Buckinghamshire Council (BC) recognises the potential for injury, loss of life or damage to property that can be caused by fire and will do all that is reasonably practicable to control this risk by ensuring that the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and all associated legislation are fully met.

This document outlines the organisation and arrangements in place within the Council to ensure compliance with the Regulatory Reform Order at all times by the delegation of responsibilities to individuals throughout all Services and Schools.

It is the responsibility of both Managers and all staff within Buckinghamshire Council, to ensure that both the specific and general duties applying to them both by this order and any other applicable health and safety arrangements are complied with.

The Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 (RRFSO) imposes a general duty on “The Responsible Person” to:

• Take general fire precautions as will ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of employees.
• Take such general fire precautions as may reasonably be required to ensure that the premises are safe in relation to relevant persons who are not their employees.

The RRFSO requires the “Responsible Person” to take reasonable steps to reduce the risks from fire and make sure that everyone on the premises, or nearby can escape safely if there is a fire.  Particular attention must be given to people who have a disability or who may need assistance.

The RRFSO applies to virtually all premises and covers nearly every type of building structure and open space.  The order does not apply to private homes including individual private dwellings, i.e. houses where Caretakers live on site.

 

2.1 Who is the Responsible Person?

The RRFSO places the ultimate responsibility for managing fire safety with “The Responsible Person.”  This will normally be the employer.  Therefore, within BC the ultimate responsibility for fire safety rests with the Chief Executive and Corporate Management Team but is delegated on a day-to-day basis to, “the person who has control of the premises.”  

 

2.2 Responsibilities of Executive Directors and Service Directors

Corporate Directors and Service Directors must ensure that the responsibilities for managing fire safety within their Business Unit are correctly allocated and that the “Responsible Person” is clearly identified for each premises under their control, for example, Premises Managers, Library Managers etc. 

The only exception to this will be those buildings managed by Facilities Management, Property Operations. (This is especially important with shared premises (see section 2.9 below).

Delegation of the “Responsible Person” will normally follow the existing management structure for delegation within the Business Unit, e.g. the person who is responsible for managing health and safety within an establishment will usually take on the role of the ‘Responsible Person’.

 

2.3 Responsibilities of School Governing Bodies

For Maintained and Voluntary Controlled Schools, the ultimate responsibility for fire safety rests with the Chief Executive and Corporate Management Team but is delegated on a day-to-day basis to the Headteacher.  

Within Foundation, Voluntary Aided and many Academy Schools the Governing Body is the employer and therefore is ultimately responsible for fire safety.  Delegated day-to-day responsibility usually rests with the Headteacher unless otherwise stated.

 

2.4 Responsibilities of the Responsible Person

The Responsible Person will appoint competent persons to assist him/her to ensure that:

• An emergency evacuation plan is in place and practised.
• Fire wardens/evacuation officers are appointed.
• The fire alarm is tested weekly from a different call point and logged in the Fire Log.
• Fire drills are undertaken at least every six months and drills logged in the Fire Log. Schools MUST undertake a drill at least every term.
• The emergency lighting is function tested every month and logged in the Fire Log.
• The fire alarm is serviced 6 monthly by a competent contractor.
• Firefighting equipment is serviced annually by a competent contractor.
• Fire evacuation routes are maintained and checked on a daily basis.
• Staff with specific delegated responsibilities are trained appropriately for their duties required by the Order, or alternatively, ensure that competent Contractors are employed to carry out these duties (e.g. testing of fire alarms).
• Arrange for a fire risk assessment to be carried out at least every five years by a competent person. However, if there are significant changes to the layout of your premises, any changes to work processes, a significant increase in the amount of combustible materials stored or displayed or sources of ignition, then a new fire risk assessment should be completed.
• Take any necessary remedial action identified by the assessment and record the action taken.
• Ensure the fire risk assessment is reviewed at least annually, by a competent person. The Managing Fire Safety Course (formerly Fire Risk Assessor training) is available to meet this need.
• Inform employees of the risks identified by the fire risk assessment, the measures taken to prevent fires and how these will protect them if a fire breaks out.
• Provide the employer of external organisations who use or work in your buildings with clear and relevant information on the risks to their employees and the preventive and protective measures put in place to control them.
• Consult employees about particular roles and proposals for improving fire precautions.
• Before employing a child (under 16 years old), advise a parent/guardian as part of a risk assessment of the risks identified and the preventative/protective measures put in place to protect them.
• Inform members of the public of any relevant risks to them and provide them with information.
• Co-operate and co-ordinate with other responsible persons where appropriate, for example, on shared sites.
• Consider and implement control measures to control any dangerous substances used on site and the fire risks which they present.
• Establish a means of contacting the emergency services and provide them with any relevant information about dangerous substances.
• Provide appropriate information, instruction and training to employees about the fire precautions within the workplace, when they commence employment and regularly throughout their employment. Refer to Part 2 of the policy, Managers Guidance Notes for Induction and Refresher training of staff.

Executive Directors, Service Directors, Headteacher and the “Responsible Person” must ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to carry out these actions.

2.5 Competent Persons

Employers/Responsible Persons must appoint one or more competent persons, depending on the size and use of their premises, to assist in undertaking any of the preventive and protective measures required by The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. 

A competent person is someone with sufficient training and experience or knowledge to be able to implement these measures properly.  The competent person should,

• Understand the relevant fire safety legislation.
• Have appropriate education, training, knowledge, and experience in the principles of fire safety.
• Have an understanding of fire development and the behaviour of people in fire.
• Understand the fire hazards, fire risks and relevant factors associated with occupants at special risk within the buildings of the type in question.
• Have attended appropriate training (i.e. Managing Fire Safety within the last five years).

 

2.6 Corporate Landlord (HQ)

The Corporate Landlord has delegated responsibility when designing/commissioning or refurbishing a building to ensure that the fire integrity of the building is maintained. They will advise Building Control prior to the build or refurbishment of a building of any structural changes being made and will comply with relevant Building Regulations.

2.7 Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority (BMKFA):

• Works in partnership with BC’S Health and Safety Team.
• Provides consultative advice on fire safety and training.
• Enforces Fire Legislation.

 

2.8 Shared Premises

Where staff occupy a building from more than one Business Unit or from other organisations, it is the responsibility of the Senior Manager present from each Business Unit, or organisation, to liaise with all parties to ensure that measures contained within the fire risk assessment are carried out.  Its good practice to ensure that there is an agreement in writing on how these matters are to be allocated, particularly with regard to common areas such as fire drills and alarm testing.

2.9 Non-Council Owned Premises

Where the Council is not the owner of the premises, responsibility for carrying out certain activities may fall to the landlord of that building.  These responsibilities will depend on the lease agreement made but could include maintenance of fire doors etc. and common areas of responsibility.

The Senior Manager of the service located within non-Council owned premises must check with the landlord on who is responsible for,

• The split in responsibilities.
• Communicating any problems to the landlord or agent through agreed channels.
• Commissioning a fire risk assessment.
• Day to day management of fire related issues.

The findings of the fire risk assessment should be kept and maintained on the premises in the fire logbook for the building.

This toolkit is intended as practical guidance in the management of fire safety for managers and employees with responsibilities for fire safety and should be read in conjunction with BC’s Fire Safety Policy for the organisation.

 

3.1 Fire Risk Assessment

The law requires the “Responsible Person” to ensure that a fire risk assessment is carried out for all of their premises. 

The Responsible Person must ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibilities relating to the fire risk assessment. 

The Responsible Person should ensure that a Fire Risk Assessment is carried out for each site or premises that they are responsible for, at least every five years.  The assessment should be reviewed regularly (at least annually) and whenever any changes have taken place or changes in legislation.

Changes include:

• Building alterations.
• Change in type of use.
• Change in occupancy levels.
• Whenever any other changes have occurred which may compromise the fire safety of the building.

The Responsible Person for Teams/Schools moving into new premises or new builds must ensure that a fire risk assessment is undertaken as soon as the building is occupied. 

To fulfil this duty the “Responsible Person” may commission and appoint a competent external consultant to carry out the fire risk assessment.  It is recommended that the consultant is recognised by the Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council and is a member of the Institute such as the Institute of Fire Safety Managers or Institute of Fire Engineers.

The Responsible Person must keep:

• Records of all fire risk assessments that are carried out.
• Detailed records of the regular reviews including progress on action points.
• Detailed records of any changes, which are made, e.g. alterations to evacuation routes during building or maintenance work.

Any persons with responsibility for fire safety must receive adequate training appropriate to their level of responsibility so that they can satisfy the definition of a competent person as cited in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

“A person is to be regarded as competent where he/she has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable him/her properly to assist in undertaking the preventative and protective measures.”

It is recommended that all employees reviewing the fire risk assessment attend the Managing Fire Safety course.

The Fire and Rescue Service recommend that a duplicate copy of all Fire Risk Assessment results are kept in a different location, or off premises, in case the originals are lost or destroyed.

 

3.2 Fire Logbook

The name(s) of the Responsible Person and the “Competent Persons” and their areas of responsibility must be kept in the Fire Log book for each premise.

Records of all checks, drills, inspections and training undertaken should also be kept in the Fire Logbook.  In the case of large or complicated premises, the records can be kept electronically and referred to in the logbook.  One person should be nominated to keep the logbook and ensure it is kept up to date, although this person does not necessarily have to carry out all the required activities themselves.

The logbook should be available for inspection by Officers of the Fire Service, the Health and Safety Executive or other authorised persons.

 

3.3 Floor Plan (Zone Plan)

An up-to-date floor plan of each premises must be drawn up or obtained from Building Services, Property Consultancy.  This plan must be displayed adjacent to the fire alarm panel(s) and show the location of any exits, corridors and stairs, clearly identify each fire alarm zone, and give a point of reference to where in the building the plan is displayed (you are here).

 

3.4 Fire Alarms, Carbon Monoxide and Fire Detection Systems

• Where installed fire alarms must be tested weekly, usually at the same time each week from a different call point each time, in rotation.
• Staff should be informed of the time of the weekly fire alarm test and to treat as a real emergency if the alarm sounds for longer than one minute.
• Details of tests must be recorded in the Fire Logbook documentation, i.e. the number and location of the call point.
• Full system servicing must be carried out by a contractor on a 6 monthly basis.
• Faults should be reported immediately and should be repaired within 24 hours. If not repaired, alternative arrangements for raising the alarm must be made.

 

3.5 Small Premises without a Fire Alarm

Alternative means must be available for raising the alarm in small premises without a fire alarm, e.g. whistle, bell, klaxon, air-horn.  This should also be tested weekly as for fire alarms.  For these methods, it is particularly important to check that they can be heard throughout the building.

 

3.6 Automatic Fire Detection

Automatic fire detection may be needed for a number of reasons. These can include:

• Areas where people are isolated or remote and could become trapped by a fire because they are unaware of its development, or where the premises are only partially occupied, outside of core hours,
• Areas where a fire can develop unobserved (e.g. storerooms).
• As a compensating feature, e.g. for inadequate structural fire protection, in dead ends or where there are extended travel distances.
• Where smoke control and ventilation systems are controlled by the automatic fire-detection system; and
• To reduce the effects of arson.

 

3.7 Domestic Smoke Detectors

Domestic smoke detectors are not recommended in Council premises but could be used temporarily if an urgent need arises, for example,

• Where there is a fault in the automatic fire detection system to maintain fire protection.
• Where the need for additional smoke/heat detection is identified in the fire risk assessment until automatic fire detector heads can be installed.
• Where utilised, detectors must be checked weekly.
• Batteries in smoke detectors need to be checked regularly.

 

3.8 Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon monoxide (CO) is released when a carbon containing fuel such as gas, oil, coal, coke, petrol or wood doesn’t burn fully because not enough oxygen is available.  This can happen when appliances such as room and water heaters, fires and cookers have been wrongly installed or poorly maintained, or when a chimney, flue or air vent into the room such as an air brick has been fully or partially blocked.  Poor ventilation is an additional risk as it may cause CO concentrations to build up.

Appliances such as boilers, gas fires and cookers, can be high risk within the workplace.  It is therefore strongly recommended to get these fuel-burning appliances checked regularly by a registered engineer and have a CO alarm installed.

Signs that suggest carbon monoxide may be present,

• Yellow or orange gas cooker flames. Gas flames should always be bright blue.
• Soot or yellow/brown staining around the appliance.
• Boiler pilot lights flickering inconsistently, or frequently blowing out.
• Higher than usual levels of condensation inside windows.

 

Symptoms:

The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.  CO symptoms are often described as “flu-like.”  If you inhale CO it can result in loss of consciousness or may even result in death.

 

Control measures:

• Ensure a carbon monoxide detector is installed in areas of risk. It must have the British Standard EN 50291 mark and have a British or European Kite mark.
• Make sure the alarm is situated at least one meter away from fuel-burning appliances, such as fires, boilers and cookers.
• Generally, the alarm should be at least head height (breathing level) as CO is lighter than air, but it doesn’t have to be fixed on a wall.
• Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on placing, testing and servicing the alarm, pay attention to any notes regarding its battery life and when they should be replaced.

Firefighting equipment is provided in all Council establishments.  Fire extinguishers can reduce the risk of a small fire (e.g. a fire in a waste-paper bin) developing into a large one.  It is important that only people who have received practical fire extinguisher training attempt to extinguish a fire. 

Prior to using any extinguisher priority must be given to raising the alarm, to ensure that all staff and visitors are safely evacuated rather than fighting the fire.  Fire extinguishers should only be used if people are trapped   

The need for training in the use of fire extinguishers must be identified when the fire risk assessment is carried out.  Bucks and Milton Keynes Fire Services Ltd can provide Fire Awareness training on your own premises that includes fire extinguisher training.

 

4.1 Types, Numbers and Locations

Responsibility for the type, location and quantity of firefighting equipment lies with the Corporate Landlord when a building is first occupied.

The adequacy of these arrangements must be checked by the Responsible Person at the start of occupancy, as part of the fire risk assessment and if there is any change in the use of the premises.

4.2 Inspection

All firefighting equipment must be thoroughly checked and maintained annually either by the Council’s approved contractor or another suitably competent contractor.  Each piece of equipment must be labelled with the date of its last inspection.  A weekly inspection should also be made to check that extinguishers have not been discharged or tampered with (pins removed or seals broken).

• Any visual defects should be reported, and arrangements made to service equipment;
• Inspections should be recorded in the logbook.

The relevant Responsible Person must ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibilities and are adequately trained, as appropriate.

All employees including temporary, or agency staff and volunteers must receive general fire awareness training.  This should be incorporated into part of their induction. Refer to Part 2 Managers Guidance Notes for Induction / Refresher Training of Staff.

This training should start on the first day of employment for new staff, including temporary staff.  All staff should receive regular reminders about fire safety and emergency arrangements.  This may take the form of news bulletins, face-to-face training, and fire drills with a debriefing element, or agenda items on staff meetings and/or refresher training etc.

Staff with special allocated tasks will require additional training and ongoing refresher training, e.g.

• Fire Risk Assessors Reviewers.
• Evacuation officers.
• Fire Wardens.
• Evacuation chair operators.
• Those in high-risk areas.

Records of training are to be recorded in the employee’s personnel file and in the fire logbook.

 

5.1 Particular Arrangements for Schools

In schools, the Headteacher is ultimately accountable for ensuring that fire safety is managed within the school.  In circumstances where the Headteacher manages fire safety on a day-to-day basis (this could be the case in primary schools) the Headteacher should, as a minimum, have attended a one day Managing Fire Safety course.

In some secondary schools, day to day responsibility may be delegated to a Business Manager /Premises Manager or similar person who has the above qualifications, however, it should be noted that in these circumstances the Headteacher still retains ultimate accountability as the “Responsible Person.”

An appropriate number of staff including Caretakers or Site Managers should attend an appropriate Fire Warden course run by a competent organisation such as Bucks and MK Fire LTD. The number of Fire Wardens required will be determined by a risk assessment and depend on a number of factors including the size and layout of the premises, and presence of high-risk areas such as science, technology and kitchen/catering facilities, which may require additional Fire Wardens to be appointed.

To arrange training on Managing Fire Safety for persons with responsibility for managing fire safety within your school, contact Health and Safety via handstraining@buckinghamshire.gov.uk  or on 01296 674412.

To arrange Fire Warden training (“in house” or “off-site” training available) please contact, Fire Training Bucks and MK Ltd.

All staff should also attend regular in-house fire safety briefings (e.g. about 30 minutes at inset days or at 6 monthly intervals) these sessions should be facilitated by a competent person for example the person who has attended the Managing Fire Safety course within the last five years. 

The session should cover issues such as, what to do in case of fire, position of assembly points, disabled, evacuation etc. The dates of such briefings should be recorded in the Fire Logbook Documentation.

 

5.2 Visitors

Visitors must sign in and out of all Council establishments and where appropriate be included in the roll call after an evacuation.

Provision must be made (usually in the form of a laminated card or on the reverse of signing in badge) to inform visitors of the fire precautions for the building.

Most premises have emergency lighting installed to assist escape from the premises in cases of power failure and darkness.  The Fire Risk Assessment should identify the need for the installation of emergency lighting and/or additional units.

Emergency lighting must be serviced annually by an approved contractor.  It must also be function tested each month to ensure that all lights are operating in addition light charging to be checked on a weekly basis.

Details of services and tests should be recorded in the Fire Logbook.

Fire doors provide a physical barrier to fire and the gases that they generate. New or recently purchased fire doors will incorporate intumescent strips (expanding seals) that are fitted either to the door frame or to the door itself.  These expand when heated sufficiently so that they fill the gap between the door edges and frame.

Fire doors are also often fitted with cold smoke seals as a barrier to smoke produced at ambient temperatures (e.g. during smouldering fires) that would not be hot enough to heat and expand the intumescent seals.  Therefore, smoke seals are especially important where smoke could threaten escape routes e.g. by reducing visibility.

• There are two main types of doors relating to fire within a building,
• Final fire exit doors which form a means of escape from the building. These are final doors on an escape route which open into a place of safety (i.e. outside the building) and as such are not the same as fire doors used to protect compartments or escape routes.  They should be capable of being opened quickly in an emergency. 
• Internal fire resisting doors, which are designed to limit the spread of smoke and fire. Fire doors should open in the direction of travel in most cases to aid smooth flow of pedestrian traffic.  However, this is not always required where there are less than sixty people expected to use it or where doing so might lead to additional risk e.g. by opening into a busy escape route.
• Corridors, stairs and passageways, which form the means of escape from the building, must be kept clear of obstructions at all times.
• In most cases, internal self-closing fire doors must never be locked shut or wedged open and should be labelled “FIRE DOOR - KEEP SHUT”.
• However, in some cases, the fire risk assessment may identify a need for the internal fire doors to be kept open to aid people with physical disabilities, wheelchair users or very young children. In these cases, doors may be fitted with magnetic hold open devices or equipment such as Doorguards.  All hold open equipment must be checked weekly (and recorded in the Fire Log book) to ensure that fire doors would close and latch completely to provide compartmentalisation in the event of a fire. 
• External escape routes should not be obstructed e.g., by parked vehicles, “FIRE DOOR - KEEP CLEAR” notices should be affixed to external doors, where appropriate.
• All fire exits and routes must be clearly marked by pictogram signage. Where the fire exit or route has changed, for example, during building work, the old signage must be removed, and new routes established to avoid confusion.
• Final exit doors (to the outside) must be easy to open in an emergency. In some cases, to prevent unauthorised exit of pupils/ clients or unauthorised entry special requirements may be necessary, e.g. thumb turn door lock, a high level easily openable bolt.  Thumb turns must have signage in place to indicate direction of turn.  These arrangements MUST be recorded in the fire risk assessment.
• Final exit doors and all doors leading to them must be checked at the start of each working day to ensure that they can easily be opened. All means of escape and fire doors should be checked weekly for defects, obstructions etc. and recorded in the fire logbook. 

• Blue and white “What to do in case of fire” fire information notices should be prominently displayed so that all building users can refer to them when necessary.
• Notices and signs should be displayed, above final exit doors, at fire alarm call points, firefighting equipment points and in reception areas. All signs must comply with the Safety Signs Regulations 1996. The following should also be clearly identified with easily visible signs (if required),
  • Manual fire call points also known as break glass call points positioned at exits and storey exits.
  • Fire extinguishers.
  • Fire escape routes.
  • Fire doors.
  • Fire assembly points.

Notices and signs should be checked as part of the weekly fire safety inspection, to ensure they remain relevant and legible.

Disabilities take many forms.  The majority of people with disabilities should be able to leave the premises without assistance.  However, some people will need help, which should be documented in a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP). 

The PEEP must be produced to identify the specific needs of the person, their location on the premises, the nature of the help they require, who is responsible for providing that help and the equipment that will be used to assist them along with its location.  (Refer to Part 4 Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan for guidance and templates for undertaking PEEPS).

Where an employee’s disability may impede their escape in case of fire, a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) must be prepared and practised regularly at fire drills.

Before a person with a disability which means they would require assistance, commences employment or when an employee sustains either a temporary injury or illness (e.g. broken leg) or a disability, consideration must be given to what assistance is required to ensure that person’s safety in the event of a fire. This will entail preparation of a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) which should include, the nomination of a person or persons (i.e. "buddy" system) to assist during an evacuation, the provision of special equipment, (e.g. EVAC chairs) additional ramps on fire exit routes etc.  PEEPs should be reviewed annually and after any significant change, i.e. changes in health, changes in evacuation routes.

(Please refer to Part 4 Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan for guidance and templates for undertaking PEEPS).

 

9.1 Visitors with Disabilities

• Where a disabled visitor who would require assistance to evacuate is invited into the premises, procedures must be in place to ensure their safe evacuation in case of fire.
• It is the meeting or event organiser’s responsibility to check if any attendees would need assistance to evacuate the building in the event of a fire. For a physically disabled person this may mean that arrangements must be made to ensure that an Evac Chair and at least two trained Evac Chair Operators are available ahead and during meetings held above the ground floor in case an emergency evacuation occurs. 
• If this cannot be guaranteed, then a physically disabled visitor who would need assistance should be limited to the ground floor or reception area of the building.
• Suitable training (and refresher training every three years) must be provided to staff allocated special duties e.g. use of “EVAC” chairs.

 

9.2 Pupils with Disabilities

It is the responsibility of Headteachers and the Senior Leadership Team, (SLT) to ensure that a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is developed for all pupils with a disability, or temporary illness or injury (e.g. broken leg) which means they would require assistance to evacuate, to ensure they are not put at any disadvantage or treated less favourably in the event of an emergency.

The plan should:

• Identify any specific needs of the individual.
• Identify staff responsibilities to support pupil.
• Identify staff training requirements.
• Identify equipment required.
• Identify specific evacuation routes where appropriate and the provision of additional ramps on final exit doors.
• Identify refuge areas and specific evacuation procedures.

The PEEP should be reviewed at least annually to ensure that the most up to date information is available.  Further reviews should be undertaken where there is a change in the person's health, a change in procedures or an alteration of the premises.

 

9.3  Evacuation Chairs

An evacuation chair is a device used to facilitate the evacuation of personnel with mobility problems or wheelchair users, down a flight of stairs.  It is usually located near the refuge point or by a stairwell.  If an evacuation chair is deemed appropriate and necessary, an adequate number of staff must be trained in its use.  This device should only be used where the consultation process has identified that it is safe to do so.  Evacuation chairs must be inspected on an annual basis or after use.

• A fire drill must be carried out at least once every six months or once a term in the case of schools. Where appropriate “out of hours drills” should also be carried out for example if the building is hired by external users in the evenings.
• Fire drills should take place without warning by operation of the fire alarm system using a different call point each time.
• Where appropriate, at least one fire escape route should be made unavailable to simulate real fire conditions and to encourage evacuees to react to unforeseen circumstances.
• Following the drill a short report detailing what went right and what went wrong should be compiled by the Responsible Person and a debriefing of staff should take place to resolve any problems encountered, this can form part of their refresher training. Details of the drill should be recorded in the fire logbook.
• The premises should be confirmed as empty by,
• A roll call of staff and visitors (this is the usual method in schools although an accurate record of who is in the building at any one time is required for this), and/or
• A physical search of the building by trained evacuation officer(s)/Fire Wardens. This is the preferred method where staff do not have to sign in and out of the building.
• A procedure for reoccupying the building to prevent unauthorised access, should be written and communicated to all employees, agency workers and visitors where appropriate.
• People with a mobility impairment or other disability preventing them from a safe exit, must ensure there is an evacuation officer nearby and ensure there is a system in place to aid their evacuation.

Repairs and maintenance of all fire related items should be treated as high priority and immediate action must be taken to instigate remedial work when defects are identified, examples include,

• Faulty fire alarm, emergency lighting, smoke and heat detection systems.
• Fire doors,
• That do not close fully/latch.
• With rebated meeting stiles with incorrect closing order.
• That have gaps much greater than 3-4mm (+/-1mm) between the door leaf and frame.
• With missing intumescent strips or cold smoke seals.
• Final emergency exit doors being blocked or difficult to open.
• Trip or slip hazards on escape routes - internal and external.