The LWF Blog

Fire Engineering Design and Risk Assessment – Fire Safety Management – Part 15

February 10, 2020 2:48 pm

In LWF’s Fire Engineering blog series for Architects and others involved in building design, we have been looking at the activities of a company which are classed as fire safety management. In part 14, we began to look at the role of the fire safety manager and consider their authority and duties in the workplace. In part 15, LWF will discuss the responsibilities of the fire safety manager.

The fire safety manager must ensure they are fully conversant with any and all fire safety features provided at the premises and have an understanding of their purpose. This should include active fire protection features, such as fire alarms and detection equipment, and passive fire protection, including fire-resistant construction.

It is also important that they are aware of any particular risks on the premises so that those risks can be mitigated and eradicated where possible.

The fire safety manager should ensure they are fully conversant with their duties towards people with disabilities, either permanent or temporary. This should include people with learning or cognitive disabilities, people who are blind or deaf or who have significant hearing or sight loss and it may include people who have permanent mobility issues or temporary issues due to accident or advanced pregnancy, for example.

It is necessary that the fire safety manger is familiar with all legal duties, codes and regulations that may apply and all terms, conditions and restrictions imposed by any licence.

The fire safety manager should be on site at any time the premises are occupied or open to the public. If they are not able to be on site, a competent person who has the responsibility delegated in writing should be in place.

In order to maintain effective fire safety standards, the fire safety manager should have the authority to deal with individuals who could endanger others through their actions. Such incidences might relate to the vandalism of fire safety systems, the sabotage or tampering with provisions for their own convenience, or those people who ignore no smoking rules, or who block exits or exit routes.

The fire safety manager should be the competent person who is able to undertake the fire risk assessment required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and equivalent in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In part 16, LWF will take a look at the other duties of the fire safety manager, which will constitute much of their day to day work. In the meantime, if you have any questions about this blog, or wish to discuss your own project with one of our fire engineers, please contact us.

Lawrence Webster Forrest has been working with their clients for over 25 years to produce innovative and exciting building projects. If you would like further information on how LWF and fire strategies could assist you, please contact the LWF office on 0800 410 1130.

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.