Alarm system checks
User checks
Daily check of panel indication
Weekly test
Log everything

Competent person checks

Periodic service
Annual service
Five-year wiring checks

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Fire extinguisher checks
Monthly user checks
Missing safety pin
Dents and gouges
Rust or other form of corrosion
‘Used’ indicator visible (where fitted)
No service label
Not serviced or installed within the last 12 months
Pressure gauge (where fitted) not reading normal
Competent person checks
Annual service
5 yearly discharge tests
5 or 10 yearly overhaul services
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Emergency lighting checks
User checks
Monthly check of all units
with the key switch

Competent person or
user check
Twice yearly full
discharge

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Compartmentation checks
User checks
Weekly checks of closers
Release magnets
Check door not damaged
Check seals and strips

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Fire escape route checks
User checks
Continuously check clear
Record checks

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Housekeeping checks
Check for hazards in:
• corridors
• cupboards
• basements
• roof spaces

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Fire exit signage checks

Signs must:
• not be obstructed;
• be clearly visible;
• indicate unambiguously the route to a place of safety

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Hot work management
• Paperwork

• Pre-work checks

• Extinguisher supply

• Fire watch

• Post-work checks

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Record and report
• Events/accidents with fire potential
• Unaccounted for packages
• Presence of strangers
• Suspicious behaviour
• Signs of forced entry to rooms, desks etc
• Any faulty fire protection equipment or blocked escape routes
• All fire safety checks

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Staff training
• Induction training
• High-risk area training
• Buddy training

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Fire warden roles
in the event of a fire

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On discovering a fire…
• Basic principles:
• Raise the alarm
• Call the fire brigade
• Fight the fire only if safe to do so
• Get out
• Consider also local procedures which may involve:
• Progressive horizontal evacuation
• Phased evacuation (including attendance at the fire alarm
panel or other meeting point to get further instructions)
• Be sure you know what the procedures are and any
specific actions you need to take

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Raise the alarm
• This is the most important thing to do

• Alarm call-point by every final exit or stairway entrance

• Activated by break-glass panel

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Action
• Investigate the alarm

• Call the fire brigade

• Switch off gas and electricity supplies

• Secure tills/equipment/flammable materials

• Secure building

• Close windows and doors

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Evacuation procedure
• Follow the evacuation procedures for your area, premises
or building
• Check all areas and rooms as you evacuate
 Being able to inform the fire and rescue service that
certain areas of the premises are clear of occupants
may save them valuable time
• Close windows and doors where possible to limit the spread
of fire and smoke
• Do not use lifts unless designated fire evacuation lifts
• If evacuating to an external area ensure occupants are safe
and don’t wander off

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People
• Check floors/zones for people

• Help vulnerable people – perhaps using a ‘buddy’ system

• Help vulnerable groups

• Assist the public

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Once outside the building
• Take the roll call

• Meet the fire service

• Prohibit re-entry to the building

• Assist vulnerable people/groups

• Help members of the public

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 Portable firefighting equipment

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Most materials burn
• Class A
Solids, such as paper, wood and plastic
• Class B
Liquids, such as petrol, solvents, alcohol
• Class C
Gases, such as propane and acetylene
• Class D
Metals, such as magnesium and sodium
• Class F
Cooking oil

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Colour coding
• Colour coding of new
extinguishers changed in 1997 Foam Cream
under BS EN 3
Dry powder Blue
• All new extinguishers should be
coloured red with a small area CO2 Black
used to indicate the contents
(up to10%) Water Red
• Extinguishers coloured to BS 5423 Wet chemical Yellow
will remain in use until condemned
• The colours for both existing
schemes are indicated opposite

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Examples of old and new
colour coding

Powder Carbon dioxide

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Class A
Fires involving solids
• Extinguish the fires by
removing heat
• Water from an extinguisher
or hose reel is the most
effective extinguishant

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Class B
Fires involving liquids
• Burning liquids are extinguished
by removing the oxygen supply.
The fire may be extinguished
using:
• foam;

• dry powder; or

• carbon dioxide.
• Under no circumstances should
water be used

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Class C
Fires involving gas
• If the flames are extinguished without turning off the supply,
an explosion may result

• When escaping gas ignites, remove the fuel by turning off the valve
• Do not approach cylinders involved in fires
(such as LPG or oxygen etc)

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Fires involving
electrical equipment
• Fires in electrical equipment may be extinguished with:

• carbon dioxide; or

• dry powder
• Water and foam should not be used because of the risk of
electric shock (some spray foams pass 35kV test)

• Whenever possible, turn off the current before tackling the fire

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Class F
Fires involving cooking oils
• Fires involving cooking oils or fats can be extinguished using:

• a wet chemical extinguisher;

• a fire blanket; or

• a suppression system

• Wherever possible, turn off the power or gas before fighting the fire

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Problems in use
• Water and foam water damage

• Foam and powder cleaning up problems

• Carbon dioxide operator risk ─ cold

• Carbon dioxide operator risk ─ gases

• Dry powder reduces visibility

• Dry powder contaminates

• Dry powder can cause breathing difficulties

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The fire blanket
• Locate in kitchens

• Easily accessible position

• Suitable for use on small fires
involving cooking oils, fats and clothing

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Extinguisher ratings
• Format: number-letter, eg 21A, 55B

• Derived from tests on actual fires

• Indicate extinguishing abilities for class of fire

• Allow for operator inexperience

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Class A distribution
Numbers of extinguishers
In buildings Minimum per storey

Criteria: Number 2
Total Class A rating Greater of 26A and
0.065 x floor area (m2)

Special case: small upper Minimum per upper storey

storeys ( 100m2) of single
occupancy buildings

Criteria: Number 1
Total Class A rating 13A

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Class B distribution
Numbers of extinguishers
Open topped containers Minimum

Criteria: Total Class B rating From container layout,

area calculation and
BS 5306-3 Table 1
Spillages Minimum

Criteria: Total Class B rating 10 x anticipated volume

(litres)

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Siting of extinguishers
• Conspicuous!
• Corridors
• Stairways
• Lobbies
• Landings
• Room exits
• Spacing 30m maximum travel distance from any
point in the building to an extinguisher
• Where appropriate for special risks
• Height to handle: 1m for 9- and 6-litre units
1.5m for smaller units (eg 2kg CO2)

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Final thoughts
• In case of fire, don’t take risks
• Only attempt to fight fire with extinguishers if confident that
you can safely extinguish it!

• Try to see every situation with regard to its potential for fire

• At all other times be vigilant!

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Role of the Fire Warden
• Watch the following DVD

• Quiz to follow

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 Any final questions?

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