Fire Risk Assessment Maritime Studios Pendennis Rise Falmouth TR11 4FB Carried out by: Date: October 2015 Review Date: October 2016 Les Carter CMIOSH Health & Safety Consultant Mobile 07831 636751, Email Lescar@ntlworld.com
Contents 1. Premises Description 2. Areas Covered 3. Responsibilities 4. Basic Fire Safety Strategy 5. Fire Hazards 6. Fire Risks Reduction Measures 7. Compartmentation 8. Fire Detection and Warning 9. Smoke Control 10. Means of Escape 11. Emergency Procedures 12. Fire Fighting Equipment 13. Remedial Actions Required 14. Conclusion & Assessment of Residual Risks 15. Fire Risk Assessment Plans
1. Premises Description Purpose built in 2008b as student accommodation comprising of ground and 5 upper floors containing 145 student studio flats. Steel frame, block and concrete construction with part grassed roof, see photographs and attached plans. The design and construction incorporated all the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations with additional fire detection and warning measures in the common areas. All water and space heating is electric, gas is not supplied to the building. A large Reception/Meeting Area is situated on the ground floor. A panoramic view Common Room is situated on the 5 th Floor. Cycle racks and car parking is provided beneath the building. Small self-store units are provided along the ground floor corridor. IT Hub Rooms are situated on the ground floor corridor and electric meter/stop valve rooms are situated on each floor. A lift is provided to access all floors. A fire protected refuse/recycling bin store is provided on the ground floor with a chute from upper floors. Ground Floor Reception 5 th Floor Common Room Cycle Racks/Car Park Typical Studio Flat
2. Scope of Assessment and Areas Covered Type 3 Common parts and flats (non-destructive). 3. Responsibilities The Landlord - Empiric (Falmouth Maritime Studios) Ltd is the responsible person under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and responsible for ensuring that: a fire risk assessment is carried out and reviewed when material changes occur fire protection arrangements are implemented to reduce the risks to students CRM Students Ltd. are responsible for the lettings and general students welfare and employs an Accommodation Manager and Warden based at the premises. The Accommodation Manager is responsible for: the day to day monitoring of the fire safety arrangements communicating fire procedures to students Incentive FM Ltd are responsible for the facilities management of the premises including: Monitoring fire protection standards on a monthly basis and taking action as necessary to reduce risks. Maintaining & testing the fire alarm system in accordance with BS 5839. Maintaining & testing the automatic opening vents. Maintaining & testing the fire damper in the refuse chute. Maintaining the dry riser system. Maintaining & testing the Emergency Voice Communication System for the refuges on the protected staircases. Testing the escape lighting in the common areas in accordance with BS 5266. Servicing the fire extinguishers in the common areas on an annual basis in accordance with BS5396. Inspection and testing the fixed wiring and equipment every 5 years in accordance with BS 7671. Inspection and testing of the lightening conductor annually in accordance with BS EN 62305 Inspection and testing portable/transportable electrical equipment in the common areas on an annual basis. 4. Basic Fire Safety Strategy The compartmentation in this building is excellent as required by the Building Regulations in 2008. The compartmentation is such that the stay put principle which forms the basis for fire safety in most flats could be adopted. In these flats the stay put principle is not the policy. All of the flats and common parts are fitted with an interlinked fire detection and warning system which alerts occupants to evacuate the building. The system automatically calls the Fire & Rescue Service through a 24/7 alarm receiving service..
5. Fire Hazards Combustible/Flammable Materials Refuse & recycling materials in the bin store and outside containers. Soft furnishings to the chairs/sofas in Reception and the Common Room. Floor coverings in corridors, mail in the metal mail boxes at Reception, paper and files in the Manager s Office. Soft furnishings and normal dwelling combustible materials in the Flats. Sources of Ignition Solid ring electric hobs and microwave cookers in the flats. Fixed electrical installation for lighting and heating in the flats and common areas (all heaters are electric powered and fixed to the walls). Other portable and transportable electrical equipment in the common areas and flats. 6. Fire Risks Reduction Measures The flats and common parts are No Smoking. Access to the building is only by key fob or via the apartment intercoms, this reduces the risk of malicious fires from unauthorised persons entering the building. The Building Manager and Warden/Cleaner monitor the premises and the fire prevention/protection measures on a daily basis. A Security Officer is contracted to patrol the building and site from 2200hrs to 0400hrs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday each week. Photographs of all the occupants are displayed on the wall in the Office to assist the Security Officers. 15 CCTV cameras are positioned in and around the building to help deter criminal behaviour and identify offenders. All areas are kept tidy and well organised. The corridors and staircases are kept free of items and materials which could cause fires or impede means of escape. Refuse & recycling materials from the Flats are stored in a dedicated of Store with fire resisting construction. The internal access is protected by double (FD30S) fire doors and the store is secured from the outside. Smoke detection is provided in this Store to give early warning of a fire situation. The fixed electrical installation incorporates the requirements of the current BS 7671:2008 and IEE Wiring Regulations and is inspected and tested every 5 years by electrical contractors. Transportable and portable equipment in the common areas and flats are inspected and tested annually. A lightening conductor system is installed around the building. Monthly safety checks are carried out by Incentive FM Ltd. as part of the facilities management contract.
7. Compartmentation The compartmentation designed into the premises was in accordance with the Building Regulations requirements in 2008. Flats have self-closing, fire resisting front doors (FD30S standard) with intumescent strips and cold smoke seals. Letter box apertures are not provided in these doors, mail boxes are positioned in Reception. The lift shaft and services riser/meter rooms are fire resistant. The corridors are protected from fires in the in the IT Hub Rooms and Meter Rooms by fire resisting front doors (FD30S standard) with intumescent strips and cold smoke seals. Double door fire protection (FD30S standard) is provided to prevent fires in the Refuse/Recycling Room from affecting the on the ground floor corridor. A gravity actuated damper is provided at the base of the refuse chute actuated by a fusible link to prevent fires spreading vertically from the refuse bin store. All refuse chute points on the upper floors have fire resisting doors (FD30S standard) and the chute access lid is self- closing and fire resisting. A smoke detector is also provided in the ceiling above the refuse chute access lid. The access hatches to the service risers and utility cupboards in the corridors outside each flat have fire resisting doors (FD30S standard) and are kept locked shut. The self-store units on the ground floor corridor are fire resisting construction (block walls & concrete ceiling) with fire resisting doors incorporating high level, fire resistant air transfer grilles. 8. Fire Detection and Warning A BS5839 category L1 fire alarm system is installed with smoke/heat detectors in all areas including the flats. Manual call points are provided in the corridors, storey exits and final exits. A Discovery 32 zone fully programmable & addressable fire alarm panel is fitted in the Reception with a repeater panel at the base of the escape from the staircase near Reception. Mains powered battery back-up smoke and heat alarms are installed in the flats which have integral sounders along with a red strobe light. These alarms are linked to the main building system. This system gives occupants an early warning of a fire situation not only in their flats but throughout the whole of the premises. The fire alarm system automatically calls the Fire & Rescue Service through a 24/7 alarm receiving service.
9. Smoke Control Automatic opening vents are provided to ventilate the North end of the corridor for the 3 flats on each floor which have escape in one direction only to the escape staircase. Automatic opening vents are provided to ventilate the South end of the corridors for the 6 flats on each of the 2 nd 3 rd & 4 th floors which have escape in one direction only to the escape staircase. An automatic opening vent is provided at the South end of the 1 st floor corridor to ventilate the area leading to the escape staircase. An automatic opening ceiling vent is provided at the South end of the 5 th floor corridor for the Common Room which has escape in one direction only to the escape staircase. A further automatic opening ceiling vent is provided at approx. the mid-point of the 5 th floor corridor. The protected means of escape staircases have manually openable smoke vents at the highest points. A gravity actuated damper is provided at the base of the refuse chute actuated by a fusible link to prevent fires spreading vertically from the refuse bin store. Typical window vent Roof vents 5 th Floor Window Vents South End Ventilation controls normally locked on automatic setting
10. Means of Escape The flats are studio type open plan living and sleeping areas with separated bathroom, the escape travel distances within the flats are within the current benchmark figure of 9m maximum. Students have good knowledge of the layout of the premises and the escape routes. Two final exits are provided in addition to the final exit at Reception as shown on the Ground Floor plan. Protected staircases lead down to these final exits from all floors. The South end final exit from the protected staircase has a Push Bar to Open latch. The Reception and North end final exit doors release automatically when the alarm sounds. The protected means of escape staircases have self - closing fire doors (FD30S) along with smoke detection, escape lighting and manual openable smoke vents at the highest points. Escape from the end flats (and the Common Room on the 5 th Floor) is in one direction only, the horizontal travel distances to the protected staircases are in line with the 7.5 metres maximum specified by Building Regulations. Automatic smoke ventilation is provided in these corridors leading to the escape staircase in accordance with Building Regulations. Escape from the flats in the centre of the building is possible to both escape staircases, the maximum horizontal travel distance to these staircases is approx. 20 metres well within the Building Regulations figure of 30m maximum. Escape lighting is provided in the flats and throughout the common parts of the building which complies with BS 5266-1:2006. The means of escape are designated by signs conforming to BS5499-2:1986 and EN ISO 710:2012. Illuminated fire exit signs are positioned above the corridor doors and final exit doors. An Emergency Voice Communication System is provided for the refuges on the protected staircases which enables communication with Reception.
11. Emergency Procedures Notices displaying the actions for students to take in the event of a fire or the fire alarm activation are displayed at the fire alarm call points on each floor. The fire procedures are communicated when new tenancies are taken out. The Fire & Rescue Service attend when the alarm is activated and have provided fire safety advice to students on these occasions. 12. Fire Fighting Equipment Fire blankets are provided in each flat. A 6 litre AFFF and 5kg CO2 fire extinguishers are provided at the Fire Alarm panel in Reception. A 6 litre AFFF and 2kg CO2 fire extinguishers are provided at the rear exit from Reception. A 6 litre AFFF and 2kg CO2 fire extinguishers are provided in the Electrical Intake Room. 6 litre AFFF and 5kg CO2 fire extinguishers are provided on each floor next to the lift. 6 litre AFFF fire extinguishers are provided along each corridor. Notices showing what fires these extinguishers can be used for and how they are operated are displayed on the wall at each. Dry riser outlets are provided on all floors from an intake point in the Cycle Store/Car Park area. A mains hydrant is located in the car park at cliff edge near the front of the building.
13. Remedial Actions Required Priority Ratings High Medium Low Items creating serious and imminent fire or H & S risks. Items creating significant fire or H & S risks. Items not to recognised standards but no significant risks No Location Details Priority 1 Electric Intake Room The intumescent and cold smoke seals on this door are missing and must be replaced to provide the necessary FD30S standard for this room. Medium The fire extinguishers in this room should be mounted on wall brackets. Low
No Location Details Priority 2 Self-Store Units Ground Floor Further investigations are necessary to determine the standard of fire protection of these doors. Medium The doors should be to FD30 standard as specified on the fire plan design drawing but intumescent seals were not visible which are required on this standard of door. It should also be confirmed that fire resistant (intumescent) air transfer grilles have been fitted between the louvre grills (to give hot smoke protection) Unwanted items should be cleared out of these units to reduce fire risks. Low
No Location Details Priority 3 Common Room The central gap is too large in parts for the intumescent seal to work properly (the gap is between 5mm & 10mm, it should be between 2mm & 4mm). Medium There are no cold smoke seals on this door which should be fitted to maintain the FD30S standard protection for the escape route. 4 Refuse Recycling Room This room is a special fire risk and the design requirements are a fire resisting lobby with 2 selfclosing, fire resisting doors to FD30S standard. The inner door requires a self-closing mechanism, intumescent and cold smoke seals. A large gap at the top of the frame must be filled with fire resisting material. Medium
No Location Details Priority 6 Outside Refuse Recycling Bin Storage The design intention was that all refuse and recycling bins be kept in the fire resisting store. This has not been kept up, all but the bin in use are now kept outside which creates risks of maliciously started fires in these bins affecting the building and occupants. Medium If bins are to be kept outside they should be at least 6 metres away from the building and secured in a compound or by other means to prevent them being moved by unauthorised persons. Medium 7 Utility Cupboards The utility cupboards should not be used for storage purposes. Medium Flat 3
No Location Details Priority 8 Final Exit Fire Exit Keep Clear should be affixed to the outside Low Doors of the final exit doors from both staircases 9 Fire Alarm Panel Although it has been confirmed the panel works correctly the general fault indicated should be investigated further and corrected. Low 10 Maintenance & Testing of Fire Equipment Ensure the monitoring, maintenance and testing arrangements detailed in Section 3 are implemented. Medium
14. Conclusion & Assessment of Residual Risks Taking into account the fire prevention measures observed at the time of this risk assessment, it is considered that the likelihood of a fire occurring at this building is Unlikely (2) Taking into account the nature of the building, the occupants, the fire protection and procedural arrangements observed at the time of the assessment, it is considered that the consequences of a fire occurring would be Minor (2). The overall fire risk evaluation is: 2 x 2 = 4 Low Risk Evaluation of Risk Likelihood of Fire Occurrence Consequence of Fire Occurrence 1 Very Unlikely 1 Insignificant 2 Unlikely 2 Minor 3 Fairly Unlikely 3 Moderate 4 Likely 4 Major 5 Very Likely 5 Catastrophic 5 5 10 15 20 25 Increasing likelihood of a fire occurring 4 4 8 12 16 20 3 3 6 9 12 15 2 2 4 6 8 10 1 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 Increasing consequences of a fire occurring 17-25 10-16 5-9 1-4 Unacceptable Make immediate improvements Tolerable Look to improve within specified timescale Adequate Look to improve at next review Low No further action, but ensure controls are maintained
Fire Alarm Panel Ventilation Control Panel Emergency Voice Communication System 15. Fire Risk Assessment Plans Repeater fie panel Final Exit Door North End Typical automatically opening window vents on all floors at this end of the building South End Final Exit Door Final Exit Door Fire hydrant with 300mm water supply pipes Ground Floor
Automatically opening window vents on 2 nd 3 rd & 4 th floors, with ducted grill vent on 1 st floor 1 st Floor
2 nd Floor
3 rd Floor
4 th Floor
5 th Floor Automatically opening ceiling vents
Roof Area (No access without special equipment)