The LWF Blog

Fire Engineering Design and Risk Assessment – Fire Safety Management – Part 28

May 11, 2020 11:09 am

In LWFs Fire Engineering blog series for Architects and others involved in building design, we have been looking at those activities of a company which can be classed as fire safety management. In part 27, LWF looked at particular areas which should be included in the emergency plan, before beginning to talk about training and education. In part 28, we will continue looking at the content of fire emergency training

The training and education of all staff in an organisation of appropriate actions to take in a fire situation to protect occupants and ensure a safe evacuation from the building should be undertaken in addition to fire safety awareness and prevention training. In addition to those points for training laid out in part 27 of this series, the following areas should be covered.

A basic understanding of how fire doors work must be given to employees to ensure they are aware of the need for all doors to be closed in a fire situation and when the fire alarm is sounded. Fire doors should never be propped open.

Where possible and appropriate, staff should be trained to undertake the fire emergency shutdown procedures for any process and machinery and other non-essential equipment on the premises, as well as isolating power supplies.

Evacuation procedures should be understood and training on evacuation of the premises should be undertaken to ensure staff are aware of how to assist visitors, guests or members of the public who may be on site by reassuring them, escorting them to the fire exits and encouraging them to a safe space outside of the building.

The fire safety log book should be updated to include details of all training given, including the dates, duration, name of person leading the training, the nature of the training or instruction given and a list of the persons trained.

A fire emergency plan must be developed to incorporate a fire routine to cover all possible situations and the necessary actions, from a false alarm to a major incident. The routine should take into account the nature of the business and activities undertaken in the building, the fire precautions provided and the fire warning and communications systems in place, and emergency actions which should be taken.

In part 29, LWF will continue looking at the content of the fire emergency plan. 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.