Fire Safety
Maintaining proper standards of fire safety in commercial buildings not only saves lives, but also protects the buildings themselves and the businesses in them.
New fire safety law introduced in October 2006 requires an employer to:
Carry out a Fire Risk Assessment, and review it on a regular basis or whenever anything changes
Put in place fire safety controls
Plan for an emergency
Provide staff information, instruction and training
Co-operate and co-ordinate with other 'responsible persons' in the building where necessary
The S2 Partnership employs degree-qualified specialists to enable our clients to meet their legal obligations in respect of fire safety.
One of the most important elements of an effective fire safety management system is the assessment of fire risk. The S2 Partnership provides an independent fire risk assessment by a fire professional.
The assessment examines:
Sources of Ignition
Sources of Fuel
Fire detection and warning
Means of Escape
Fire Protection Measures
Risks posed by the work of contractors
Means of fighting fire
Fire Safety Management
The assessment process itself covers five essential steps:
Step 1 - Identifying potential fire hazards on site
Step 2 - Deciding who might be in danger and where they are located
Step 3 - Evaluating the risks and deciding whether more needs to be done
Step 4 - Recording the findings and letting people know the results
Step 5 - Enabling review and revision of the assessment
Our report is written in straightforward language and forms a record of the assessment findings. It will clearly explain what fire safety controls are currently in place on site, and may make recommendations for further action if appropriate. If required, the document can also incorporate computer-generated (CAD) drawings, a fire log book to record routine fire checks, and an emergency plan.
We believe in a flexible approach and can present the assessment report to meet your precise requirements, either as a bound document, electronically, or both.
Fire safety engineering techniques can be useful in resolving conflicts with existing codes or in identifying cost effective solutions that meet the essential standards of fire safety.
If your building is undergoing a major refurbishment, how will the proposals impact on fire safety? Are you removing asbestos following an asbestos survey? What are the implications on fire safety for the building?
The S2 Partnership provides a high quality fire engineering consultancy service for architects, developers, contractors and owners. We can:
offer guidance on the fire safety design of new or existing buildings
check and comment on plans
propose solutions to specific problems requiring an alternative approach to conventional prescriptive standards
carry out reviews of fire safety management policies and practices
prepare in-house fire safety guidance documents
liaise with enforcing authorities and insurers regarding approval of the intended fire strategy
S2 Partnership fire specialists can also undertake audits on behalf of property owners and managers, to ensure that tenants are operating to good standards of fire safety and are not posing an unacceptable fire risk to the building as a whole, and its other occupants. Fire audits are an essential element of an effective fire safety management system.
Did you know that, under fire safety law:
It is an employer's responsibility to provide instruction, information and training to their employees about fire precautions in the workplace
The employer, or person in control of a workplace, must also plan for a fire emergency and nominate individuals to co-ordinate evacuation and deal with emergency services. These nominated persons also need to be trained.
Emergency procedures need to be tested to make sure that they work properly.
How can the S2 Partnership help?
Our qualified fire assessors carry out fire evacuation drills that include an immediate de-brief of fire marshals and their employers, followed by a written report of findings
We carry out site-specific general fire safety awareness training for employees (2 hours), including handouts and attendance certificates
We carry out more detailed training for fire marshals and their deputies (3 hours)
Evacuation drills and training can be arranged for the same day if required. This could include an initial unannounced drill, followed by de-brief and training. If preferred, we can undertake the training first. Drills can include specific scenarios if requested, eg. simulated blocked exit route, disabled occupant.