http://www.lwf.co.uk/blog_rss.php Lawrence Webster Forrest Blog Posts en-uk Copyright 2012 Lawrence Webster Forrest 72 23 http://www.lwf.co.uk//blog_rss.php ... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=20 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:47:31 +0000 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=20 Exit Doors Protected Routes Travel Distance Signage In any workplace it is important that there are sufficient means by which the occupants can make a safe escape in the event of fire. It should be possible for those present to simply turn their back on the fire and escape by their own unaided efforts to a place of safety. ... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=19 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:53:46 +0000 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=19 One of biggest criticisms of the current Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) process and of individual FRA's revolves around competency, and the issue of the assessment being 'suitable and sufficient'. In fact data from the Fire and Rescue Services indicate that the main non compliance that leads to enforcement action is the failure of the duty holders to carry out appropriate FRA's. There is a concern that with a lack... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=18 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:13:50 +0000 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=18 Simple, clear and concise Action to take on discovering a fire action to take on hearing the fire alarm Location of assembly points Separate instructions for certain groups / individuals. You should find copies of the Fire Action Notice strategically placed around the building, preferably adjacent to the fire alarm points (though possibly... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=17 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:10:58 +0000 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=17 Training Testing and Maintenance Record Keeping Fire Risk Assessment Regular staff training and evacuation drills are a legal requirement for any business. This should usually be carried our every six months, though in some professions such as healthcare it is normal to train staff more frequently. Different levels of training will... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=16 Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:08:32 +0000 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=16 Policy Procedures To safeguard employees, to protect premises and contents, to ensure continuity of the business and comply with legal obligations, it is essential that a Fire Safety Policy is drawn up and fully implemented. The policy must detail the agreed procedures for responding to an outbreak of fire or actuation of the fire alarm. It should detail the responsibilities of managers and others with specific responsibilities... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=15 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:27:57 +0000 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=15 In recent years the market of fire risk assessors has grown and in the current economic climate, Fire Risk Assessment, as a 'product' is viewed as a commodity, with many people now making a decision on which assessor to conduct an FRA based on price. Whilst competition is healthy and the market 'rules' will dictate price, any individual procuring this service must ensure they are comparing like assessments. In recent times, much criticism... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=14 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:02:47 +0000 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=14 Fire-resisting Construction Compartmentation Fire-stopping Many of the structural elements of a building are designed to provide, or benefit from, a particular standard of fire resistance. This will usually be specified at the planning stage, or at the time of subsequent alterations. To protect means of escape, the normal specification is 30 minutes (for example in walls, doors and glazing forming a protected corridor or stairway) though in some cases this... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=13 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:20:59 +0000 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=13 All too often, we look so closely at our own issues, that we forget the impact others can have on us. This is also very true in the world of fire safety and the importance of it highlighted by recent high profile fires. Neighbours are a risk and must be considered as such. For example, if your building was next to, or on the same site as a firework factory, you should be conscious... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=12 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:42:45 +0000 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=12 Fire Exits Locks and Opening Mechanisms Exit Signs Know the location of all fire exit doors, and how to open them in an emergency. These are the external doors allowing people to escape to open air. Depending on their location, they may be fitted with any one of a variety of opening mechanisms, including panic bolts, push bars, thumb turns and security devices. However, their operation (in the direction of escape) must... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=11 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:52:13 +0000 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=11 Fire Doors Smoke Seals Glazed Door Panels Self-Closing Devices Be clear which doors are fitted, as these need to be kept shut, unless they are fitted with automatic self-closing devices linked to the fire alarm system. Most fire doors are fitted with a simple self-closing device, and any glazing incorporated will be fire resisting. Fire doors should always have smoke seals fitted along their top and side edges. In most places... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=10 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:01:52 +0100 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=10 Fire Fighting Equipment Fire Suppression Systems Get to know exactly what fire extinguishers and other fire fighting equipment you have on the premises, and what kinds of fire they can safely be used on. Lift extinguishers off the wall occasionally to get the feel of them, but be prepared for the weight of the larger ones. Extinguishers should be fitted with both a safety pin and an anti-tamper seal - if... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=9 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:13:55 +0100 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=9 Emergency Lighting & Illuminated Exit Signs   Emergency lighting allows people to escape from the premises in the event of a fire or other such emergencies, even if this coincides with a failure of the normal lighting system (which is not uncommon, as a large percentage of fires are caused by electrical faults). ... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=8 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:24:02 +0100 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=8 Fire Alarm and Detection   Identify the fire alarm call points and be sure you always go to the nearest one if you need to raise the alarm.  Your fire alarm system may also include smoke detectors or - in locations susceptible to steam, cooking fumes or dust - heat detectors.... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=7 Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:10:17 +0100 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=7  Active Fire Precautions  Passive Fire Precautions  Fire safety Management  The Fire Action Notice   It is important that all staff are aware of the fire safety features protecting their workplace, and understand how these features are used or what they must be allowed to do. To understand how a building is protected, it is helpful to think in... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=6 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:55:28 +0100 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=6 There has been a recent spate of fires in residential high rise buildings, with another flat fire hitting the headlines this month.  It was reported that a man was taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation with with a further 150 people evacuated. Whilst it appears that significant fire spread did not occur, such a fire should not go ignored and lessons must always be learned. http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=5 Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:54:38 +0100 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=5 Unfortunately in the majority of cases,  breaches to a buildings fire safety provision is only realised in post fire conditions.  However, through enforcement Fire & Rescue Services are now maintaining pressure to ensure that responsible persons are meeting their statutory obligations.  Most authorities have an inspection regime, where deficiencies are identified and appropriate action is taken. Likely... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=4 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:59:01 +0100 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=4 Whilst Fire Engineering has been around for many years now, it is still considered to be a relatively new discipline. In fact, even now, it is not uncommon for us, as Fire Engineers’ to work with project teams for the first time. With some design teams using Fire Engineers for the first time, our level of involvement and our input into the design is not always clearly understood at the outset of... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=3 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:52:13 +0100 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=3 A Mansfield based Fire Risk Assessor has been jailed for eight months having been found guilty of two offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. John O'Rourke of Mansfield Fire Protection Services had originally undertaken the fire risk assessments to The Dial Hotel and Market Inn on behalf of the Hotel owner David Liu, but had failed to identify a number of very significant deficiencies. As the appointed Fire... http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=2 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:01:15 +0100 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=2 We're pleased to welcome you to our new blog. Please check back or subscribe to our RSS feed for the latest updates. http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=1 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:56:23 +0100 http://www.lwf.co.uk/blogpost.php?post_id=1