Fire Risk Assessment Review
As we embark on a new year, it’s essential to reflect on the importance of fire risk assessments, particularly the necessity of conducting regular fire risk assessment reviews.
To illustrate this, I’d like to share a recent experience from a fire risk assessment review I conducted at a large country home/hotel that also includes holiday lets. Just before Christmas, I was approached by a health and safety company for whom I had previously completed fire risk assessments. They requested a review of a fire risk assessment carried out the previous year by one of their consultants.
A fire risk assessment review involves verifying whether the previous action plan has been implemented and assessing its current status. Additionally, I must don my fire risk assessor hat to identify any new hazards that may have arisen since the last assessment. It’s important to note that this process is not a full fire risk assessment.
During my review, I identified several critical deficiencies:
- Two fire doors in the kitchen lacked intumescent strips, which are vital for sealing the door during a fire to prevent smoke and fire spread. Given that kitchens are high-risk areas, any deficiencies in fire safety can jeopardize both the premises and the people within.
- A fire door in one of the corridors failed to close completely, compromising the protected escape route.
- A recently installed fire door was incorrectly fitted, with a gap of nearly 7mm between the top of the door and the frame—well above the 3mm standard. Intumescent strips become ineffective if the gap exceeds 4mm.
- The electric cupboard had unsealed holes in the brickwork and ceiling where electrical cables passed through, which had not been fire-stopped.
- A newly installed electric cupboard had not been noted in the previous fire risk assessment. Inside, there were combustible materials, including a stool and table, which should not be present in any electric cupboard or service area.
This raises an important question: What if fire risk assessments were conducted every two years instead of annually? Would the number of issues double? What implications would this have for the safety of the public and staff?
How many companies actually review their fire risk assessments annually, or at all?
The Fire Safety Order mandates that fire risk assessments be reviewed regularly, although it does not specify an exact timeframe. It also stipulates that reviews should occur when there are:
- Changes to work activities or organization, including the introduction of new equipment;
- Alterations to the building, including internal layout changes;
- Substantial changes to furniture and fixtures;
- The introduction, change of use, or increase in the storage of hazardous substances;
- Failures of fire precautions, such as fire detection and alarm systems;
- Change of use, for example, converting a hotel to a hostel or a hall of residence to a residential conference center.
My intention is not to undermine the previous fire risk assessment, as it was conducted thoroughly. Instead, I aim to emphasize the potential consequences of neglecting regular reviews of your fire risk assessment.
So, I pose this question to you: When was your last fire risk assessment review?