FIRE SAFETY POLICY Approver Executive Management Team Policy Fire Safety Policy Monitored By Health, Safety and Fire Steering Group. Date last revised April 2017 Revised by James Warne Next Revision Date April 2019 Related Documents Fire Safety Policy interacts with the Health and Safety Policy and the Fire Safety Procedures and Guidance documents. Location of Hard Copy Property Services Department Signed: Chief Executive Julia Ashley On Behalf of the Board of Management Policy: Fire Safety Policy 1 1
1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 C&C will comply with current fire safety legislation adopting a risk based approach in assessing the needs that exist at the properties for which it is responsible in order to achieve compliance. 1.2 The British Standards Institute publication (PAS 7) advises on a fire risk management approach to aid organisations in developing Fire Safety Management systems, to manage fire safety across all areas of an organisation. It also provides a government approved framework that dictates minimum standards, functions and accessibility of Fire Safety Management to which C&C is committed to observing. 1.3 A documented Fire Risk Management System (FRMS) demonstrates how the Fire Safety Policy is translated into actions to ensure that any fire risk to people and/or the business is reduced as far as is reasonably practicable and in ensuring that the legislative requirements are met. 1.4 Documentation of the FRMS and its processes provides an auditable trail and evidences C&Cs commitment to fire risk management and legislative compliance. 1.5 The approach to fire risk management also follows the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. 2.0 PURPOSE/STANDARD REQUIRED 2.1 The purpose of this document is to provide a strategic framework for fire safety management. 2.2 This policy informs on the approach and management of all undertakings where the objective is the elimination or reduction of fire risk in keeping with the intent and requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) and other relevant legislation, as follows: LACORS (Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services): Housing Fire Safety guidance. Local Government Association: Fire safety in purpose-built flats. Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG): Fire safety risk assessment: Sleeping Accommodation. DCLG: Fire safety risk assessment: residential care premises. BS 9999: 2008 Code of practice for fire safety in Design, Management and use of Buildings. BS 9991: 2011 Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. The Building Regulations 2000 - document B. Policy: Fire Safety Policy 2 2
3. SCOPE 3.1 This Policy applies to all employees, volunteers and Board and Committee members. It also applies to those employed by agencies under agreements with C&C. All of these will be referred to as worker in this Policy. 3.2 This document applies to all C&C owned, leased and managed stock. 3.2. This document also applies to any duty or tenure where C&C may have an interest in or with, to ensure that any known risks are managed appropriately. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES 4.1 The Chief Executive of C&C has ultimate responsibility for compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, these are delegated throughout the company to ensure day to day activities are carried out in meeting with compliance. 4.2 The Fire Risk Assessor has responsibility for conducting Fire Risk Assessments in accordance with an agreed programme, reporting on performance and overseeing delivery against the respective action plans. 4.3 Staff operationally have responsibility for delivery of the actions contained within the respective action plans in accordance with the agreed timescales. 4.4 Failure by any worker to comply with this Policy may lead to disciplinary action being taken against them. Any disciplinary action will be dealt with in accordance with the Disciplinary Policy. 5. POLICY 5.1 FIRE RISK ASSESSMENTS 5.1.2 C&C are required by the Fire Safety Order to undertake fire risk assessments of all properties where it has fire safety duties and/or responsibilities under the order. The regularity of checks will be : - Care homes or extra-care schemes, and all properties that have been converted (e.g. house into self-contained apartments or HMO) every 12 months - Purpose build sheltered accommodation every 24 months Policy: Fire Safety Policy 3 3
- Purpose build supported and general needs accommodation every 48 months 5.2 GENERAL FIRE PRECAUTIONS 5.2.1 General fire precautions in relation to Fire Safety Management includes : measures to reduce the risk of fire and the risk of the spread of fire within a property. protecting the means of escape. providing means of firefighting. providing means of detecting fire and giving warning in case of fire. measures to mitigate the effects of a fire in the property. emergency procedures to be followed in the event of a fire. 5.2.2 In the majority of fires, the fire and smoke rarely effects outside of the home/room where it started, therefore the greatest risk from fire is to the people in the vicinity of that area. C&C therefore gives priority to measures under its control which prevent or minimise the risk of fire (such as gas and electrical maintenance and inspection) together with which provide early warning of the fire (smoke detectors and fire alarms) as well as those which contain the fire so that once warned they can move quickly out of danger (including compartmentation, fire doors and protected escape routes). 5.2.3 A property s fire evacuation strategy will be routinely reviewed as part of the fire risk assessment. 5.2.4 Where the building design, condition and risk profile will allow, C&C will adopt a stay put strategy for residential properties. Residents who are not in the area of a property affected by a fire are advised to close their doors and windows and remain in their homes. Residents in any areas affected by fire are directed to leave the building by the most direct means available. 5.2.5 Where a stay put strategy is considered to be inappropriate for a particular property (for example an older property with inadequate compartmentation) where full, horizontal, and/or staged evacuation would be more appropriate for the occupants, then the relevant risk factors influencing this decision will be identified in the fire risk assessment with an explanation supporting the evacuation strategy. 5.2.6 C&C will implement and maintain general fire precautions specified by fire safety design or as the result of a fire risk assessment. Requests for Policy: Fire Safety Policy 4 4
installations of equipment and alterations to fire precaution arrangements will be individually assessed as and when they are being considered. 5.2.7 Where any property has had refurbishment or remodelling works undertaken then an update fire risk assessment will be undertaken upon the works completing and prior to occupation (whether the existing FRA is in date or needs renewing). 5.3 SIGNAGE AND COMMUNICATION OF EVACUATION STRATEGY 5.3.1 C&C recognises that traditional signs or posted notices may not be an effective means of communicating instructions in the event of the fire where an evacuation proves necessary. Accordingly details of the property s fire evacuation strategy will be communicated at least annually in a way that is tailored to meet with the nature of the accommodation and circumstances of its residents by the person responsible for the schemes day to day management. Regardless of what other means of communicating the evacuation strategy is adopted, a clear written description of it will be posted prominently within the entrance of the property for the benefit of visitors and emergency services personnel. 5.4 FIRE DETECTION AND ALARMS 5.4.1 C&C considers that the most appropriate means of detecting fire and giving warning in a residential setting is wired smoke and heat detectors within the dwelling. These are installed in new dwellings in keeping with the Building Regulations and installed in existing dwellingsduring maintenance and improvement programs wherever practicable. 5.5. QUALITY ASSURANCE: 5.5.1 C&C will assess using the principles of PAS 7 the effectiveness of their fire safety policy/strategy and arrangements through formal scheme and premises based audits conducted at periods determined on the basis of risk and informed by the nature of accommodation and its residents. 5.6 PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT & REPORTING: 5.6.1 Fire Safety related performance information is routinely provided for operationally and seeks to ensure and provide for the effective management and delivery of the Fire Audit Programme and resultant Action Plans. Policy: Fire Safety Policy 5 5
5.6.2 Reports to the Health Safety and Fire Steering Group, EMT and the Board inform on levels of overall compliance and associated activity. 6. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION 6.1 Supporting fire related policies/procedures and guidance is also contained within the following; Fire procedure and guidance. Contractors Management Fire Policy. Fire Information, Instruction and Communication Policy. Smoking Policy. Evacuation and Means of Escape Policy. Fire Extinguisher. Policy: Fire Safety Policy 6 6
Equality Impact Assessment Full screening exercise Name of Policy Fire Safety Policy Department Property Services Date 07 April 2017 Describe main purpose of Initiative, Policy, Project What are the main activities? To ensure fire safety is proactively managed in order to reduce the risk to our residents, staff and visitors and maintain safe buildings. To work closely with our stakeholders Undertake and manage Fire Risk Assessments and carry out resultant actions from the process. Undertake regular reviews to ensure on-going compliance and safety. Who is intended Existing residents, future residents, visitors and staff. to benefit? Based on existing knowledge and information use the following checklist to decide what the impact might be on different groups and what activity needs to be undertaken to mitigate that impact. These different customer groups are more likely to be excluded. Age Disabled People Faith Do you know about the breakdown of people who use your services compared to the community profile? C&C residents cover a range of age groups. There are residents with a range of disabilities. Information limited at present Will some people be unable to use or benefit from this service? If any groups are disadvantaged is this likely to be unlawful? How could the initiative improve equality of access? No No The Policy seeks to ensure that access and egress is clearly stated for all buildings taking account of the age profile of the residents. No No Information is held at a local level which identifies individuals in terms of mobility and potential assistance in the event of an evacuation. No No NA Policy: Fire Safety Policy 7 7
Sexuality Gender Race Information limited at present Information limited at present Information limited at present No No NA No No NA No No NA Policy: Fire Safety Policy 8 8