The LWF Blog
Fire Risk Assessment for Healthcare Premises – Fire Protection Measures Solutions – Part 132
April 3, 2023 11:44 amLWF’s blog series for healthcare professionals aims to give information on best practice of fire safety in hospitals and other healthcare premises. In part 131 of Fire Risk Assessments for Healthcare Premises, LWF discussed the fifth example given in HTM 03-03 Part K – Dependent patients with highly infectious diseases. In part 132, we consider the sixth example – Delayed evacuation of very high dependency patients.
In a healthcare building that exhibits certain characteristics or particular challenges to effective fire safety management, particular arrangements may need to be put into place to mitigate risks.
The care of very high dependency patients involves the provision of additional fire protection measures. The survival of a patient who is in an operating theatre or a critical care area may depend on them not being moved when the fire alarm is triggered. It is important that provision is made so that such patients can be stabilised and prepared for evacuation and that the time is available to do so.
The full evacuation of a healthcare facility that includes care for very high dependency patients is only undertaken as an absolute last resort when no other options remain. The delay required to prepare very high dependency patients for an evacuation will require additional fire protection provision, no matter if the patients are located on a low or high floor.
It is suggested that the following factors are considered and a combination of measures applied:
- A very high level of observation
- A very high staff to patient ratio
- A high degree of refuge provided
- Increased and higher-level fire training for staff appropriate to the specific location
- Good communications within the department and between the co-ordinator and the fire service
- Additional zoning of the fire alarm system
- Provision of sprinklers, wherever it is appropriate
It should be noted that progressive horizontal evacuation may well be the default plan in such healthcare environments and that this will involve the provision of additional fire-resisting compartmentation and fire-stopping measures at the design/build stage to ensure the compartments provide the required time/protection from fire and its products. Proper upkeep and maintenance of compartments is of the utmost importance.
In Part 133 of LWF’s blog series, LWF will discuss the seventh example of alternative solutions given in HTM 05-03 – ‘Hospitals designed to the Nucleus standards’. 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 since 1986 to produce innovative and exciting building projects. If you would like further information on how LWF and fire strategies could assist you, please contact LWF on freephone 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.