SAF18-P63 17 October 218 Health Safety and Environment Paper Title: University Fire Officers report for the period 1/5/18 to 31/8/18 Origin: Mr R M Harrison, University Fire Officer Date: 11/9/218 1. Decision Required by None. Report to be received and noted 2. Executive Summary Small fire Fine Art, Loughborough University update following Grenfell. Annual service of portable Fire Fighting Equipment (FFE) 3. s/groups previously considering item. None
Health Safety & Environment 1. Small fire Fine Arts building (Beckett Studio) 21/6/18 Incident A small fire occurred in an internal plastic dust bin in the Beckett Studio. Timeline 5:47hrs The Bold alarm signal activated in the security gatehouse indicating a fire alarm at the Fine Arts Building. Security dispatched immediately to investigate. 5:52hrs (Approx.) Security entered building. Fire discovered 5:57hrs fire extinguished (1 x 6lt Foam extinguisher) 5:52hrs (Approx.) Area made safe fire alarm silenced. Findings Following further investigation it became apparent that during the clean up following the degree show a student needed to clear up a pool of carbon containing cooking oil. This was done by using rags and paper towels all of which were disposed in an internal plastic general waste bin. Overnight the oil-soaked rag/paper spontaneously ignited leading to a fire early in the morning. The fire was quickly detected and extinguished. It is assumed the building was empty from approximately 18:hrs Wednesday 2/6/18 and would not have been accessed until 6: on the morning of the fire. Key Lessons The impact of the fire was minimised due to :- The newly installed fire alarm detection system (installed April 218) provided early warning of the fire The prompt action of the LU Security staff in extinguishing the fire safely. The two factors protected the University s assets and business continuity was not affected. The incident serves to justify the cost of the fire detection system. Had this fire detection system not been installed the fire would have had a significant time to grow before being discovered. The Following Actions Have Been Recommended to Prevent a Reoccurrence The use of metal lidded bins in technical areas. Ensuring that risk assessments are in place and agreed procedures followed Considering the impact of any changes to a method of work to see if the safety risks have changed Monitoring housekeeping standards and keeping areas clear of combustible material.
2. Loughborough University actions following the Grenfell Tower Tragedy Facilities Management have received two tenders from external fire design specialists to survey and report on the external materials affixed to a number of our buildings. Currently we are still awaiting an update. 3. Annual service of portable Fire Fighting Equipment (FFE) The annual servicing of firefighting equipment is now complete, and equipment should now have a blue tamper tag/disc attached. We have however encountered issues with the service provided by the external servicing company DFP Services Ltd. There have been significant issues in relation to records and invoicing / charging. In view of this the activity will be in sourced over the next few months. 4. Fire Alarm Activations and Fire & Rescue Service call-outs statistics January 217 April 217. Number of Activations Activations involving F&RS Genuine Fires May 218 June 218 July 218 August 218 Total 29 Residential 31 Residential 1 Residential 14 Residential 84 Dining Halls Dining Halls Dining Halls Dining Halls 17 LU Building 25 LU Building 19 LU Building 16 LU Building 77 None None None None Sir David Davies (W2 Lab) 9/5/18 Fine Arts (Beckett Studio) 21/6/18 None None 2
Loughborough University Buildings (Academic & None-Academic): 1 Angela Marmont 1 Bridgeman Building 25 Burleigh Court 2 Charnwood/Garendon 1 EHB 1 Fine Art 1 Frank Gibb 2 James France 2 John Ferguson 6 Link Hotel 2 Mathew Arnold 1 Netball/Badminton 1 Paula Ratcliff 3 S Building 3 Sir David Davies 2 Sir Richard Morris 1 Sport Park 12 Stewart Mason 2 Stewart Miller 1 Unsteady Fluids 1 Student Services 1 Test house 3 Wolfson 1 West Pk Teaching You will note that there s a number of false alarms in Burleigh Court, these are all related to the refurbishment works being carried out, 9% of these didn t incur occupants being evacuated as the duty manage at reception identified that the signal was from the contractors area so the alarm was silenced and the cause was investigated all of which confirmed activation cause was dust created by the contractors.. Dining Halls: Cayley/Rutherford D/Hall Faraday/Royce D/Hall David Collett D/Hall Village Restaurant D/Hall William Morris D/Hall Towers D/Hall Halls of Residence (University Managed) Butler Court 2 Cayley 1 David Collett 22 Falk / Egg 11 Faraday 7 Royce 8 Rutherford 2 Telford Towers University Lodge 13 UPP Blocks 2 Whitworth Halls of Residence (Not managed by the University) Unite: Note regarding Unite premises During this reporting period these are the alarm activations with a known cause/reason Harry French (6) Holt () Waterways () William Morris (16) There were 2 instances of fire alarms that didn t have a known cause. (All above information gathered from period (1/5/18 31/8/18) Mr R M Harrison Fire Safety Officer, University Health & Safety Service
The Major Causes of Fire Alarm Activations in LU Halls of Residence: 3 Cause of Fire Alarm Activations Between May 218 - Aug 218 12 Number of Incidentts 25 2 15 1 5 1 8 6 4 2 Cummulative Percentage Steam Unattended (showers in cooking in en-suite self-catering bedrooms) kitchens & aerosol sprays Unknown causes Contractors (Dust or paint fumes) Smoking incident (including Candles & incense sticks) Accidental activation of a call point Other Malicious call point activations Faulty sensors or fire alarm panels Deodorant/Steam in showers = 24, Unattended cooking = 23, unknown = 22, Smoking =, Other = 3 Accidental activation of Call Point = 2, Malicious call point activation = 2, Contractor working in building = 5, Faulty sensor or fire alarm panel = 2, Smoking = 3 Cooking Related Incidents in LU Halls of Residence: Number of Incidents 18 16 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 Cooking Related Incidents by Hall Between May 218 - Aug 218 12 1 8 6 4 2 Cummulative Percentage Falk/Egg = 5, Cayley =, Faraday = 3, Royce = 4, Telford = 7, Rutherford = 1, Towers =, David Collett =, Whitworth =, UPP = 3