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The fire performance of modern methods of construction used in timber frame buildings came under the spotlight at an insurance industry event earlier this month. The insurance industry has a pretty significant influence on what can and can’t be built given that being refused insurance would make the building unsellable.
The RISCAuthority (“The Risk Insight, Strategy and Control Authority”, formerly InFireS), who organized the Seminar, represents many UK insurers with a remit to research and develop risk mitigation measures against fire and security risks. It publishes extensive guides and recommendations for risk mitigation in the areas of Fire and Security. The Risc Authority’s seminar was held in the wake of recent large fires in timber frame buildings and construction sites in London.
I am quite a fan of Timber Frame houses particularly the more aesthetically pleasing homes I have seen featured on Grand Designs. The Timber framed constructions at the centre of this story were more pragmatic multi occupancy affordable housing that utilized the twin benefits of using environmentally sustainable materials and being quick and presumably cheaper to construct than the usual concrete and steel methods.
As far as I can make out timber framed buildings present no greater risk from fire than conventional constructions and pretty detailed industry standards and building regulations are in place to ensure it stays that way. The evidence suggests the greatest fire risk is during construction rather than in completed buildings.
This begs the question as to how the Regulatory Reform (Fire safety) Order applies to construction sites. Clearly it must but by their very nature the potential fire risks on construction sites will be a constantly moving target, giving the Responsible Persons quite a headache to ensure conformity during every stage of the process.
There is also the cost factor. Economic reality dictates that although site safety is clearly paramount it is impracticable to be conducting interminable Risk Assessments and implementing fire measures that are quickly redundant.
The fire safety industry has come up with some solutions. Standalone and linkable fire call points and alarms like the Howler range can be installed to suit the site conditions and adapt to changing size. They have the benefit that at the end of construction they can be quickly dismantled and moved to the next site.
Wheeled mobile fire extinguishers are also ideal for this application and can be quickly deployed to counter a fire in any area of the site. Again once the job is done they can be easily moved to a new site location. They also have a far higher fire rating than the smaller portables with capacities up to 100litres.
The RRO also requires specialist construction site signage. This can get expensive if using the corrugated plastic and foam board versions as they are easily damaged and vandalised. The new TUFF Site Signs are virtually indestructible and despite being more expensive they work out cheaper in the long run as they can be used time and time again. The site safety manager therefore has the means to put together a mobile package of fire and safety equipment that can be deployed to suit individual site conditions.
Tony
I have spent some time of late looking at UK Legislation relating to the storage of hazardous goods so that we can better inform our customers on the new range of Safety Storage Cabinets and Security Chests recently added to our portfolio.
In doing so I chanced upon an illuminating website www.statutelaw.gov.uk that lists all the Primary Statutes of Law enacted in the UK over the years and a good many Secondary Statutory Instruments (sub Laws I guess) that also apply to the immensely tolerant People of these Islands. The list includes our Business Law of the moment – the daunting Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Although I thought we had the Fire Safety legislation pretty well covered in fact there are 144 pieces of fire safety legislation in the list so maybe we will have to revisit this.
In all there are 5571 Statute Laws dating back to the Statute of Marlborough in 1267, although King Johns signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 effectively set the earliest seeds for a modern day Westminster.
What astonished me was that over 1000 of these Statutes of the Realm have been enacted since 1997 – that’s the year of our lord Tony Blair by the way. Put in context that’s 20% of all Laws passed in 13 of the 700 odd Years since Parliament was effectively created under King Henry III (give or take the odd Dissolution). Add to this 500 plus Statutory Instruments since 2005 alone and I doubt we can fault our disgraced Parliament for effort.
Some of these Laws make you wonder just how over regulated we are. There is seemingly a Law for doing most everything apart from breathing.
We have little gems like “The Parking Attendants (Wearing of Uniforms Act) South Lanarkshire 2005″ and “The Potatoes Originating in Egypt (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2005″. I bet you also didn’t know there is a law that states that it is illegal to offer a fully assembled bicycle for sale without a bell “which is of a category intended for use on bicycles”. There is of course a separate law for unassembled bicycles and why not!
Maybe our legislators should refresh their memory of the Statute of Marlborough which in short put the following into the Law of the Land some of which sounds is eerily resonant of today’s troubled times.
“It was Provided and established and with full consent ordained, That whereas the Realm of England having been of late depressed by manifold Troubles and the evils of Dissensions, (it is) in need of a Reformation of the Laws and Usages, whereby the Peace and Tranquility of the People both high (bred) and low may be preserved …….forever.”
Like a good deal of the freedoms and human rights provided in the Magna Carta, Marlborough’s Law no doubt has been repealed since.
Tony
In what has been hailed as a landmark decision in Fire Safety the Welsh Assembly members voted on Wednesday 27th Jan this year to make the installation of automatic fire sprinklers compulsory in all new build homes in Wales.
The euphoria amongst the proponents may well be short lived as the Welsh vote is only the first step and now needs to be formally approved in both houses of Westminster before the legislation can receive Royal assent. Allocating parliamentary time this side of the General Election seems highly unlikely and the new incoming Administration may not be so keen on supporting such legislation.
Not that I am in any way against the wider use of automatic sprinklers but I do see some difficulties in enforcing any legislation. The powerful construction industry lobby may well have something to say as it will add a few thousand pounds to building costs. There is also the issue of ensuring regular maintenance and testing which is essential with Automatic Sprinkler Systems and will represent an ongoing annual cost for the householder.
Private and self build home builders could well argue that other equally effective options are available in the form of smoke alarms and the more versatile domestic friendly fire extinguishers like the ABF, that are already reducing the incidence of deaths and injuries from domestic fires. The figures bear this out with official statistics showing sustained year on year falls in death and injuries from domestic fires.
I also think Ronnie King, vice-chairman of the National Fire Sprinkler Network was letting enthusiasm get the better of his judgement in claiming the move would lead to making Wales the safest place in which to live in the United Kingdom. He went so far as comparing Residential Sprinklers to the installation of air bags in cars and added that “in the course of time fire deaths in Wales will be almost eliminated, and the horrific burns injuries reduced by up to 80% because of this wonderful visionary decision taken by the Welsh Assembly government.”
Now the current housing stock in Wales according to the latest Government statistics is 1.4million homes or thereabouts virtually none of which have, or will ever have sprinklers fitted. New house builds are running at around 5000 per year and demolitions at less than 100 a year. You don’t need to do the detailed math’s to see that “in the course of time” to reduce injuries by 80% will take a very, very long time indeed to achieve with sprinklers alone. Centuries in fact. It is akin to saying the World will end on Wednesday without specifying which Wednesday.
With the exception of multi occupancy complexes – where careless or reckless homeowners can put other residents at risk – legislation is arguably not the answer. A continuance of the high profile fire safety awareness campaigns, the free smoke alarm scheme and the low cost of alternative fire safety equipment will continue to make our homes a safer place. Promoting the undoubted benefits of sprinkler systems should obviously continue, but on the basis of choice and affordability rather than law enforcement.
Tony
Well here it is. Merry Christmas as the Slade classic goes. This ubiquitous but really cheery song seems to be playing interminably on loop at the local radio station that provides background encouragement to our guys in the warehouse.
At this time of year we anticipate a slowdown in demand as businesses and schools take a break and homeowners turn their attention to the preparations for Christmas and New Year. Contrary to what we might expect the warehouse is still buzzing thanks, in the main part, to the winter chill, as customers scramble for our winter maintenance safety products, snow scoops, ice melts and the like.
But Christmas has more deadly potential than the snow and ice and I offer a timely reminder to take extra care at Christmas as sad to say, statistically it is the peak time for residential fires.
Don’t put wet clothes to dry either on or in front of space heaters or open fires as at best you might ruin the best winter coat and at worse you might start a damaging fire that wrecks more than just your family Christmas.
Don’t leave lit candles unattended and always extinguish before retiring to bed, the latter task requiring at least one person to remain vaguely compos mentis amongst the drunken revelry.
Turn off Christmas lights at the socket when retiring or leaving home to visit friends, family or the local hostelry.
A real fire of yuletide logs looks fantastic but use a fireguard and let the fire burn well down before hitting the sack.
Test your smoke alarm and if you don’t have one make it a late addition to your letter to Santa.
Oh and one last thing - if like me you set fire to the Christmas pud using a generous slug of brandy as the accelerant – do it at the table in front of the family. It is more fun for the kids and more importantly a good deal safer that walking from kitchen to diner carrying a flaming hot dish!! (I find if you warm the brandy first over a low flame or candle it is easier to light).
Have a very happy and very safe Christmas and New Year and may all your wishes come true.
Tony
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 rumbles on out into the business community and increasingly solicits frantic enquiries as to what it entails and how to conform. Now any small business out there can get hold of a copy and read it.
Visit www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051541.htm#53 but be warned it is not an easy read.
Here’s a typical clause from the section explaining the “Duties under the Order”.
(3) Any duty imposed by articles 8 to 22 or by regulations made under article 24 on the responsible person in respect of premises shall also be imposed on every person, other than the responsible person referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2), who has, to any extent, control of those premises so far as the requirements relate to matters within his control. ”
Simples!!!
You should also be mindful of the virtually limitless powers afforded the fire inspectors under the act. I quote from article 27 “Powers of inspectors” where ” (1) Subject to the provisions of this article, an inspector may do anything necessary for the purpose of carrying out this Order and any regulations made under it into effect and in particular, so far as may be necessary for that purpose, shall have power to do (so) at any reasonable time.”
This was driven home in no uncertain manner when this July the authorities prosecuted the Church of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International (I could not have made this up) who they “raided”, no better word for it, during a Church Service for 1200 penitent souls, and threw the book at them for breaches of the RRO to the tune of a £30000 fine. A case of too much fire and damnation no doubt.
To help clarify the key provisions I will post a series of tips that will guide you through. To start with you must conduct a formal fire risk assessment. A fire risk assessment helps you identify all the fire hazards and risks in your business premises. The Act does not apply to domestic residences.
You can then decide whether any risks identified are acceptable or whether you need to do something to reduce and or control them. A risk assessment should be carried out by someone who has reasonable experience or knowledge of fire safety. In the RRO’s parlance this could be the Responsible Person or a trained member of staff or external consultant.
There are five basic steps to complete a Risk Assessment.
1. Identify the fire hazards - smokers, machinery, fuel stores, hot plates, heaters, electrical equipment etc
2. Identify people at risk - employees, customers, visitors
3. Evaluating the risks - decide how best to minimise and or control a fire and safeguard those at risk should it occur - typically staff training, means of escape, fire warning bells, fire fighting equipment , signage etc.
4. Record your findings - and put in a safe place with you other health and safety documentation. The inspectors will home in on this as a first step in assessing compliance. The requirement to record your assessment technically applies to businesses employing 5 or more people but I advise you do it anyway.
5. Review and revise - revise the Risk Assessment to record fire equipment maintenance schedules, changes to office layouts, training sessions, new fire safety equipment and added fire risks.
Having completed the Risk Assessment you must then take appropriate actions in line with your findings, putting in place safety management procedures, fire prevention and fire control measures. If you have a particular concern or question regarding the interpretation of the RRO post it here and we will try and help.
Tony
