UCL ESTATES Fire Safety UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON BUILDING FIRE STRATEGY Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, BS 9999: 2008 (Annex H) & BS PAS 911 Name & Address of Building: Occupying Department(s) / School(s) / Institute(s): University of London Observatory University College London 553 Watford Way, Mill Hill Park London,NW7 2QS Department of Physics & Astronomy Basement Lower Ground Ground 1st Floor 2nd Floor 3rd Floor 4th Floor 5th Floor Roof Level Roof Plant Roof Plant General Building Information: (NB: Height to top floor level & all measurements approx) Building Construction: Evacuation Time: Building Height: Approximate Floor Areas: Class B* 2½ Minutes* <12 m Fry Bldg: 135m² Wilson Bldg: 105m² Radcliffe Bldg: 490m² Fire Brigade Reference Number: N/A Previous Significant Fire Incidents: Occupants: Purpose Group(s) Guidance: Educational (PG 5) None UCL Staff / Students / Visitors General Building Occupancy Building Ownership: Property Tenants: A UCL Property UCL Departments Sleeping Accommodation: Occupant Numbers: None Approx: 75 Variable depending on Lectures etc BS 9999 - Risk Profile(s): [Para 6.4] Risk profile Level: A2 BS 9999 - Management Level: [Para 8.3. (Clause 2-10)] Management Level: 2 Date Last Amended: Nov 11 1 of 11.
CONTENTS: 1.0. Record of Fire Brigade Equipment & Facilities... 3 2.0. General Building Information... 4 3.0. Legislative Requirements... 4 4.0. Risk Profile Level (BS 9999-2008)... 5 5.0. Construction and Compartmentation... 5 6.0. Means of Escape (Moe)... 5 7.0. Means of Warning in Case of Fire... 6 8.0. Means of Securing the Means of Escape... 6 9.0. Fire Brigade Access and Facilities... 7 10.0. Disability Provision and Facilities... 7 11.0. Fire Incidents & Departmental Cooperation on Fire Safety Issues... 7 12.0. Fire Safety Management... 8 13.0. Landlord Responsibilities... 9 14.0. General Statement... 9 A1. General Fire Alarm Cause & Effect Arrangements... 10 B1. UCL Building Fire Alarm Aide Memoir to the Fire Alarm System... 11 FIRE ALARM INFORMATION & DEFINITIONS (To Assist with Annex B) 1. In buildings (other than dwellings) where shouting fire or ringing a manual gong would not be heard by all occupants in the building is required to have fire alarm meeting BS 5839: Part 1. 2. The law requires that there is the following basic provision of fire alarm systems: A means for raising the alarm to give warning to occupants (e.g. Manual Call points) A means of giving warning of fire to all occupants (bells or electronic sounders that can be heard in all parts f the building) 3.. Automatic Fire Detection (smoke detectors etc) are not a legal requirement but help offset certain risk conditions and may provide other protection to valuable or essential property etc (a). MCP - Manual Call Points (break glass units raising the alarm manually instead of raising the alarm automatically though smoke or heat detection. (b). AFD - Automatic Fire Detection or smoke, flame or heat detection (c). FAP - Fire Alarm Panel (d). FADE - Fire Alarm Activated Do not Enter illuminated warning signs located at building internal / external boundaries (e). Category M - manual systems and, therefore, incorporate no automatic fire detectors. (f). Category L1 - systems installed throughout all areas of the building - the objective of a L1 system is to offer the earliest possible warning of fire, so as to achieve the longest available time for escape. (g). Category L2 - systems installed only in defined parts of the building - the objective of a L2 system is identical to that of a L3 system, with the additional objective of affording early warning of fire in specified areas of high fire hazard level and/or high fire risk. (h). Category L3 - systems designed to give a warning of fire at an early enough stage to enable all occupants, other than possibly those in the room of fire origin, to escape safely, before the escape routes are impassable owing to the presence of fire, smoke or toxic gases. To achieve the above objective it will normally be necessary to install detectors in rooms, which open onto an escape. (i). Category L4 - systems installed within those parts of the escape routes comprising circulation areas and circulation spaces, such as corridors and stairways. The objective of a L4 system is to enhance the safety of occupants by providing warning of smoke within escape routes. Date Last Amended: Nov 11 2 of 11.
1.0. RECORD OF FIRE BRIGADE EQUIPMENT & FACILITIES: ITEMS FIRE BRIGADE PROVISION IN THIS BUILDING REMARKS INTERNAL FIRE HOSE REELS: DRY RISING / DROPPING FIRE FIGHTING MAINS: FOAM INLETS: FIRE FIGHTING LIFT: FIRE FIGHTING STAIRS: FIRE SHUTTERS: Internal Dropdown Fire Shutters Provided SPRINKLERS: Basement Only Other Areas GAS SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS Fixed Gas Fire Suppression System Inergen / Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Room Flood System SPECIFIC BASEMENT MECHANICAL SMOKE EXTRACT MEASURES: SMOKE CONTROL MEASURES ELSEWHERE: Smoke Control and Venting Equipment FIREMAN S SWITCHES: Fireman s Switches to isolate High Voltage Hazards by the Fire Brigade EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES OR CONDITIONS: Bulk Storage Facility / Other Locations: FIRE ENGINEERING DESIGN & SOLUTIONS PROVIDED: Natural smoke venting using window and doors only Date Last Amended: Nov 11 3 of 11.
2.0. GENERAL BUILDING INFORMATION 2.1. General Building Description The University of London Observatory has three buildings, which house the five telescopes on site. In addition to the equipment rooms, other accommodation includes classroom, office, workshop and staff facilities. All buildings on site are small, with the Radcliffe and Wilson Observatories providing all the ancillary accommodation on site. In 1925, Mr J. G. Wilson offered to the University of London a 24-inch reflecting telescope owned by his late father. The telescope had been built by Grubb of Dublin in 1881 and was located at W. E. Wilson's private observatory in Daramona, County Westmeath, Ireland. After consideration of many sites for the permanent location of the telescope, an agreement was reached with Hendon Urban District Council to lease a site in Mill Hill Park for 999 years at a nominal rent. The Observatory building was designed by Mr L. Rome Guthrie and constructed by Messrs Leslie and Co; construction commenced in July 1928 and was completed in 1929. The original reinforced concrete observatory building contained the dome for the Wilson 24- inch reflector, a Solar spectrographic laboratory and darkroom, a computing room and a workshop. In January 1930, Mr HR Fry of Barnet presented the University with an 8-inch refractor made by Cooke of York in 1862: Mr Fry met most of the cost of its reconditioning and subsequent re-erection. A new small building was erected in 1931 to house the Fry refractor. In 1934, the Radcliffe Observatory (then at Oxford) was being relocated near Pretoria in South Africa; the Radcliffe Trustees offered the University the twin 24-inch/18-inch astrographic refractor made by Grubb of Dublin in 1901. The offer was accepted and the telescope was dismantled and brought to London in 1935 together with its dome and rising floor. Additional land was rented from Hendon Urban District Council and a new building was constructed between 1937 and July 1938. The building cost 2300, with an additional 1000 for auxiliary equipment and furnishings and for the re-erection of the telescope, dome and rising floor. The new building was opened on 1 st July 1938. Building works completed in 2000 provided a new structure on the Observatory's southern perimeter to house three telescopes (including the restored Fry refractor and an Electron C14) in the Fry Observatory, refurbished and expanded classroom areas, and much-needed office and workshop space. The Department of Physics and Astronomy is based on site and, due to the nature of work, the premises are used during the hours of darkness. Apart from staff and students, the University of London Observatory is open to the public and to schools for educational visits, when around 15 to 20 visitors may attend the site. The site is also used for filming on an occasional basis, when both internal and external areas may be used. 3.0. LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS 3.1. Building Regulations - any works undertaken in this building is subject to the statutory requirements of the latest edition of Part B of the Building Regulations 2000. Guidance to satisfying these requirements is provided in the Approved Document B (ADB), 2007 Edition. 3.2. Fire Engineering - there are no fire engineering design or strategies current used in these premises. 3.3. Section 20, London Building Act - the premises are of such a size that they have features and design requirements that are not subject to Section 20 of the London Building Acts. 3.4. Heritage Listing and Grading - the premises are listed Grade 2 by English Heritage. Date Last Amended: Nov 11 4 of 11.
3.5. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 - the premises are subject to the provisions of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and a Fire Risk Assessment regime required under these regulations. A formal RRO Audit is carried out every three years or after any subsequent change. 3.6. Other Statutory Measures - none identified or applicable. 4.0. RISK PROFILE LEVEL (BS 9999-2008) 4.1. Under BS 9999: Part 6 the following risk profile is given to this building subject to the information available at the time. This profile should always be checked by fire engineers, consultants and architects prior to its use in supporting any building design, resulting in changes to the premises overall fire strategy: Occupancy Characteristics: Level A (Awake and Familiar) Estimated Fire Growth Rate: Level 2 Medium Risk Profile: A2 Minimum Management Level: Level 2 Overall o Para 8.3.2 - Planning = Level 2 o Para 8.3.3 - Resources & Authority = Level 2 o Para 8.3.4 - Staffing Levels = Level 2 o Para 8.3.5 - Fire Training = Level 2 o Para 8.3.6 - Work Control = Level 2 o Para 8.3.7 - Communications Procedures: = Level 2 o Para 8.3.8 - Maintenance & Testing = Level 2 o Para 8.3.9 - Liaison with Fire Brigade = Level 2 o Para 8.3.10 - Contingency Planning = Level 2 5.0. CONSTRUCTION AND COMPARTMENTATION All buildings are of brick, block and concrete construction, with sheet steel, domed roofs above telescope areas and some flat roofing. The Radcliffe Observatory building also has a pitched, tiled roof. 6.0. MEANS OF ESCAPE (MoE) 6.1. Time of Evacuation - time of evacuation is dependent on the building construction and occupancy. The construction of buildings is divided into three basic types: Class A - complete non-combustible construction, i.e. elements of structure, floors, and walls with supporting structure of brick or concrete; Class B - traditional construction, i.e. non-combustible walls with combustible floors; Class C - combustible construction, i.e. timber floors and walls. 6.2. Based on these classes arbitrary evacuation times were decided upon and the times that are generally accepted as: Class 'B' construction - 2.5 minutes Note: This is not a hard and fast time, and can be extended or reduced according to the particular circumstances. Date Last Amended: Nov 11 5 of 11.
6.3. The Means of Escape (MoE) strategy for this building is based on simultaneous evacuation of all occupants using all available exits and stair enclosures, and is summarised as follows: The occupied areas of the buildings are provided with protected staircase enclosures for means of escape purposes. The premises occupancy is unlikely to exceed the stair capacity, Fry Dome - simple, single storey building, with a maximum travel distance of 16m. Wilson Observatory - simple building, with an observatory level on the upper ground floor level. All travel distances are less than 10m. The upper ground floor is provided with external steps from the balcony and observatory areas. Radcliffe Observatory - the building is on two floors, with single staircase conditions in the Observatory and the south and north wings. o The Observatory has a moving floor that can change the level by around 2m, o A protected staircase enclosure is provided in the north wing. Fire resisting doors have been provided with intumescent strips, but not all doors have been fitted with cold smoke seals. The door to the understairs cupboard does not appear to be fire resisting, o The south wing staircase is not protected. However, travel distances do not exceed 18m, which complies with guidance for small buildings. The means of escape from the first floor classroom passes the high risk workshop and storeroom areas on the ground floor. Only the workshop doors are fire resisting, o The central observatory section is on the upper level and has a walkway around the circular perimeter on both working levels of the Observatory. The resulting travel distances exceed maximum guidelines for single direction escape. Whilst, in the observatory area, the risk is low having total vision, the ground floor area under the Observatory s platform is used for storage, which slightly increases the risk. The ground floor store is strictly controlled and automatic smoke detection has been provided at both ground floor and observatory levels as a compensatory feature. Therefore, the existing arrangements are considered acceptable, Mobility impaired disabled persons can only access the ground floor areas of these buildings, 7.0. MEANS OF WARNING IN CASE OF FIRE This building is equipped with a single stage addressable fire alarm system which when activated, emits a continuous alarm throughout the building, The fire alarm panel is interconnected with all of the three buildings, Automatic Fire Detection (AFD) - heat & smoke detecting devices are provided to Life Risk 3 (L3) Standard, Fire alarm manual call points are found in routes leading from the building (including corridors, landings, staircases & final exits), The fire alarm system is monitored on 24-hour basis by Alarm Receiving Company (ARC), The fire alarm system is being maintained and tested in accordance with: BS 5839: Part 1 through the UCL Director of Estates and the Head of Engineering & Maintenance, 8.0. MEANS OF SECURING THE MEANS OF ESCAPE: 8.1 Emergency lighting is provided in accordance with current standards and conventions and is in working condition. Date Last Amended: Nov 11 6 of 11.
8.2. An addressable emergency lighting system is provided in accordance with current standards and conventions and is in working condition. 8.3. The emergency lighting is being maintained in accordance with BS 5266: Part 1, through the UCL Director of Estates and the Head of Engineering & Maintenance. 9.0. FIRE BRIGADE ACCESS AND FACILITIES 9.1. The Fire Brigade have vehicular / other access to Site via the following: Main Entrance (Off Watford Way), 9.2. Dry Riser - dry rising valves are not provided in the premises. 9.3. Smoke Ventilation Provision - is not provided. However, natural smoke ventilation procedures can be applied to most areas including stairs and lift landings. 9.4. Fire Hose Reels - fire hose reels are not provided in the premises. 9.5. Sprinklers - sprinklers are not provided in the premises. 9.6. Gas Fire Suppression Systems - a gas system is not provided in the premises. 9.7 Fire Extinguishers - fire-extinguishing equipment is provided and maintained in accordance with BS 5306: Parts 3 and 8, throughout the building for the use of the staff and fire brigade. 9.8. Fire fighters' Switches for Luminous Tube Signs etc - none provided in the premises. 9.9. Fire Brigade Contingency Plans - the fire brigade contingency plans are provided for this building in information boxes adjacent to the master fire alarm panel, in accordance with BS 9999: 2008: Annex M. 9.10. Maintenance - maintenance of fire brigade equipment and facilities is the responsibility of the UCL Director of Estates and the Head of Engineering & Maintenance. 10.0. DISABILITY PROVISION AND FACILITIES 10.1. Disabled Refuges - no designated disabled refuges are provided at present. 10.2. Refuge and other provisions will be made when a need arises and a student or staff PEEP requires changes to be made. 11.0. FIRE INCIDENTS & DEPARTMENTAL COOPERATION ON FIRE SAFETY ISSUES 11.1. General - Heads of Departments occupying the premises are required to liaise and cooperate when dealing with a fire incident with all other Departments, the Landlord if different to UCL Estates and should have suitable arrangements in place as set out in the UCL fire safety standards at www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/maintenance/fire/documents/uclfire_mi_01-rev4-apr11.pdf 11.2. Fire Alarm Activation - on activation of the fire alarm system, (either manually or by automatic fire detection) the following arrangements are in place: The fire alarm system automatically sends a fire signal to the an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) who then dial 999 and call the fire brigade, directing them to the most appropriate building entrance depending on the location of the system (24/7 coverage), Date Last Amended: Nov 11 7 of 11.
Departmental Senior Fire Evacuation Marshals (SFEM) should liaise with each other and provided any assistance necessary to the Fire Brigade, Security and Duty Maintenance Staff etc on their arrival. In addition, they should provide specialist information to the fire brigade and the Local Authorities on the specific hazards related to the premises, laboratories and processes, Note: Departmental staff will need to be self-reliant when dealing with a fire incident at the premises and will need to deal with the fire brigade until the incident is terminated, 12.0. FIRE SAFETY MANAGEMENT 12.1. Fire Safety Management Policy: Statement of Fire Safety Management Policy, which reflects the importance University College London attaches to fire safety and is authorised by the Provost & President in his capacity as the Responsible Person, under the Fire Safety Order 2005 is provided. The statement and specific details for training provision can be viewed at the UCL Fire Safety Web Site: www.ucl.ac.uk/fire. 12.2. Fire Evacuation Marshals (FEMs) and Staff Training: Fire Evacuation Marshals - Heads of Departments shall designate sufficient staff to act as Fire Evacuation Marshals (FEMs), who are to be provided on a ratio of approximately three FEMs per floor or area occupied, during the Departments published opening or normal working hours. FEMs are necessary, as it is not practical to have a meaningful register of occupants. Formal Induction Safety Training (Staff and Postgraduate Research Students) - Heads of Departments shall ensure that all new members of staff and full-time postgraduate research students must attend the Health and Safety Induction Course run by UCL Safety Services, which includes an element of fire safety training and information. Local Fire Induction Familiarisation (Staff and Contractors Employed by the Department) - Heads of Departments shall provide Local Fire Safety Induction familiarisation as part of their local safety arrangements for permanent new and temporary staff. Whether or not directly employed by UCL, but working in their department, to comply with the Fire Safety Order 2005 and Health & Safety requirements. Local Fire Annual Familiarisation (Staff and Contractors Employed by the Department) - Heads of Departments shall provide Local Annual Fire Safety Familiarisation as part of their local safety arrangements for permanent and temporary staff. Whether or not directly employed by UCL, but working in their department, to comply with the Fire Safety Order 2005 and Health & Safety requirements. Fire Evacuation Drills - a formal Annual Fire Evacuation Drill is carried out at the start of the Autumn Term (October) of each year by the UCL Fire Officer / or as required by local management. Any unwanted alarm activations throughout the year should only be treated as supplementary evacuation drills to the annual supervised fire exercise. Heads of Departments, whose premises are not part of the fire drill schedule undertaken by the UCL Fire Officer, must carry out and record at least one annual fire drill. The route for making reasonable adjustment and formulating an Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is a form called 'Assessment for Emergency Evacuation Planning of People with Restricted Mobility or Sensory Disabilities from UCL Premises' and is available from the fire safety web site (www.ucl.ac.uk/fire) under Disabilities. Date Last Amended: Nov 11 8 of 11.
13.0. LANDLORD RESPONSIBILITIES 13.1. The Landlord is (University of London) Director of Estates provides all maintenance and support to the premises and acts as the Landlord s representative. 14.0. GENERAL STATEMENT 14.1. The Fire Risk Assessment and Audit is to provide an assessment of the risk to life from fire in building, and, where appropriate, to make recommendations to ensure compliance with fire safety legislation. It focuses primarily on the building structural condition and the physical adequacy of the building s fire safety and fire brigade provision and responsibility for the maintenance of fire equipment and will generally be undertaken approximately every 3 years. This audit will look at general departmental fire safety management and training requirements, but may not be departmental specific or in sufficient depth for occupying Departments within buildings to satisfy the Enforcing Authority. Therefore, it will be necessary for additional simple local Fire Risk Assessments to be undertaken by the Head of Department for their areas of responsibility. See Technical Note TN077 at www.ucl.ac.uk/fire. 14.2. A generic Emergency Evacuation Plan for the premises is also provided as part of the Fire Risk Assessment with a general statement on the current disability egress provision. Date Last Amended: Nov 11 9 of 11.
Annex A A1. GENERAL FIRE ALARM CAUSE & EFFECT ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PREMISES WITHOUT MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL INTERFACE: FIRE DETECTED Fire Alarm Raise Fire Alarm Sounds throughout all buildings Signal to Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) Occupants Alerted & Evacuation Initiated 999 Call To Fire Brigade Use of Fire Extinguishers FEMs Assist Evacuation Fire Brigade Met at Bldg Escape Routes Clear of smoke or Fire Disable Occupants Assisted from Premises or into Disabled Refuges FB FB FIRE OUT! Professional Fire Fighting Intervention Professional Fire Fighters Aid Rescue PEOPLE OUT! Date Last Amended: Nov 11 10 of 11.
Annex B B1. UCL BUILDING FIRE ALARM AIDE MEMOIR TO THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM: Bldg No: 120-122 UNIVERSITY OF LONDON OBSERVATORY MILL HILL Manual Call Points (MCP) with Automatic Fire Detection to Life 3 (L3) Fire Alarm Design Fire Panel Locations Master Fire Alarm Panel: Panel Access Enable: Secondary Panels: Main Entrance to Radcliffe Dome Offices 4 Digit Code N/A Is the system interfaced with any other fire alarm panels? Bldg Name: N/A Interconnected to Other Buildings Yes / No Are FADE signs provided? Fire Alarm Activated - Do Not Enter Signs (FADE) None Do Not Enter Signs Yes / No Is there a gas suppression system connected? Location: None Inergen Gas System Yes / No Is there an Impaired Hearing Pager transmitter connected? Impaired Hearing Pager System: None Deaf Pager Yes / No Fire Signal Monitored Other Information: Is the fire signal monitored? Yes / No Fire signal monitored by the UCL Security Control Room 24/7 All building covered by one fire alarm system Date Last Amended: Nov 11 11 of 11.