The LWF Blog
Fire Safety for Facilities Management Personnel – Fire Safety Management – Part 294
March 10, 2025 11:42 amLawrence Webster Forrest (LWF) is a specialist fire engineering and fire risk management consultancy whose aim is to give information on best practice in fire safety for facilities management personnel through this blog series. In part 293, LWF discussed the formulation of fire safety policies. In part 294, we consider the information and guidance available for fire safety management (FSM) and how to assess the effectiveness in an organisation.
The formulation of an appropriate fire safety management policy is the first step towards achieving suitable fire safety management standards in an organisation. However, effective fire safety management does not end with policy formation. FSM should be ongoing and routine, in that it should adapt to changing circumstances.
The range of activities involved with fire safety management is wide, and so it can be easier to recognise than describe the very many good and bad practices involved. Fortunately, BS 9999 Fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings. Code of practice provides guidance for those people responsible for fire safety management.
In addition, the FPA’s Library of Fire Safety offers many free documents giving guidance on fire safety and fire safety management.
When assessing the standard of fire safety management in an organisation, there are certain indicators which should be noted, as follows:
- A defined responsibility for fire safety in every building
- A fire risk assessment which is properly documented and regularly reviewed
- A fire safety manual, setting out measures for fire prevention, occupant protection and arrangements for management of fire safety.
- Arrangements for assistance (can be in-house or external) to comply with fire safety legislation and fire protection policies
- Fire procedures which are well-documented with arrangements for the evacuation of people with disabilities
- Staff training in fire safety matters, with additional training for people with special responsibilities
- Fire warden appointments where it is deemed necessary
- Fire drills conducted appropriately
- In-house fire safety inspections, carried out on a regular basis
- Inspection, testing and maintenance of fire protection equipment, contracts & arrangements
- Inspection, testing and maintenance of plant and equipment, including electrical installations.
In part 295 of this series, LWF will continue to look at the areas to be assessed when considering the effectiveness of fire safety management in an organisation. In the meantime, if you have any queries about your own facilities or wish to discuss this blog series, please contact LWF on freephone 0800 410 1130.
Lawrence Webster Forrest is a fire engineering consultancy based in Surrey with over 35 years’ experience, which provides a wide range of consultancy services to professionals involved in the design, development and construction and operation of buildings.
While care has been taken to ensure that information contained in LWF’s publications is true and correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of this information.