A Guide to the Fire Safety Log Book For Small to Medium Business

A Guide to the Fire Safety Log Book For Small to Medium Business

FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS Following the introduction of the Regulatory Reform Order owners, employers and managers are now responsible for fire safety within their premises. One of the key elements to the new order is that a Fire Risk Assessment must be completed and all information filed in a Log Book. This guide is designed to enable you to produce your Log Book in line with requirements. Upon inspections this must be complete, up to date and made available to the enforcing authority. IT IS AN OFFENSE FOR A PERSON TO KNOWINGLY MAKE A FALSE ENTRY PREMISES ADDRESS:

RECORD KEEPING LOG BOOK Complete a table of useful contacts such as those listed below; CONTACT Building Maintenance Environmental Services Health & Safety Manager Extinguisher Supplier Extinguisher Maintenance Alarm Supplier/Maintenance Fire Safety Signage Emergency Lighting CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER In an emergency dial 999

COMPETENT PERSONS/FIRE WARDENS Employers should enrol staff as competent persons/fire wardens to monitor and manage fire safety in delegated assessment areas within the premises. Research has shown that instructions from authorised personnel will speed evacuation Competent Persons/Fire Wardens should be easily identified by arm bands/jerkins. NAME DEPARTMENT CONTACT Joe Bloggs Warehouse EXT 234 All staff should be given training and instructions to enable them to act quickly and safely in an emergency. They should be notified of exit points, escape routes, assembly points, alarms & call points, steps to take in an emergency, fire fighting equipment and risks.

FIRE DRILLS Fire Drills should be carried out annually and should be recorded in your log book; NAME DEPARTMENT TYPE OF DRILL DATE NOTE Joe Bloggs Warehouse Fire Alarm 01/08/2013 Example All fire detection/prevention equipment must be checked and tested regularly: FIRE ALARMS Check daily, Test weekly, Inspect & Test by a competent person annually. AUTOMATIC DOOR RELEASES Check & Test Weekly EMERGENCY LIGHTING Test Monthly, Inspected by a qualified engineer annually and certificate recorded in log book. FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT Check weekly, inspect and renew annually All tests and inspections should be recorded in your log book including any faults and dates these are fixed.

FIRE EQUIPMENT All fire equipment should be checked, tested and inspected regularly if you are unsure how frequently to carry out these checks consult the manufacturers instructions or current British Standard. Staff should be informed of all equipment and Fire Wardens/Competent Persons trained to use them. Fire Extinguishers, alarms, hose reels and other fire safety equipment must be recorded within your log book including the type, location, tests, faults etc TYPE LOCATION TEST/INSPECTION RESULT DATE NAME OF TESTER Co2 Extinguisher Reception 1/8/13 Fault-Fail Renew 3/8/13 Joe Bloggs

FURTHER INFORMATION You should also include Fire Service access to your premises within your log book including monthly checks that access is clear and appropriate signage is provided. Record regular inspections of the means of escape routes and fire doors to ensure they are clear and include the correct signage. If you have a sprinkler system fitted within your premises or equipment not listed in this guide please contact us for forms/further information. This can be included in a miscellaneous form example below: DATE TYPE TESTED SATISFACTORY YES NO ACTION REQUIRED DATE COMPLETED NAME OF TESTER 1/8/13 Service Access X None 1/8/13 Joe Bloggs

EVENT FORMS Any fire safety relevant events occurring within your premises should be recorded i.e. a false alarm TYPE DATE TIME LOCATION EVENT ACTION DATE COMPLETED Fire Alarm 1/8/13 13:10 Reception False Alarm SIGNED Test 2/8/13 Joe Bloggs

DRY RISER INSPECTION DATE SATISFACTORY? (Y/N) COMMENTS Include contractors reports for all inspections.

MAINTENANCE PROVIDER FORM For all of your fire safety equipment within your premises you should complete the below form and include copies within your fire safety log book, examples include; Fire alarms, fire extinguishers, hose reels, emergency lighting & sprinkler systems. CONTACT COMPANY ADDRESS POSTCODE TEL EMERGENCY TEL LOCATION COMMENTS

INSPECTIONS Record all visits or inspections from the fire service and the outcome of these inspections. DATE INSPECTOR (PRINT NAME) INSPECTOR SIGNATURE COMMENTS For further information regarding your log book or fire safety requirements visit: www.means-of-escape.com