Induction Day One (all staff including temporary and agency workers)

• what the fire alarm sounds like;
• action to be taken on hearing the alarm;
• method of raising the alarm including location of fire alarm call points;
• procedure for calling the fire brigade;
• location of fire exits, escape routes and assembly point(s);
• procedures for disabled staff and visitors

Within One Month

• repeat of day one information;
• location, use of firefighting equipment;
• fire exit doors and routes, importance of keeping fire doors closed and final exit
  doors clear;
• importance of good housekeeping;
• fire safety matters specific to job e.g. use of flammable liquids, emergency shut
  down of equipment;
• out of hours procedure;
• role of those with special responsibilities for fire safety matters e.g.
  • Responsible Person;
  • Competent Person for reviewing Fire Risk Assessor;
  • Evacuation Officers;
  • Fire Wardens;
  • Evac Chair Operators;

Sources of Advice/Information

The following contacts may be useful.

• The Health and Safety Team for general advice on fire safety

healthandsafety@buckinghamshire.gov.uk    Telephone: 01296 674412

• Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority

The following information can be used as an aide memoir to train and give refresher training to staff

What is Fire?

Fire is a chemical reaction, which involves oxygen and any substance that will burn.  The existence of a fire is dependent on the presence of three things – fuel, a source of ignition/heat and oxygen.  This is known as the Fire Triangle

Fires start when all three are brought together and can be put out by removing one or more of the three elements.  In the average premises fire hazards will fall into fuel or heat/ignition sources, as oxygen will be present in the air in the surrounding space 

Potential sources of fuel: anything that burns is a potential fuel, examples include:

• Solids: textiles, wood, paper, card, plastics, rubber, PU foam, furniture, fixtures/fittings, packaging, waste materials etc.
• Flammable liquids such as cooking oils, solvents and adhesives (petrol, white spirit, methylated spirits, paraffin, thinners etc.), paints, varnish etc.
• Flammable Gases: Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), acetylene;
• Paper and Materials  
• displays, books, clothing, decorations;
• props and scenery in drama departments;
• cloakrooms in circulation areas in schools;
• textiles and soft furnishings, such as hanging curtains on stages, costumes in drama departments;
• waste and litter products, particularly finely divided items such as swarf and wood shavings, off cuts, and dust in design, art and engineering areas;
• gymnasium mats and crash pads with cellular foam fillings;

Potential sources of ignition could include:

• naked flames, matches, pilot lights, cookers etc.
• hot surfaces: electrical, gas or oil-fired heaters, (fixed or portable) heaters, engines, boilers, machinery, lighting (for example halogen lamps), electrical equipment etc.
• Hot work: gas welding, grinding, flame cutting, use of Bunsen Burners.
• Food technology areas;
• Friction: drive belts, worn bearings etc.
• Sparks: static electricity, metal impact, grinding, electrical/contacts/switches etc.
• Arson, (for example deliberate ignition, vandalism);
• Poor electrical installations, e.g. overloads, heating from bunched cables, damaged cables, faulty or misused electrical equipment,
• Technology, art and craft facilities;
• Chemical agents in laboratories;

Fires in buildings are a threat to safety for four main reasons:

3.1     Toxic Fumes

Many plastics and other synthetic materials give off toxic gases and fumes as they burn.  This is particularly true of many of the foams that are used to make furniture. 

3.2     Smoke

An essential part of the burning process is the generation of smoke and fumes, which may not be toxic but will initially, cause choking, loss of vision and panic.  Longer exposure could lead to unconsciousness and death as a result of oxygen starvation.

3.3     Burning

Fires produce heat and extreme heat will cause burns to skin and lung tissue, eventually making breathing impossible.  Though minor burns will eventually heal, more major burns may leave disabling and disfiguring scars.  Burns to large areas of the body can be fatal due to the loss of body fluids. 

3.4     Structural Damage to Building

Fire will weaken the structure of a building, so there is always the risk of collapse either during the fire or at some later date.

• Faulty electrics are a very common cause of workplace fires:
• Storing flammable or combustible materials or substances close to a heat source;                
• Human Error - tends to be the result of sloppy or careless behaviour, or not following correct procedures.
• Arson where buildings are unprotected and prone to vandalism. Refuse bins should ideally be 8m away from the building and secured to an anchor point to prevent them being rolled under an overhang and set on fire.

4.1     How Fires are Put Out

There are three basic ways of extinguishing a fire i.e. breaking the Fire Triangle these can be used singly or in any combination.  They are:

4.2     Starvation

Fires need fuel, if the fire can be starved of fuel it will die out. This can be achieved by:

• taking the fuel away from the fire, e.g. turning off the gas supply to a gas fire
• taking the fire away from the fuel e.g. removing the burning section away from the fuel source;
• reducing the quantity of fuel e.g. a bonfire out in the open that isn’t in contact with any other wood or dry grass will burn itself out

4.3     Smothering

Fires need oxygen and the supply of oxygen to the fire can be controlled by:

• covering the fire in a layer of material which prevents oxygen getting in e.g. sand or a fire blanket
• reducing the amount of oxygen around the fire by replacing it with a gas that will not allow flames to burn e.g. carbon dioxide

4.4     Cooling

Fires need a source of ignition, in other words a source of heat, which is sufficient to raise the fuel to a temperature at which it will burn.

• Once a fire is established some of the heat of combustion is returned to the fuel to provide a source of ignition.
• If heat can be taken out of the fire then it will lose this ignition source. The most common and cheapest way of cooling a fire is to pour water on it.  The heat of the fire is then used up in boiling the water until there is insufficient heat available to ignite the fuel.

Fires are classified into types:

Class A Fires involving solid materials such as wood, paper or textiles

Class B Fires involving flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel or oils.

Class C Fires involving gases.

Class D Fires involving metals.

Class E Fires involving electrical equipment

Class F Fires involving cooking oils such as in deep-fat fryers.

There are a number of common types of portable fire extinguishers.

You may put yourself or others at risk of harm if you use the wrong type of extinguisher so if you haven’t been trained and are unsure which extinguisher should be used for each class of fire then leave it to someone who does and get out. 

ALWAYS ENSURE THE FIRE ALARM HAS BEEN SOUNDED BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO FIGHT A FIRE

IF IN DOUBT LEAVE THE FIRE AND GET OUT

It is important that only trained people tackle a fire but only if it does not put themselves or others at risk.  No one should attempt to fight a fire larger than a small waste bin.  IF IN DOUBT - GET OUT

Type: Water

Coloured Panel: Red

How it works: Cooling

Type of fire: Solid fires, wood, cloth paper, Do not use on burning fat or oil or on electrical appliances

How to use: Point the jet at the base of the flames, keep it moving across the area of the fire. Discharge the whole extinguisher ensuring that all areas of the fire are out

Type: Water Spray Extinguisher (Water with additive)

Coloured Panel: Red

How it works: Cooling

Type of fire: Solid fires, wood, cloth paper, Do not use on burning fat or oil or on electrical appliances

How to use: Point the jet at the base of the flames and keep it moving across the area of the fire. Discharge the whole extinguisher ensuring that all areas of the fire are out. Instead of a jet nozzle a spray nozzle is used, with a higher pressure, which creates a fine spray, i.e. an increase in the surface area presented to the fire. This makes extinguishing more efficient by more rapid extraction of heat.

Type: AFFF (aqueous film forming foam)

Coloured Panel: Cream

How it works: Smothers and cools fire

Type of fire: Solid and burning liquids, such as paint and petrol. Do not use on chip or fat pan fires. 

How to use: For fires involving solids, point the jet at the base of the flames and keep it moving across the area of the fire. Discharge the whole extinguisher ensuring that all areas of the fire are out. For fires involving liquids, do not aim the jet straight into the liquid. Where the liquid on fire is in a container, point the jet at the inside edge of the container or on a nearby surface above the burning liquid. Allow the foam to build up and flow across the liquid.

Type: Dry powder

Coloured Panel: Blue

How it works: Smothers fire

Type of fire: Organic solids, liquids such as grease, fats, oil, paint, petrol, etc. Can also be used on gas fires. Do not use on domestic chip or fat pan fires. Safe on live electrical equipment, although does not penetrate the spaces in equipment easily and the fire may re-ignite. This type of extinguisher does not cool the fire very well and care should be taken that the fire does not flare up again. There is danger of inhalation if powder extinguishers are used within buildings. 

How to use: Point the jet or discharge horn at the base of the flames and, with a rapid sweeping motion, drive the fire towards the far edge until all the flames are out. Extinguish the whole extinguisher. If the extinguisher has a hand control, wait until the air clears and if you can still see the flames, attack the fire again.

Type: Carbon dioxide CO₂

Coloured Panel: Black

How it works: Smothers fire

Type of fire: Live electrical equipment, although it allows re-ignition of hot plastics. Now mainly used on large computer servers, although care has to be taken not to asphyxiate people when using the extinguisher in small server rooms. Do not use on chip or fat pan fires, as it carries burning fat out of container.

How to use: The discharge horn should be directed at the base of the flames and the jet kept moving across the area of the fire. Fumes are harmful, ventilate area after use. Only use CO2 extinguishers with frost-free horns, as the hand holding the horn can otherwise be frozen to the horn

Type: Wet chemical

Coloured Panel: Canary yellow

How it works: Forms a scum that smothers fire

Type of fire: Wet chemical fire extinguishers are ideal for Class F fires, involving cooking oils and fats, such as lard, olive oil, sunflower oil, maize oil and butter

How to use: Apply the wet chemical using the extended applicator in slow circular movements, which give a gentle, yet highly effective application. Apply the fine spray onto the burning fat until the surface of the burning cooking oil changes into a soapy like substance, which prevents re-ignition. Discharge the whole extinguisher. The gentle application helps to prevent burning oil splashing out of the container.

Type: Hose reel

Coloured Panel: Red

How it works: Cooling

Type of fire: Solid fires, not live electrical equipment

How to use: Aim at base of fire and keep moving across the areas of fire.

 

Type: Fire blanket

Coloured Panel: Red

How it works: Smothers fire

Type of fire: Fires involving both solids and liquids. Particularly good for small clothing fires and for chip and fat pan fires providing the blanket completely covers the fire. If the blanket does not completely cover the fire, the fire will not be extinguished.

How to use: Place carefully over fire, keep hands shielded.

As almost every building contains some flammable materials, the most effective way of preventing fires is to control potential sources of ignition and keep them away from flammable substances. 

Frequent inspections of the workplace, good housekeeping and an alert and aware workforce, should ensure that the chances of a fire starting are kept to a minimum.

Common causes of fire and prevention include the following:

Faulty electrical wiring, damaged plugs and sockets, faulty electrical equipment

• Premises Managers to arrange for five yearly checks on permanent electrical installations. Building Services arrange these checks on Corporate premises they are responsible for. They also offer this service to others who buy  back a service package
• School Managers arrange for regular portable appliance testing (PAT) at frequencies recommended in section 10.3, Health and Safety Policies and Procedures
• Facilities Management arranges for PAT Testing within Corporate buildings they are responsible for
• Users of electrical equipment to check portable equipment before use

Overloaded electrical supply

• the total loading on each single three pin socket must not exceed its recommended maximum in most cases this will be a maximum of 13 amps
• ensure sufficient sockets are available before purchasing additional electrical equipment
• install extra sockets, first checking with an electrician/ Building Services to ensure capacity in the ring main
• limit use of extension leads wherever possible; they may be used for PC set ups provided the overall loading does not exceed 13 amps. Daisy chaining whereby one extension lead is plugged into another must be avoided.
• only use extension reels with an automatic resettable safety cut off switch
• follow the maximum rating for extension reels, and ensure they are fully unwound
• remove all multi socket adaptor plugs to reduce risk of overloading

Electrical equipment left switched on when not in use (unless designed to be left switched on)     

• identify equipment which can and cannot be switched off and unplugged when not in use or at night e.g. portable fan or radiant heaters. Portable heating appliances are a common cause of fires
• clearly allocate responsibility for unplugging equipment

Careless disposal of smoking materials in designated smoking areas

• ensure “No Smoking” Policy is enforced
• ensure contractors are aware of BCC and school’s smoking policy
• provision of cigarette waste bins, which are regularly emptied

Accumulation of rubbish, paper and other combustible materials which can catch fire easily or be used by arsonists

• remove rubbish daily to secure waste bins
• secure waste bins with chains to the ground or in a secure compound to prevent them being moved by vandals to set fire to the building
• remove unwanted furniture or stock regularly
• ensure items are not stored on fire escape routes even temporarily; corridors and staircases which are classed as sterile areas should be kept free from combustible materials and ignition sources
• ensure items waiting to be disposed are not stored against external walls, e.g. furniture, or other combustible material as they could be used by vandals to set fire to the building

Inappropriate storage of combustible materials

• keep at least a 1 metre sterile area around light fittings and fuse boards. Lights always produce heat and if placed too close to a fuel or combustible material may start a fire
• fit linked (to the fire alarm) smoke detectors in store rooms that are not frequently used to provide early detection
• ensure combustible materials are not stored in boiler rooms. Boiler rooms should be kept as a sterile area
• undertake regular housekeeping inspections

Excess or careless storage of flammable substances

• keep only minimum quantities of flammable substances
• keep flammable substances away from all heat sources
• ensure flammable substances are stored in a flammables storage cabinet; small amounts can be stored safely elsewhere e.g. Science Prep Rooms
• larger quantities will require special storage, e.g. petrol for grounds maintenance equipment
• ensure storage containers are kept closed, e.g. petrol cans
• ensure LPG cylinders are stored in a locked outdoor container
  • away from building entry/exit points and drains;
  • away from heat and ignition sources;

Careless use of portable heaters, e.g. LPG and electric fan heaters.  Portable heating appliances are a common cause of fires

• portable heaters should only be used as a temporary measure and in approved areas
• position all LPG and fan heaters away from furniture, pedestrian routes etc.
• ensure portable heaters are switched off after use; do not leave unattended
• staff must be made aware of the risks involved
• ensure portable heaters are regularly checked
• ensure fan heaters do not overload extension leads/reels

Obstructing the ventilation of heaters, machinery, electrical appliances

• ensure ventilation grilles are not obstructed with clothing, paper or other items (including grills on a computer or microwave oven).

Poorly maintained equipment

• ensure all equipment, machinery and plant is regularly inspected and maintained in accordance with manufacturers or in-house instructions. Machines and tools of all descriptions have the potential to start fires, whether because of an electrical fault; a blocked air vent causing overheating; or an overheating bearing or cutting edge

Cooking and other activities involving heat sources

• ensure all staff are adequately trained
• ensure equipment is suitable for the tasks
• ensure safe working procedures e in place for controlling fire risk
• ensure pupils/ trainees are suitably supervised

Carelessness by contractors and maintenance workers carrying out hot work – cutting, welding

• ensure contractors comply with the Council’s policy on use of Hot Work Permits. See Code of Practice on Contractors. (Refer to section 9.4)
• ensure contractors remove or protect all surrounding combustible materials before they start work
• ensure contractors check where they have been working for smouldering fires before leaving the building.
• ensure that appropriate firefighting equipment is available before work starts
• ensure contractors do not smoke on site or are informed where the smoking area is.

9.1      Flammable Materials

Should be stored in properly closed non-flammable containers away from sources of heat.

9.2      Corridors

Self-closing fire doors are there to prevent fire and smoke from spreading and must not be wedged or propped open.  If a door needs to be kept open then it should be fitted with an approved “hold open devices which automatically close in the event of fire e.g. (Dorguard).

9.3      Displays

Displays are often located in corridors and in entrance foyers of educational premises, and generally comprise materials such as paper, cardboard and plastic which provide a means for the rapid spread of fire.  An assessment should be made on which materials used in temporary or permanent displays could ignite first and what could cause the fire to develop and spread.  Measures to reduce the risk of fire spread could include:

• avoiding the use of displays on walls and ceilings of escape routes unless they have been treated with proprietary  Fire Retardant Spray
• minimising the size and number of display areas to specific areas;
• not putting displays down stairways which are part of a designated escape route or where there is only one direction of escape, (i.e. dead-end conditions);
• the use of display boxes;
• keeping displays away from curtains and light fittings and heaters;
• keeping displays away from ceiling voids which may lack fire barriers;
• ensuring that there are no ignition sources in the vicinity; and ensure displays do not obstruct escape routes or obscure fire notices, fire alarm call points, firefighting equipment or escape signs;
• ensuring 2D displays are pinned flat , as this reduces the likelihood of fire ignition and spread.

9.4      Fire Doors

Can prevent fire and smoke spread if regularly checked and maintained to ensure

• they operate satisfactorily;
• the doors latch and close automatically;
• two lever synchronised doors close in the correct order;
• the doors have been fitted with cold smoke seals and intumescent strips;
• the gap between the door and the frame or between two lever corridor doors is not much greater than 3 mm +/- 1mm.

Fire alarms and fire escape routes are all about getting people out of a burning building unharmed and by their own unaided efforts.  The main feature of a good system of alarm and escape is time.  Time to enable the occupants to get to a place of safety outside the building before the heat, smoke and toxic fumes have the chance to take effect.

10.1     Alarms

You should be able to hear fire alarms in all parts of the building.  Special arrangements must be made for employees, who work in noisy areas that may affect their hearing or for people with a hearing impairment, by for example, the provision of a flashing beacon or vibrating pager. 

Fire call points should be visible and easily accessible.  They should never be obstructed e.g. with furniture, curtains etc.

10.2     Refuge Areas

A refuge is a place of reasonable safety in which disabled people can wait either for an evacuation lift or for assistance up or down stairs.  Depending on the design and fire resistance of the building, a refuge could be a lobby, corridor, stairway, or a similar place which is sufficiently protected from any fire risk and provided with its own means of escape.

An area identified as a 'safe refuge' must be located within an identified fire –resisting structure and must be clearly signed and indicate how long it can be considered as safe.  If you are unsure, whether the area is fire-protected then you must presume that it is not and other advice must be sought from Property Services. 

The Refuge Area must only be used as a meeting point until sufficient help from trained staff arrives to ensure an individual’s safe evacuation.  This is not the responsibility of the Fire and Rescue Service.  Under no circumstances should anyone be left unattended in this area.

10.3     Escape Routes and Fire Exits

Escape routes should be appropriately signed to avoid any confusion on the route that should be taken.  Emergency lighting should be available to ensure escape routes are adequately lit.  The routes should be as short as possible and never obstructed.  Stairs and under stair areas should never be used as storage space.

Final fire exit doors should be appropriately signed to indicate how they should be opened and should never be blocked or covered over with curtains.  Fire exits must be easily opened, without the use of a key.  Where security is of major importance specialist advice can be sought from the Health and Safety Team.

External fire escapes including external staircases must be regularly inspected and maintained in a good condition.  External staircase should be provided with a non-slip surface to reduce the risk of slip, trip or fall injuries.

10.4      What about the Fire and Rescue Service?

The Fire and Rescue Service should be called to every suspected fire unless arrangements have been made with them that the fire panel will be checked first.  This check should not delay the evacuation from the building.  The Fire and Rescue Service advise that they would rather turn out to a false alarm than have needless loss of life or property damage caused by a delay in summoning assistance.

The occupancy figure for any building is based on the calculations below and the schools risk assessment to safely evacuate in less than 2 minutes 30 seconds.

1. The number of persons who can safely reside in the premises. Using the floor space factor below will assist in working this out. Number of people = Floor area (m²) / Occupant density
2. The width and capacity of the exit routes to allow people to escape safely. (Route capacity)
3. Seating and gangway occupancy taking into account the measurements to be adhered to below.

 

11.1     Floor Area Metres Squared

How to work out floor area and the maximum number of people for a completely clear floor area the maximum number is calculated based on 0.5 square metres per person.

Therefore, a hall of 20 meters X 10 meters= 200 square meters would be physically capable of holding 400 people.  If there are tables and chairs the number of people would need to be reduced accordingly and would be in the region of 1 to 1.5 square meters per person depending on the amount of seating and tables to be provided

11.2     Width and capacity of escape routes

 

Minimum width on escape route or exit	Premises Fire Risk level & Persons Permitted
750mm – 1050mm	Low risk = 120 persons Medium risk = 100 persons High risk = 80 persons
1050mm	Low risk = 240 persons Medium risk = 200 persons High risk = 160 persons
Over 1050mm every 75mm	= +15 persons regardless or risk level

Minimum width for an escape route should ideally be 1050 but in any case not less than 750mm and where wheelchair users are likely to use it not less than 900mm. The premises fire risk level will be obtained from the fire risk assessment.

The largest exit is taken out of the equation.

If escape route doors are too close to one another and are likely to be simultaneously disabled by the same fire (e.g. within 45° of each other) then they should be classed as one exit and it may be necessary to discount them both from your calculation. Escape routes that may be classed as ‘true alternatives’ should therefore be more than 45° apart when viewed from the furthest point in the room.

Doors can be counted as 2 exits         

Doors must be counted as one exit

Note: An occupancy limit of 60 persons will apply where only one exit exists and 60 persons is the limit for an exit where an exit door opens inwards (unless that door is fastened open).

11.3     Seating and gangways occupancy

The type of seating arrangements adopted will vary depending on the use of the hall.

Seating and gangways in a hall or assembly space should be arranged to allow free and ready access direct to the exits. Persons seated in rows will first have to make their way to the end of the row before being able to use the escape routes provided. Seating and gangways in a school premises should therefore be arranged to allow free and ready access direct to the exits.

Where rows of seats are not fixed to the floor nor do they have arms, there should be a minimum of 450mm between the back of the seat and the front of the one immediately behind it.

Gangways should be adequate for the number of seats served and at least 1.05m wide. There should be no projections which diminish these widths.

In general, no seat should be more than seven seats away from a gangway. If temporary seating is provided, these should be secured in lengths no fewer than four seats (and no more than 12). This can be achieved using plastic cable ties around the legs of adjacent chairs.

Standing and sitting in gangways, or in front of any exit, should not be permitted. This includes adults standing by children.

The way to calculate out occupancy is for a member of staff to set up the area taking into account of the measurements above. This will determine the occupancy level of the room.

Staff in charge need to communicate at the start of productions that should the alarm sound they will take responsibility for safe evacuation of the pupils and outline what measures will need be taken in the event of an evacuation.

Seating and Gangways

FD- Fire Door