Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Fire Safety for Landlords: An Essential Guide to Protect your Property and Tenants

As a responsible landlord, it is important to consider all aspects of fire safety for landlords to ensure the safety of your tenants and your property, as well as your legal obligations and responsibilities.

Regardless of the property size, a fire can cause significant damage and danger to life. Therefore, it is essential to understand fire safety and implement appropriate fire safety measures and educate your tenants on fire prevention and emergency procedures.  

In this article, we review the latest new fire safety regulations for blocks of flats and houses with multiple occupancy and guide you through the essential steps and precautions to take as a landlord to protect your property and tenants from the devastating effects of fire.

Update on Fire Safety Regulations for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

To have a comprehensive understanding of fire safety as a landlord, it is crucial to stay informed about the latest changes in fire safety regulations.

All landlords must already comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 sets out the legal requirements required for fire safety in the common areas of houses in multiple occupation, maisonettes and blocks of flats.

Effective from 23 January 2023, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 have come into force. The introduction of these rules by the Government is a direct response to the findings of the Grenfell Tower enquiry.

The new regulations apply to landlords who hold the responsibility for residential buildings and includes Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) leased on a room-only basis.

The regulations are applicable to all buildings that meet the following criteria:

Residential buildings with stories above ground that contain two or more domestic dwellings or rooms for residential purposes.

Possess communal areas that residents must pass through to exit the building.

Consequently, similarly, if you own a property where there is a shop on one floor and residential premises on the second floor, these regulations will be applicable to the shared areas. However, if the entire property is rented out under a joint tenancy, these requirements do not apply.

You can check out your fire safety responsibilities here.

Improvements in Fire Safety Regulations for Blocks of Flats  

The new regulations define what high-rise multi-occupied residential buildings are – at least seven storeys or taller than 18 metres above ground level.

Fire safety for landlords is influenced by the lessons learned from the tragic Grenfell Tower fire. Significant changes have been made to improve fire safety regulations for these blocks of flats, with a particular focus on addressing the risks associated with dangerous cladding. High-rise blocks have additional rules:

• Installation of a secure information box and wayfinding signage that can be seen in smoky conditions and in low light.
• Monthly checks on on-site firefighting equipment and evacuation lifts (if there is an issue with either that can’t be fixed within 24 hours, you must report it to the Fire and Rescue Service).
• Quarterly checks on all fire doors within common areas.
• Annual checks on fire doors at the entrances of individual tenant dwellings.

Owners of flats in buildings with cladding are now required to have an EWS1 form in order to sell or re-mortgage their property. This form serves as verification that the building meets specific fire safety standards, including cladding inspection. The validity of the EWS1 form extends for five years, and only one assessment is needed per building.

Fulfilling your Legal Obligations for Fire Safety as a Landlord

1. Conduct a Fire Risk Assessment

As well as being compliant with fire safety regulations, landlords in England and Wales must periodically conduct fire risk assessments according to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This assessment involves identifying potential causes and sources of fire, evaluating the likelihood of fire occurrence, recognising hazards and determining precautionary measures to mitigate risks. You can conduct the assessment yourself or engage a third-party fire safety specialist for their professional expertise.

2. Ensure Fire-Safe Doors and Unobstructed Exits

As a landlord, it is crucial to provide tenants with safe and unobstructed escape routes in the event of a fire and educate tenants about the fastest exit routes and the necessity of keeping escape routes clear.

Although fire doors are legally mandatory only in HMOs, it is advisable to consider installing them in all rental properties. Fire doors help contain fire and smoke, granting tenants additional time to escape and minimising property damage. Regularly inspect fire doors as tenants may prop them open or disable self-closing devices.

3. Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms

Ensure that all smoke and CO alarms are operational at the beginning of each tenancy. Encourage tenants to regularly check these alarms, and conduct inspections during periodic visits while maintaining a written record. In England, it is a legal requirement to have a working smoke alarm on each floor of a private rented property, ideally placed in main circulation spaces such as hallways and landings. Additionally, install a CO detector in any room with a solid fuel-burning appliance and extend this requirement to include gas and oil-fired boilers starting from autumn 2022.

4. Comply with Gas Safety Requirements

Following on from installing Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm, the law requires you to have your gas appliances checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer every year to make sure they’re working properly and there’s no risk to tenants. In addition to the annual gas safety check, the Gas Safe Register also recommends you have a service of the gas appliances and flues every 12 months, unless one of their registered engineers advises otherwise. .

5. Check Furnishings for Fire Safety Standards

If your rental property is furnished, the provided furniture must be fire-resistant and meet fire safety standards set by the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 (last updated in 2010). The regulated items include beds, mattresses, sofas, scatter cushions, loose covers and garden furniture suitable for indoor use. Make sure the furniture bears appropriate manufacturers’ labels confirming compliance with fire safety requirements.  

6. Electrical Safety

Electrical faults are responsible for a significant number of home fires in England each year. Landlords in England must ensure the safety of the electrical system and appliances provided to tenants throughout the tenancy period. Under The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, a full electrical safety inspection and test must be conducted every five years, or sooner if recommended in the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).

7. Provide and Maintain Fire Safety Equipment

Extinguishers and fire blankets are not legally required in single-let rented properties, only HMOs, but you may wish to provide them as a matter of good practice. In HMOs, the minimum requirements are a multi-purpose (water mist) fire extinguisher in the common parts on each floor, usually the hall and landings or a fire blanket in the kitchen If you do have fire extinguishers.

Extinguishers should be serviced annually and checked at the start of each tenancy to make sure they’re in good condition and haven’t been tampered with. Water mist fire extinguishers are recommended by the British Standard for indoor use, as they can be applied with most fire types. It is a legal requirement that all fire extinguishers are maintained annually and you must keep a permanent record of all servicing and maintenance.

8. Educate Tenants on Fire Safety

Regular communication and tenant education on fire safety practices are paramount. Providing information on fire prevention, evacuation procedures and proper usage of fire safety equipment are essential responsibilities for landlords. Tenants should be familiar with the location of fire extinguishers, fire alarms and emergency contact details. It may be advisable to educate tenants on the dangers of smoking indoors.    

Conclusion

In conclusion, fire safety for landlords is a paramount responsibility. By staying informed about fire safety regulations, implementing necessary precautions, and fulfilling their legal obligations, landlords play a vital role in safeguarding their properties and the well-being of their tenants.

For a summary of all our online and face to face fire safety courses you can visit our All Fire Training Course page.

Our friendly customer support team is always happy to talk through your training options. Why not give us a call on 01327 552160, email us at hello@smarthorizons.co.uk, or use the live chat feature on this website to speak to us during office hours.

Related Links

• Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 – Explained
• Fire Training Courses
• What to do in an Electrical Fire
• Fire Safety Doors
• Fire Evacuation Procedures Dos and Don’ts

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Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Our informative poster presents eight essential fire safety tips and advice for landlords. As a responsible landlord, ensuring the safety and well-being of your tenants should be a top priority. One of the most critical aspects of maintaining a secure living environment is fire prevention and safety. Fires can be devastating, causing property damage and endangering lives. However, with proper knowledge and proactive measures, landlords can significantly reduce the risk of fire incidents and protect their tenants and investments.

By fostering a culture of safety within your properties, you can create a secure environment that promotes peace of mind for both yourself and your tenants. Let’s explore these vital tips that can make a substantial difference in preventing fire hazards and mitigating potential risks.

The 8 tips for fire prevention and safety tips for landlords are:

1. Conduct a fire risk assessment: Regularly evaluate your property to identify potential fire hazards and develop strategies to mitigate risks.
   
2. Install fire doors and ensure clear exit routes: Install fire-resistant doors and maintain unobstructed escape routes to allow safe evacuation in case of a fire.
   
3. Install carbon monoxide and smoke alarms: Install and regularly test carbon monoxide and smoke alarms to detect early signs of fire or harmful gas presence.
   
4. Comply with gas safety requirements: Follow proper gas safety guidelines, including regular checks and maintenance, to prevent gas-related incidents.
   
5. Check furnishings for fire standards: Use fire-resistant or fire-retardant furnishings to reduce the risk of fire spreading and minimize potential damage.
   
6. Ensure electrical safety for systems and appliances: Regularly inspect and maintain electrical systems and appliances to prevent electrical faults that can lead to fires.
   
7. Service fire safety equipment: Keep fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and other fire safety equipment well-maintained and up-to-date.
   
8. Educate and communicate about fire safety: Train residents, employees, or occupants about fire safety measures and procedures, fostering a safety-conscious environment.

The post Fire Safety Advice for Landlords Poster appeared first on Fire Training Company.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

New Fire Safety Regulations

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 is a set of legislative rules implemented after the recommendations made by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. They will come into force on January 23^rd – focused on manager responsibilities for high rise buildings.

Fire and Rescue Services all over the UK are urging managers of high-rise residential buildings to make sure they understand this new legislation. Current regulations determine high-rise buildings to be at least seven storeys or 18 metres in height.

The 2022 regulations build upon the amendments made to the Fire Safety Act 2021, which came into force in England in May 2022. This act extended the scope of the existing fire safety regime (the Regulatory Reform Order 2005), to make it clear that structures of a building containing two or more dwellings also fell within the scope of the Fire Safety Order.

With this new legislation, it now stretches the legislation to high-rise residential buildings too.

The new regulations explained

The new fire safety regulations outline a number of requirements that the Responsible Persons of high-rise buildings will have to meet. These include:

• Providing their local fire and rescue service with detailed floor and building plans. This should be in the form of both an electronic and a hard-copy.
• Providing details of the building’s external wall construction.
• Advising the fire and rescue service of any faults to firefighting equipment and lifts. This extends to reporting when said faults are fixed.
• Install signage which is visible in low light conditions.
• Inform local fire services if a lift used by firefighters or one of the pieces of firefighting equipment is out of order for longer than 24 hours.
• Provide relevant fire safety instructions to their residents on how to report a fire and what a resident must do once a fire has occurred. This will include information on the evacuation strategy for the building, and may also include consideration of fire signage in other languages where appropriate.
• Carry out quarterly checks on all fire doors, as well as annual checks on building entrance doors.

Reasons for the legislation

The new regulations, and the rules laid out within them, pertain to high-rise buildings in particular following the investigation into the tragedy of Grenfell Tower in 2017.

The concluding report from the inquiry made several recommendations, many of them directed towards the government – requesting a change in the law to implement. The Fire Safety Regulations 2022 will introduce many of these recommendations. The new regulations apply only to England and are being introduced under Article 24 of the Fire Safety Order.

You can check your fire safety responsibilities under the new regulations here.

The new fire safety regulations will require many to assess their own knowledge when it comes to fire safety. That’s where Fire Training Company’s courses can help you. You can find all of our online and face to face fire safety courses on our All Fire Training Course page.

Our friendly customer support team is always happy to talk through your training options. You can give us a call on 01327 552160, or email us at hello@smarthorizons.co.uk.

Related links

• Fire Safety Doors
• What to do in an Electrical Fire
• Fire Risk Assessments for Landlords

The post Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 – Explained appeared first on Fire Training Company.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

If you work in the hospitality industry, fire safety is vital to protect your guests and staff. This was highlighted by the fire at the luxury Scottish hotel, Cameron House in 2017, in which two guests lost their lives and a business was fined £500,000. The findings from the incident found that the hotel firm admitted to failing to take the necessary fire safety measures to ensure the safety of its guests and employees.

In this blog, we discuss the importance of fire safety in hospitality, starting with a detailed breakdown of some of the main causes of fire in the industry.  We then briefly understand how these causes of fire risks can be reduced by carrying out a fire risk assessment of the hospitality venue by the ‘responsible person’ outlined in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

So what are the main causes of fire in the hospitality industry?

Electrical equipment

Electrical appliances continue to be one of the main causes of fire in the hospitality industry. For example, hairdryers and kettles in hotel rooms and illumination in pubs and restaurants, as well as any heating/cooling systems. Other common causes of fire risks posed by electrical equipment are:

• Malfunctioning equipment
• Laundry equipment
• Lighting

Hospitality business owners need to ensure all electrical appliances have been PAT tested within the last 12 months to minimise the risk of a fire.

Obstructed exit routes

Obstructions in fire exit routes, such as boxes, can in the event of a fire cause people to fall, seriously hurt themselves, and even block the exit passageway for others. Keeping exit passageways clear of obstacles enables people to exit a venue quickly and safely. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order states that emergency doors must not be locked or fastened in any way, and must be easily and immediately opened by ANY person who may require access to them in an emergency.

Kitchen equipment

Damaged or faulty kitchen equipment can easily lead to fires in commercial kitchens. Cooking equipment should be installed, operated and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and by a responsible person. Some potential causes of fires in the kitchen are:

• Oil/grease fires
• Leaving cooking food unattended
• Damaged or faulty cooking equipment
• Gas leaks

You can learn more about common causes of fire and how to keep yourself and staff safe in the kitchen in our blog Restaurant Fire Safety.

Smoking

Discarded cigarette butts are still one of the most common causes of fire in hotels and other premises. All high-risk areas must be no smoking zones with appropriate signs and training for staff. Cigarettes are the biggest killer in accidental fires. Tobacco is manufactured to burn at over 700 °C and to stay alight, meaning it can remain smouldering and start a fire. Most fires are caused by smoking materials left on beds, furniture or are thrown into full bins.

Hospitality venues should provide highly visible and easily accessible bins or wall-mounted ashtrays for smokers to safely stub out and dispose their cigarettes.

Mitigating the risk of fire in the hospitality industry

As well as understanding the main causes of fire hazards in your hospitality venue, it is important to implement regular and documented fire safety checks and execution of policies in line with fire safety regulations. Hospitality venues will require a fire risk assessment, which will identify all the fire hazards and items that can act as fuel, an outline of emergency evacuation procedures, as well as who might be harmed by a fire and why.  The findings of the fire risk assessment will determine what physical precautions and management arrangements are necessary to reduce risk of harm.

An example in a hotel would be if the ‘responsible person’ performed a fire risk assessment and identified the risk of a cooking oil fire in a kitchen. They would make sure that a Class F fire extinguisher is installed in the kitchen and that staff were trained on the use of cooking oils. The fire risk assessment would also involve a number of additional measures to ensure guests and employees are protected as much as possible such as the positioning of fire safety signage, having the correct amount and type of fire extinguishers and an assessment of fire safety equipment.

For more information about practical advice on reducing fire risks in the hospitality industry, specifically in bed and breakfasts, guest houses and self-catering properties, you can read the government publication: Do you have paying guests?  

Train your hospitality staff

The Fire Safety in Hotels page on our website explains what fire training you are likely to need as well as additional things to think about around fire safety relating to the hotels and the hospitality industry in general.

Our IFE approved & CPD accredited online Fire Marshal/Warden Course can be taken by staff, and our face to face Fire Marshal/Warden Courses can be tailored to your establishment, ensuring you keep your guests and staff safe.  

Our friendly customer support team is always happy to talk through your fire safety training options. Why not give us a call on 01327 552160, email us at hello@smarthorizons.co.uk, or use the live chat feature on this website to speak to us during office hours.  

Related links

• Fire safety in the work place – a guide 
• What should fire safety at work cover 
• Fire safety checklist for business 
• Fire safety training in the workplace 
• How many fire marshals/wardens do I need? 
• 5 duties of a fire marshal  
• How long does my fire marshal or fire warden certificate last?  
• Fire safety training: What’s in a fire warden training course?  

The post What are the Main Causes of Fire in the Hospitality Industry? appeared first on Fire Training Company.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

We deliver online and face-to-face training for fire marshals and fire wardens but some customers ask us what is the difference between a fire warden and a fire marshal?

In this blog, we will see whether the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO) makes a legal distinction between the two roles. We also discuss whether organisations choose to differentiate the two responsibilities and why.

The role of the ‘responsible person’

The Regulatory Reform 2005 (Fire Safety) Order provides a framework for standard fire safety in all non-domestic premises, this includes almost all buildings, places, and structures that are not private homes. Under this order the fire safety arrangements would no longer be decided by the fire service, instead the responsibility was moved to the ‘responsible person’ at the premises. This person often has control (or a degree of control) of the building, and is often the owner, employer or an occupier. 

Under the Fire Safety Order the  ‘responsible person’  takes reasonable steps to reduce the risk of fire and makes sure people can safely escape. Alternatively, the ‘responsible person’ may give the role of the fire warden/fire marshal to somebody else, and this person would take responsibility of fire safety in the building.

Legal references to the role of fire warden

There is no legal reference that differentiates the roles and responsibilities of a fire marshal and a fire warden in the Fire Safety Order. Therefore the duties of a fire warden or a fire marshal can be classed legally as performing the same role and responsibilities. 

The order does outline that it is vital to appoint trained fire marshals/fire wardens to keep employees and customers safe.  Allocated to these fire wardens/marshals are important duties, which include understanding the fire risks and managing an evacuation if a fire happens. Both need to have adequate fire safety awareness and training and they play an important part in your fire safety plan.

Do some businesses split the fire warden/fire marshal role?

In some businesses, they do make a distinction between the role of a fire warden and a fire marshal and each role will have a different set of responsibilities. This often happens in larger and more complex organisations, but it is totally up to the business to decide whether they want to split the role and what the difference is between the two roles in their workplace.

The number of fire wardens/fire marshals you need depends of many risk factors, this number is calculated by a specialist and is referred to in your fire risk assessment.  If you’re interested in guidance on how many fire warden/fire marshals you need in your business, you can take a look at our latest blog:  How Many Fire Marshals/Wardens do I Need? 

The role of a fire warden/fire marshal in a low or high risk business 

In a smaller, low risk business you may think you need to assign one ‘responsible person’, and they will probably have the title of either a fire warden or fire marshal, it really doesn’t matter as their roles and responsibilities will be the same. However, you do need to bear in mind who would take responsibility if the designated person was away from the business for any reason e.g. holiday, illness, visiting clients, etc.

In a higher risk business, you will probably need to allocate more than one ‘responsible person’. It makes sense to have separate fire marshals and fire wardens who have predefined responsibilities with different day to day fire management duties, ensuring fire safety is manageable and that the business is fully compliant with fire safety regulations. Although these roles are interchangeable and it is up to the individual organisation to decide how the roles will be split. As a rule of thumb, fire wardens will usually have a more proactive role where as a fire marshal’s role tends to be more reactive. Here are some examples of how the responsibilities could be divided. 

Example responsibilities of a fire warden:

• Undertaking regular fire door checks and equipment checks. 
• Assisting in creating plans for evacuations and emergencies.
• Responsibility for searching the premises and ensuring that the whole building has been successfully evacuated. 
• Responsibility for fire risk assessments and fire drills. 
• Employing good fire safety practices in the workplace and any necessary reporting. 

Example responsibilities of a fire marshal:

• While a building is being evacuated, they will handle the evacuation outside the building.  
• Performing the roll calls. 
• Making sure all fire wardens are safe. 
• Undertaking some of the roles of the fire warden outlined above. 

In summary, there is no difference between the role of a fire marshal and fire warden, but if your workplace/business warrants or requires it the roles may be divided.  Proper training is vital if taking on these roles. Not only does becoming a fire warden/fire marshal allow you to help make your workplace a safer environment, experience in this role can also increase your employability in the future. 

Want more information about our fire warden/fire marshal training?  

Our IFE approved & CPD accredited online Fire Marshal/Warden Course make sure you are compliant with the current fire legislation. It covers your responsibilities, the correct fire extinguishers to use and fire prevention and evacuation.    

We also offer face to face Fire Marshal/Warden Courses across the UK. Our courses are tailored to your workplace, and our experienced ex-fire service trainers give you the opportunity to use a fire extinguisher.

Our friendly customer support team is always happy to talk through your fire safety training options. Why not give us a call on 01327 552160, email us at hello@smarthorizons.co.uk, or use the live chat feature on this website to speak to us during office hours.  

Related Links

• Fire safety in the work place – a guide 
• What should fire safety at work cover 
• Fire safety checklist for business 
• Fire safety training in the workplace 
• How many fire marshals/wardens do I need? 
• 5 duties of a fire marshal  
• How long does my fire marshal or fire warden certificate last?  
• Fire safety training: What’s in a fire warden training course?  

The post What is the Difference between a Fire Warden and a Fire Marshal?  appeared first on Fire Training Company.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Introduction

Any fire can present a serious threat to human life, whether started by firewood, candle or propane. To make matters worse, there are many different types of fire, with each requiring different knowledge and actions to tackle it.

In this article, we’ll explore what the 6 classes of fire are and how, if needed, you should confront them.

What causes fire?

Before understanding these classes, however, we should explore the 3 common components of all fires. Such components are summed up conceptually as the fire triangle; in brief, they are:

• Heat
• Fuel
• Oxygen

By removing just one of these components, one can ‘break’ the fire triangle and put out the fire. Now, we can explore how we might apply this idea to each class of fire; whilst it may sound fairly simple, different types of fire present different challenges.

The Classes of Fire

So, what are the 6 classes of fire? Let’s go through them, giving a few examples of each, and how we can tackle them:

Class A Fires – Solids

We refer to fires involving solid materials as ‘Class A’ fires. This range of solid materials is wide; in the office, it could refer to stacks of copier paper and cardboard storage boxes. At home, it could be anything from kindling for a bonfire to your curtains and certain insulation materials within your walls. This is probably the most common type of fire in homes and the typical workplace, as these materials are widespread.

To prevent Class A fires, you need a certain degree of good planning. Is it wise to keep cardboard box waste near to a gas hob, or candles near your wooden bookshelf? In the office, think about storing paper away from electrical outlets in a cold, dark storage cupboard. This kind of foresight can drastically reduce the likelihood of fires and, particularly in the office, is both a vital and legally-required element of a workplace fire risk assessment.

In the event that you have to tackle a Class A fire, you should use a water extinguisher. Note that, when using a water extinguisher, the water will spray out forcefully, so there’s no need to stand over the fire and potentially disperse flaming materials.

Instead, spray from a distance and never on electrical equipment. We’ll explore a little bit later how to extinguish electrical fires but this highlights the necessary fire assessment foresight. Place solid materials away from electrical outlets and you can be safe in the knowledge that, were those materials ever to alight, you could safely use a water extinguisher.

You can also use foam and dry powder extinguishers on fires involving solid materials; if your foam extinguisher is tested and rated as a non-conductor, you can also use it on electrical fires. Note that, due to possible inhalation of the powder, dry powder extinguishers should not be used indoors.

Class B Fires – Liquids

A Class ‘B’ fire refers to a fire involving some sort of flammable liquid. One could be fooled into thinking that Class B fires aren’t likely or even possible in the home or typical workplace.  The term ‘flammable liquids’ seems to refer to manufacturing chemicals and fuels we don’t regularly handle. However, they are more common than you think.

Even in a typical office setting, there are a host of potentially dangerous flammable liquids, such as wet paint and printer ink. At home, there is a similar range of possibly hazardous materials, from the deodorants in your bathroom to the cleaning materials under your sink.

Whilst we hope you won’t, if you ever have to tackle a Class B fire, you can use a foam, CO2 or dry powder extinguisher (the latter of which, again, should only be used outside). Foam is probably your best option here, as it helps to prevent re-ignition; flammable liquids both more flammable and powerful than solid materials, so their propensity to re-ignite is higher.

Note that CO2 can be advantageous here; it’s not a conductor, so were your flammable liquids to alight near electronics, it would be safe to use. As mentioned above, foam can be a non-conductor if ‘dielectrically tested’, but this isn’t always the case.

Class C Fires – Gases

Similarly to flammable liquids, we might think that flammable gases are a problem for industrial producers of LPG and hydrogen, and definitely not the typical workplace or home. This is true to some extent; they’re definitely rarer than flammable liquids and the solid materials which cause the majority of office fires.

That doesn’t mean Class C fires can’t happen in the normal domestic or workplace setting, however. Gas hobs are still common in households and, though safer than ever, they still emit highly-flammable fuel and are dangerous if misused or improperly-fitted. If you have a gas barbecue in the garden, it’s likely you use a propane canister, which could present a similar hazard.

The best way to fight a gas fire is to cut it off at the source. The gas will disperse quickly and thus hard to control, unlike solid material which will most likely at least stay in one place. Knowing how to quickly shut off any gas supply is vital, then. Until this point, you can fight Class C fires to some extent with a dry powder extinguisher. However, know that gas is the most flammable and explosive type of fire, so your efforts to fight could be both extremely dangerous and in vain.

Class D Fires – Metals

It is safer to assume that a metal fire won’t break out in your home or typical workplace. Class D fires occur mostly in places where metallurgists, laboratory technicians and other specialists work with combustible metals. Magnesium, aluminium and the highly-reactive sodium are the most common culprits, particularly when ground into fine shavings which can spread fire easily.

When tackling a Class D fire, one should use a specialist powder extinguisher. These extinguishers are specifically designed for metal fires and aren’t actually effective against other types. This specialist powder chokes the fire of oxygen, reduces its heat and prevents these fine metal shavings from floating through the air to spread the flames.

Electrical Fires

Strictly speaking, we don’t refer to an electrical fire as Class E, as electricity is a form of ignition. Electricity needs a fuel, like those mentioned above, in order to start a blaze. However, we denote electrical fires as a separate category as, due to its conductive properties, we have to treat it differently.

For example, if an overloaded plug socket overheats from an electrical surge and ignites a stack of copier paper nearby, it’s vital that we don’t use a water-based extinguisher as with a normal Class A fire. Such an extinguisher is conductive and could both spread the fire and electrocute someone.

Accordingly, for an electrical fire we must use a CO2 extinguisher or a dielectrically-tested foam extinguisher, for their non-conductive properties.

Class F Fire – Cooking Fats and Oils

Class F fires involving cooking fats and oils are technically a subcategory of flammable liquid fires. However, such fires require extremely high temperatures to ignite; this high flashpoint  dictates that we treat such fires differently to a regular Class B flammable liquid.

When fighting a Class F fire, you must use a wet chemical extinguisher. If you used water to try to put out the fire or a water-based extinguisher, You would most likely create an explosion, further dispersing the flames.

A wet chemical extinguisher, meanwhile, is specifically designed for cooking fat and oil fires, as it contains potassium salts which both cools the fire and reduces its oxygen content. This is the safest and most effective way to extinguish a Class F fire.

Conclusion

Hopefully, after reading this article, you feel a little more knowledgeable about the classes of fire, the action to take against each type and the reasons behind those actions. We hope you never have to fight a fire but, if that day comes, you should be as prepared as possible.

To learn more about the classes of fire and how to use fire extinguishers, explore our online fire safety courses today.

Related Links

• Would You Know Which Fire Extinguisher To Use In An Emergency?
• Fire Safety in the Workplace: A Guide
• Fire Extinguisher Training
• What should fire safety training at work cover?

The post What are the Different Classes of Fire? appeared first on Fire Training Company.

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Introduction

Following the requirements for fire safety in the workplace can be confusing and intimidating. In the UK, all non-domestic premises are broadly covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. In this document we summarise some of the common causes of workplace fires as well as the consequences, then go on to outline who is responsible for workplace fire safety and offer some tips on how to implement fire safety best practices in your non-domestic premises.

Common causes of fire in the workplace

To understand the reasons behind the legislation, let’s first explore why office fires start. Here’s some of the most common causes:

Faulty wiring and electrical issues

Probably the most common cause of office fires, faulty, old and/or misused electricals often the catalyst.

In the typical UK office, for example,  it’s not uncommon to see an overloaded plug socket with extensions and no proper surge protection. People are busy throughout the work day and lack the constant awareness necessary for proper fire safety and may not realise the danger they are putting themselves and others in. In these cases, it’s also evident that staff may lack proper fire safety training. 

We don’t consider the office a dangerous place, as it shouldn’t be. If an office is functioning without incident, we think that it will continue to do so and don’t undertake periodic structural reviews. Many office buildings, consequently, suffer from unseen ageing and degradation, making an evaluation of electrical wiring and installations a ‘crucial safety matter’. 

Both overloaded plug sockets and old, faulty wiring suffer the same issue; they heat up and are unable to conduct electricity properly. This heat is one of the components of the fire triangle, vital to igniting a fire.

Cooking equipment and small appliances

Kettles, microwaves and other small kitchen appliances are electrical items which allegedly causes 29% of workplace fires.

Cooking equipment and other workplace appliances cause so many incidents for two main reasons, both of which stem from neglect. The first is outright misuse, stemming from a lack of time and care for work property. Many office kitchens are just that; small spaces with improper ventilation and inadequate space for kitchen use. Consequently, fridges and microwaves have little room to vent, toasters aren’t cleaned and kettles are overworked (particularly in the UK). 

Moreover, these appliances are often old and untested. When you join a new workplace, you don’t question how old the kettle is – no-one does! As a result, many workspaces have a range of small appliances which aren’t PAT-tested and could have been there for years.

Arson

Unfortunately, arson is still a threat to fire safety in the workplace. As recently as 2019/20, 13% of all office fires were deliberate. 

Often these fires are started by a disgruntled former employee or by the business owner themselves in an attempt to make a fraudulent insurance claim. 

Flammable Materials

It’s important to note that you don’t have to stock rocket fuel onsite for your workplace to be full of combustible materials. Offices have a number of common flammable materials easily at hand, including stacks of paper, wooden desks and cardboard boxes. One can easily imagine how an overloaded plug socket next to a pile of printer paper could spell disaster.

Furthermore, combustible materials left accessible near the premises or in unlocked waste bins can be easy fuel for arsonists. 

What are the consequences of workplace fires?

The human cost

Fortunately, the casualty rate for office fires is low. Many companies take their responsibilities seriously by complying wholeheartedly with UK office safety laws. As a result, the fire signage, equipment and evacuation procedures which they invest in keep their staff and premises safe. 

Of course, this is not always the case and in 2019/20, there were still 16 casualties in the UK from workplace fires. Whilst this may seem low, no-one should expect to get injured in a fire incident at work; the office should be a place of calm and safety.

The financial cost

The financial cost of a workplace fires is huge. In 2004 alone, the overall cost of UK office fires to the British economy was estimated at £2.5 billion. 

Primarily, there can be high reconstruction costs; the office building would likely have suffered structural damage and major assets could have been lost. Moreover, lost productivity can have a major impact on a business, with some offices out of commission for months or even permanently. Even if employees can work remotely, the psychological impact of the fire can hinder their work rate and increase their reluctance to return to work.

What’s more, fines for negligence can cause bankruptcy. Business owners in the UK have paid anywhere from £20,000 to £400,000 in fines, as New Look found out in 2007. The judge found the company guilty on the basis of damage to other high street stores, blockage of exit routes and, most importantly, a significant lack of staff training in fire safety.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005

Following the UK’s legislation on non-domestic fire safety consists of following two core steps.

Your team must first designate the Responsible Person. This refers to anyone with some ‘control of the premises’ and often includes:

• Employers
• Business/Facility Managers
• Occupants
• Business Owners
• Professional Risk Assessor

There can be more than one Responsible Person. If there are a number of people with control over the premises, fire safety becomes a team effort. Once this person(s) is appointed, they have a number of key tasks to follow:

• Complete a Fire Risk Assessment
• Communicate the risks found
• Create a set of fire safety measures and implement them
• Provide formal fire safety training to all staff members, thus fulfilling your legal obligation
• Plan emergency evacuation procedures

Who enforces this legislation?

The local fire authority, typically fire services personnel, is responsible for enforcing fire safety in the workplace. 

All UK workplaces must permit inspection from these authorities at any time. Consequences of negligence found in this inspection can be:

• Alterations, enforcement and prohibition notices. These letters from the enforcing authority require immediate change at one end of the spectrum and can close the workplace at the other.
• Fines and imprisonment. The authorities can issue unlimited fines and, should the case go to criminal court, can send you to prison for up to 2 years.

Implementing the Legislation

The role of the Responsible Person is loosely defined as someone with ‘control over the premises’. If there are multiple people with such control, they must meet and work as a team to decide who the Responsible Person(s) is. 

If your premises is one of a group under the same business, then your organisation should designate a Responsible Person at each level. There should be a Responsible Person at board, area and premises level.

Fire Risk Assessment

Whomever the responsible person or people may be, they must first lead a fire risk assessment:

1. Identify fire hazards.
2. Understand who is at risk on the premises.
3. Reduce risks and remove them where possible.
4. Keep thorough records, prepare your evacuation procedures and offer formal fire safety training to all staff.
5. Review this assessment periodically.

Note that a ‘competent person’ should be the one to complete your assessment. This is typically the Responsible Person and they must have a thorough knowledge of the fire safety procedures required specifically by your office.

Areas to think about

All offices are different. An accountant’s office could be beneath a flat or in a skyscraper; you could have an office of 5 or 500. As a result, each risk assessment needs to be tailored to the individual business. Below, however, there are a few areas to think about when undertaking your fire risk assessment.

Consider the ‘unlikely’

Don’t be caught off-guard by the apparent safety of your workplace. What possible sources of fuel could you have missed? There are a host of flammable materials in the office: wooden furniture, stationery, shredded paper, cleaning products, solvents and paints are just a few. Think of the everyday possibilities.

Think about those most at risk

How can you help cater for your employees with disabilities? There is a whole host of equipment designed to cater for people with disabilities during fire, including evacuation chairs and strobe or vibration smoke alarms. 

Technically temporary workers and customers or clients on your premises may also be at higher risk. You can’t guarantee that they’ve received formal fire safety training so how can you help them in the event of a fire? Do you have fire notices detailing required actions? You should train your employees adequately so that, if the time comes, they could help anyone without the necessary knowledge to escape the building.

Install your legally-mandated fire warning system

In offices with more than one floor, you must have a sophisticated fire detection system in place. Whilst this doesn’t have to be a smoke alarm system, that’s the best option. Not only does it more than fulfil your legal requirement, it creates a clear communication system between all office departments in the event of fire. 

Keep the correct fire equipment

Stocking the correct fire extinguisher and other fire fighting miscellany listed in your fire risk assessment is key. If your assessment correctly predicts an electrical fire, you must have a CO2 extinguisher to hand. Using a water-based fire extinguisher, in this case, can actually make the situation far worse. 

Understand the schedule of your office

Though unlikely, offices can be multi-use; in the night-time, community groups or other businesses may utilise your space. Would these alternate occupants know how to follow your fire procedures or do you need to contact and educate them? Understanding exactly who uses the office is vital here, so organise yourself well and keep good records.

Day-to-Day Fire Safety in the Workplace

Finally, here’s a handful of simple ways you can manage office fire safety on a daily basis:

• Have regular office fire drills. Ensure that everyone knows their assembly points and fire evacuation procedures. Make everyone aware of a pre-scheduled drill and record the outcome.

• Don’t block fire safety routes and fire doors. Especially on a hot day, keep fire doors closed. Keep desks, other furniture, stock and rubbish out of the way of escape routes.

• Stick to your fire risk assessment. If you list certain equipment, stock and maintain it. If you have a maximum occupancy, ensure that you limit entrants to the building. Remember why you made the assessment!

Conclusion

Fire Safety in the Workplace doesn’t have to be complicated and, provided you stay on top of it, nor should it be intimidating. Stay organised and follow the legislation; it’s designed to help you. Hopefully this guide has gone some way to clarifying anything you might have been uncertain about. Good luck!

Related Links

• Fire Safety in Schools: A Comprehensive Guide
• Fire Legislation
• What to Do in an Electrical Fire
• How Do I Become a Fire Safety Officer?

The post Fire Safety in the Workplace: A Guide appeared first on Fire Training Company.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Introduction

House fires can lead to devastating loss. If the house is a rented property, the repercussions could be huge; as a landlord, you could face financial, legal and moral consequences too. To protect both your tenants and your assets, you should take proper fire safety precautions.

Note that this article covers only domestic landlords. It does not detail the requirements of commercial landlords.

What is the legislation regarding UK fire safety for domestic landlords?

The government legislation can be a little confusing. There are a few different bits of guidance which cover the private rented sector. Let’s explore them.

The Housing Act 2004

The 2004 Housing Act lists two key actions. Landlords must ensure that all tenants have an easy, accessible means of escape and must also deal with structural and cosmetic fire hazards in the property, in a timely manner. This is probably the most important piece of legislation regarding domestic fire safety.

The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006

This document covers the property management requirements of a HMO (house in multiple occupation) landlord. Whilst it lists a number of responsibilities for both owner and occupier, most important to fire safety are its requirements for escape measures and electrical/gas installations. 

This includes maintaining both a viable means of escape and appropriate fire detection and/or firefighting equipment. Furthermore, the landlord must always have an updated gas appliance test certificate available if the local authority asks for it. 

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

This legislation covers all non-domestic, commercial premises in the UK; all manner of organisations and businesses, from schools to hair salons, fall under the RR(FS)O. As a landlord, this legislation covers communal areas, such as corridors and atriums within a block of flats. 

This Fire Safety Order will normally only apply if you are renting out a house in multiple occupation to tenants on a per-room basis, as bedsit accommodation, or you are in control of a block of flats. 

Despite falling under the legal definition of a HMO, this legislation should not apply to shared houses. Shared houses are properties rented out by families and/or friends who have a joint tenancy and are considered the same household, thus have no legislatively-defined ‘communal parts’. 

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (England) Regulations 2015

This policy has two instructions for landlords. They must install smoke detectors on every floor of a property and also a carbon monoxide alarm in any room in which tenants use solid fuels. The landlord must also regularly review and maintain this fire detection system.

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988

Residential landlords who provide fully-furnished living accommodation must ensure this furniture is fire safe. This can include anything from kitchen chairs to television stands.

Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018

This legislation ensures that rented properties are made fit for human habitation. This is advantageous for both the landlord and the tenant. It ensures that tenants live in a safe, healthy environment and landlords have the right of reasonable access to a property in need of repair. 

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998

Landlords must maintain the safety of all gas fittings and flues in a property. They must have a Gas Safe engineer carry out annual checks and servicing.

Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020

Landlords need to ensure that they meet national standards for electrical safety, as outlined in the 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations. They must ensure all electrical installations in their property are inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person every 5 years. In addition, they must obtain a report from the person conducting the test.

It’s important to note that, for HMOs, previous electrical safety regulations were outlined in the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006. However, the government has repealed this clause and now HMOs fall under the new Electrical Safety Regulations.

What does this all mean?

This legislation determines that landlords are responsible for ensuring that their building meets fire safety standards. It declares that landlords must ensure their tenants know the proper emergency evacuation procedures. To cover these bases, a proper fire risk assessment for landlords is sometimes a legal requirement and always the recognised best practice. 

Fire Risk Assessments for Landlords

Now that you understand the regulations behind fire safety for domestic landlords, let’s look at how you can go about following them in your property. A fire risk assessment is the best method of staying on top of your fire safety responsibilities. They typically consist of 5 core steps:

1. Identify hazards
2. Identify people at risk
3. Evaluate, reduce, remove and protect from risk
4. Record, plan, inform, instruct and train
5. Review periodically

Let’s look at some examples, so you can learn how to adapt an assessment to your property.

Identify hazards

So, what is a fire hazard? You should first know what creates a fire. The fire triangle tells us that a fire must have fuel, heat and oxygen to sustain itself. Without one of these three constituent parts, it will collapse.

In a rented property, some common examples of this could be:

• Overloaded and overheating plug sockets
• Untested, aged appliances
• Faulty wiring
• A gas burner
• Space heaters 
• Oxygen tanks in specialised accommodation
• Solid fuels like wood or paper
• Cooking oils

Identify people at risk

People at risk can cover a number of potential tenants. It includes both your typical tenants, as no-one is immune to fire, and also those especially at risk, such as:

• People with physical or learning disabilities
• The elderly
• People with mental health issues
• Children
• Pregnant women
• Those in the surrounding properties

The final point can be particularly challenging. If you own a rented property in an apartment block, for example, you should reach a consensus with other landlords and/or the freeholder regarding the responsibilities for fire safety. If your property is on the bottom of a three-storey building, for example, you should ensure that there are clear exit routes for both your tenants and the tenants above them.

Evaluate, reduce, remove and protect from risk

Once you’ve evaluated how likely fire hazards are to cause a fire and how tenants may be affected, you can then go about dealing with them. The aim should be to remove hazards or reduce them as much as possible.

In modern residences, aim to replace gas burners with electric hobs, ensure all appliances are PAT-tested and keep hallways clear of too much furniture, clutter and/or waste. Furthermore, you should install wheelchair ramps for people with wheelchairs and install strobe-lighting alarms for those with hearing impairments.

Remember, you are legally obliged to install a smoke alarm on each floor and carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with solid fuel sources.

Additionally, you could provide situationally-appropriate fire extinguishers. Using your fire risk assessment findings, you could reasonably predict which types of fires are likely to break out and stock the most suitable extinguisher.

Record, plan, inform, instruct and train

Proper record-keeping is vital to all good health and safety procedures. When you or one of your employees carries out a fire risk assessment, record your findings in both physical and digital formats. Alternatively, you could also hire a professional risk assessor for a full report.

In addition, think about how you can get your tenants to adhere to your fire safety practices. Whilst you have no obligation to train them, you are legally required to inform them of any evacuation procedures. If you pin up a fire safety notice detailing your procedures, or what to do in the event of a fire, write this notice in the first language of the tenant. If you are a landlord or partial landlord of a multi-occupancy block of flats, for example, use fire signs to illuminate fire exits, preferably battery-powered in case of a power cut.

Review periodically

It’s likely that your tenants are going to change and you must adapt your fire risk assessment accordingly. Even if your tenants have lived in the property for twenty years, you should organise an annual update. 

Do this at the same time every year and give your tenants plenty of warning, to respect their privacy. Highlight any changes in your findings which pose a new and significant fire risk. These could include: 

• New furniture
• Updated office, living or sleeping spaces
• Appliances
• Cosmetic redecoration

It’s also wise to review the issues highlighted by your last assessment and whether they are ongoing or have been solved.

Conclusion

Fire risk assessments for landlords can be worrisome but that’s really not a necessity. You shouldn’t feel intimidated; these assessments are on your side, designed to ensure the safety of yourself and your tenants.

Related Links

• Is fire safety training mandatory or optional?
• Fire Training Courses
• Starting Your Own Business – What You Need To Know About Fire Safety
• Fire Triangle Explained

The post Fire Risk Assessments for Landlords appeared first on Fire Training Company.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Introduction

It’s not exactly breaking the wheel to say that fires are incredibly dangerous. Quick to spread and hard to stop, fire in any scenario can destroy both lives and livelihoods. In a small business scenario, it can bankrupt a company and put people out of work. So, in this article, we’ll explore exactly how to prevent fires in the workplace.

Preparation

We may hope that fires never happen and do everything in our power to reduce the risks. However, the reality is that there will always be a possibility of fire and the Responsible Person in your workplace should prepare for that.

If a fire does ever start in the workplace, ease your mind with the knowledge that you’ve done everything possible to prepare for it and prevent it from spreading.

The Workplace Layout

Firstly, consider the layout of the workplace. Prioritise human escape before damage limitation. It’s not worth slowing the spread of a fire if your colleagues remain trapped. Good practice is to ensure that paths to fire doors, fire doors themselves and the entire exit route from the building remain clear and unobstructed. There should be a clear aisle between desks, for example, to the nearest fire exit.

Potential Sources of Fuel

Once this principle is adhered to, consider potential sources of fuel. If a fire starts in a workplace, what is likely to cause it and what can encourage it? Is there an old, untested plug socket, near a water cooler and a big stack of paper? Whilst this may seem laughably negligible, it’s easy to glance over something you see everyday.

Get all your electronics tested and ensure that paper, fuel and stationery are far from any potential sources of fire.

Smoke Detectors

Furthermore, keep well-maintained smoke detectors in a workplace. Whilst this is not a legal requirement, workplace buildings must have some sort of fire detection system. Smoke detectors are simply the best warning system; see them as an investment in yourself and your colleagues. That rings true when they are not necessarily needed, too. Though they can be frustrating, never cover a smoke detector to stop it going off; this is a common, extremely dangerous solution in workplaces.

This may seem broad; perhaps you have a great many potential sources of fire in your workplace. But that’s just the reality of the situation; part of your legally-required fire risk assessment is to understand these areas of risk.

How to Prevent Fires in the Workplace from Spreading

Don’t be a hero. If there’s a raging fire, don’t try to extinguish it. You should only tackle fires if you have no choice or they don’t present a a significant, immediate danger to you or others.

It’s important to know that how you deal with a fire is entirely dependent on its categorisation. There are a number of categories of fire. Understanding beforehand which are most likely to break out in your workplace will help you to deal with them in the moment. Again, preventive measures and planning are key here.

In the workplace, for example, electrical fires are most common, caused by overloaded plug sockets and faulty wiring. Accordingly, you would use a CO2 extinguisher to put out this type of fire; this should be easily accessible and visible, in case of emergency. CO2-based extinguishant suffocates the fire of oxygen and does not conduct electricity, as water does. A water-based extinguishant, of course, could make the situation far worse.

However, there are other possible causes of fire here. If you have a kitchen or small canteen, cooking oil fires can be a real possibility. Aerosol and deodorant cans are a potential source of fire, too, as a flammable liquid. Understanding the likelihood of these fires breaking out and tailoring your equipment and procedures accordingly is evidently vital.

Evacuation

What happens, however, if someone who doesn’t know how to prevent fires in the workplace from spreading unknowingly causes one? Or a blaze simply becomes too dangerous to handle?

Your preparation is key here. Head to your pre-designated fire assembly points and adhere to your evacuation plans. Preventing the spread of fire can buy precious time here. Provided there is a possibility of clearing a safe path, keep your fire extinguisher to hand in case the flames follow you. Move flammable materials out of the path of the fire and close fire doors behind you, if they were wrongly left open beforehand.

If all of your efforts to tame the fire have failed, call the fire brigade and let them do their job. Remember, the building comes second place to human life.

Related Links

• Fire Training Courses
• Common Causes of Workplace Fire
• Would You Know Which Fire Extinguisher To Use In An Emergency?
• How Do I Become a Fire Safety Officer?
• The Importance of Smoke Detectors

The post How to Prevent Fires in the Workplace appeared first on Fire Training Company.

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

Introduction

In the UK, fire safety practices for all non-domestic premises are oriented around the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. However, this legislation is all-encompassing; it is not specific for individual types of non-domestic premises. As such, knowing the legislative requirements for fire safety in restaurants and how they might inform proper practice can be a real challenge. 

To help you better understand this legislation, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to restaurant fire safety; from the causes of restaurant fires to daily implementation of the legislation, everything you need to know is right here.

What are some common causes of restaurant fires?

In order to put the legislation into context and understand why it helps prevent fires, it would be useful to establish how such fires actually break out. in restaurants.

Equipment

Cooking equipment is the most likely cause of fire in a restaurant. The general consensus is that inadequate cleaning and maintenance of cooking equipment in the kitchen is the direct cause of this.

Grease and oil build-ups are not just unhygienic; these substances can also be extremely flammable. Worryingly, you’ll find these deposits all over the kitchen. Deep-fat fryers are a common culprit; busy kitchens may mean grease traps fill quickly and in doing so, they create an often-unseen fire hazard.

In addition, grills, hobs and ovens can all fall victim to these dangerous grease build-ups. Hard-to-reach places and concealed areas in these appliances are often where grease accumulates most.

Faulty Wiring and Electricals

Don’t be fooled, whilst your hob and oven may run on gas, electrical fires remain a common cause of fire in any commercial kitchen. The sheer volume of electrical usage, and the extensive use of appliances in any restaurant kitchen presents a constant concern. Untested appliances can have faulty plugs and inner circuitry; old wiring can struggle with the voltage demanded by modern appliances. The heat generated by these faults can consequently lead to fire.

Older restaurants, in particular, may have old and faulty wiring which can be a serious problem. Gradual wear-and-tear, combined with historically-lower electrical standards, can directly cause a blaze.

Decorations and USPs

Not all restaurant fires start in the kitchen. In the customer dining area, perhaps you use candles, lanterns or other vintage lighting solutions. It only takes one customer or member of staff to knock a candle over and with wooden tables and tablecloths the situation can easily get out of hand. 

Even worse, perhaps you use scented or ‘mood’ candles in your bathrooms, which are often unattended. If you want to create an atmosphere in the restaurant, find an alternative or use easily-extinguishable candles. Similarly unattended patio heaters, particularly in bars, may fall victim to being knocked over or messed with by some intoxicated patrons.

Perhaps you have a Unique Selling Point (USP) in your restaurant, manifested in the form of a piece of cooking equipment. Teppanyaki grills and tableside flambé look spectacular. However, this liberal use of propane gas and flammable alcohols could easily spell disaster. Allowing customers to use this gas unsupervised further increases this risk; Korean BBQ, for example, permits each table a personal grill to cook meat to their liking. If improperly lit or maintained, these grills could be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands.

Similarly, pizza and tandoori ovens can be problematic; these more traditional methods of cooking sometimes don’t have a gas burner which you can simply turn off. When using a tandoor, one has to wait for the coals to die down from the intense heat. The wood fuel for a pizza oven can be similarly hard to control.

As an aside, quality of fire is also a concern here. Whilst they may not ever produce a blaze, low-quality wood or improperly-constructed tandoors could cause incomplete fuel combustion. In turn, carbon monoxide and other noxious gases could be released to both staff and clientele.

‘Transparent’ Restaurants

Some restaurants, in the pursuit of a certain aesthetic and ambience, put the chef front-and-centre (including the aforementioned Teppanyaki grills). They may locate the kitchen in the middle of the restaurant or, at the very least, unwalled and on-show for customers. As with the USPs listed above, you must act against heightened risk. A lack of fire-resistant walls, doors and ceilings between a blaze in the kitchen and the dining area can endanger customers, reducing their possible escape time.

Furthermore, working in front of customers can be mentally and physically taxing. Whilst in a normal kitchen, chefs and staff may chat and laugh together, the need for constant professionalism during long working hours could increase the likelihood of human error and, therefore, of fire.

Arson

Though arson is not the biggest contributor to restaurant fires, it still accounted for 9% of fires on food and drink premises in 2019/20. Over the 5 preceding years, it led to an average of around 170 fires a year on British food and drink premises. When you put a number next to it, arson rightfully becomes more of a concern.

What are the possible consequences of a restaurant fire?

The human cost

Though the numbers are mercifully low, restaurant fires can obviously pose a real threat to your customers and staff. In 2019/20, food and drink premises, like restaurants, saw 2 deaths and 101 injuries in the UK. 

When you think about it, whilst that figure may seem somewhat low, it’s a little frightening. A restaurant should be somewhere safe, comfortable and relaxing for customers. They shouldn’t expect to come to any harm, whether by mistake or negligence. Removing risk to the customer is vital; you have a duty to care for them.

The financial cost

Typically, however, the financial strain of a restaurant fire is far more likely and condemnatory for a food business. 80% of UK businesses which have a major fire incident fail to reopen completely or close within 18 months. 

This, in large part, is due to the shockwave that a restaurant fire can cause to the surrounding economy. In 2004, the costs of major non-domestic premises fires were estimated at around £2.5 billion to the British economy. These costs are not just a burden for the restaurateur, manager or landlord, as many UK restaurants are housed adjacent to, below or above flats and other businesses. Restaurant fires, therefore, can cause both homelessness and loss of business.

The wider impact of poor fire safety standards

Finally, consider how poor fire safety standards can cause problems in other areas of the restaurant. Primarily, good food hygiene practice often goes hand-in-hand with fire safety in restaurants. 

When you clear your deep-fat fryers of grease and oil, for example, you remove both a fire and hygiene hazard. Not only is this build-up flammable, it can also harbour hidden bacteria and invite pests. Thorough cleaning of your appliances, then, is a beneficial task. Similarly, taking out the rubbish is key; in doing so, you remove both a trip and fire hazard.

What is the current UK legislation regarding fire safety in restaurants?

As aforementioned, current UK fire safety legislation is centred upon the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This document constitutes a wholesale approach to fire safety in non-domestic premises. There are a number of steps to following this legislation for proper restaurant fire safety.

You must first appoint the premises’ Responsible Person. This person will be in charge of all fire safety procedures at the restaurant. The legislation appoints the role to anyone with control over the premises. In small to medium assembly buildings, such as restaurants, this could be:

• Employers
• Facilities Managers
• Tenants
• Landlords
• Owners/Restaurateurs 
• Third-Party Risk Assessors

It’s important to realise that there can be more than one Responsible Person. If, by the legislative definition, there are a number of people with ‘control over the premises’, they must work collaboratively in the interests of fire safety.

The Responsible Person has a number of daily and periodic duties. Whilst we will explore them thoroughly later in this guide, in short, they are:

• Delivering a Fire Risk Assessment
• Communicating the findings of this assessment to staff
• Maintaining fire safety measures 
• Providing formal fire safety training to all staff 
• Planning emergency procedures

How is this legislation enforced?

For the majority of non-domestic premises, fire safety jurisdiction and enforcement is the responsibility of the local fire and rescue authorities.

The local fire service is entitled, at their discretion, to inspect restaurants and other small and medium assembly premises. You must always welcome the local fire authority and have your records available.

If the premises fail inspection: 

• The local authority could issue alteration notices to the Responsible Person, who must then implement any recommended changes onsite
• The authority can also issue more serious enforcement and prohibition notices, which can lead to closure.
• Failure to act on these notices or committing serious breaches of protocol can lead to unlimited fines and up totwo years’ imprisonment.

Following the Legislation

As previously noted, your first task in following fire safety legislation is to appoint the Responsible Person(s). This role is only loosely defined as those with ‘control over the premises’. If multiple people fall into this category, as aforementioned, they must meet in consensus and agree on the Responsible Person(s). 

It’s important to realise that your premises may have different responsible people at different times. For example, a pub bistro may have a bar area, central dining area and a function room. You must establish the fire safety responsibilities of the wedding, funeral and/or other event planners who hire out the room. You may agree that the permanent owner/tenant of the premises maintains fire safety responsibility. However, you should establish this clearly in the hiring contract.

In every circumstance all those with some permanent or temporary control over the premises must know who qualifies as a Responsible Person. 

Fire Risk Assessment

Whomever the Responsible Person(s) may be, after being appointed, they must ensure a fire risk assessment is carried out:

1. Identify all possible fire hazards.
2. Identify people on the premises who may be at risk.
3. Reduce and/or remove those risks. 
4. Record your findings, prepare your emergency procedures accordingly and provide fire safety training.
5. Review and update this assessment regularly.

Only a ‘competent person’ should complete your premises’ fire risk assessment. This is someone with proper, adequate knowledge of the fire safety procedures required for your restaurant. 

If the designated Responsible Person(s) doesn’t (or don’t) feel comfortable with this, you can hire a professional, third-party fire risk assessor. However, responsible people should have the fire safety training required to qualify as a ‘competent person’.

Common Risk Areas

As we explored earlier, every restaurant is unique. Your building, lighting choices, cooking styles, kitchen and dining area all present equally unique fire safety hazards. Therefore, each risk assessment will be unique.

What we can provide is some common problem areas for many restaurants. You should use these examples as a foundation to build upon as you assess the individual risk to your restaurant. 

Your maximum occupancy

Establishing the maximum occupancy of your building is a mandatory part of your fire risk assessment. Moreover, it’s incredibly useful information to be armed with in the event of a fire. Knowing the highest number of people you have to evacuate will ensure that any emergency procedures go as smoothly as planned. You should establish your maximum occupancy based on the size of your building. Then you’ll understand how many dining tables, bar spaces, individual customers and staff can be present at any one time.

Evacuation procedures for customers

Whilst you may be legally-mandated to train your staff in proper fire safety practice, no such requirement exists for your patrons. Whether they would like to or not, your customers likely have no real understanding of what to do or how to escape during a fire on your premises. 

So, how can you calmly and thoroughly communicate evacuation procedures to them if a fire breaks out? This not only requires someone who can be heard, from an area audible above the typical restaurant din, that someone (most often the Responsible Person) must also have the requisite fire safety knowledge to safely conduct such a procedure.

Catering for customers with a disability

With a diverse range of customers, not everyone can evacuate safely during a fire without assistance. How will you care for the elderly, pregnant and very young? 

Moreover, you should have provisions in place to assist those with hearing and vision impairments or need physical assistance. If your restaurant only has stairwell exits, do you have evacuation chairs ready? If you have a high number of customers who are hard-of-hearing (elderly customers, for example), could you install a strobe-lighting smoke alarm system?

Layout of your restaurant

Consider, too, the layout of your restaurant and how it might help or hinder escape. You should clearly define fire exit routes in your risk assessment and then keep them clear at all times. This means keeping tables and chairs within strict, well-defined seating zones. Take this into consideration when you move this furniture to accommodate larger dining parties.

The zoning plan should translate through the entire restaurant; you must ensure the premises are well compartmentalised. Preferably, you should separate the dining, cooking and storage areas. You should protect customers from any kitchen fires with fire walls, ceilings and doors, which offer at least 30 minutes of fire resistance.

Adjacent tenants

As we’ve briefly explored, restaurant premises often house multiple tenants, in both domestic and non-domestic settings. Whilst the landlord may have responsibility for those tenants, your mandatory fire detection system should warn them too, if there is a fire in your restaurant. Perhaps you can coordinate with them beforehand in the interests of safety.

Preventing customers from accidentally starting fires

We mentioned earlier how some restaurant styles allow the customer to cook their own food, to their own liking. If this is the case, how can you reduce the fire risk facing them without intense training? In the case of Korean barbecue, for example, you could place fire extinguishers at every table. You could also ensure that only trained staff light table grills, so fire is never directly in customer hands.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend for so-called ‘dark dining’. This involves eating in blackout darkness, so as to raise one’s taste sensitivity and enhance the intensity of flavours. If a fire were to break out in this situation, the use of fluorescent and/or battery-powered signs would be most effective.

Training your staff

You have a legal obligation to provide fire safety training to your staff. The Responsible Person can lead this training course or employees can take online and face-to-face courses.

Daily Management of Fire Safety in restaurants

Here’s just a few tips on how you can manage fire safety in your restaurant on a daily basis:

• Get the basics right. Keep fire doors closed and check your smoke alarms regularly. Ensure that your best defences against fire are always ready.
• Maintain your fire fighting equipment. Whether you have wood-firing ovens or gas ovens, stock the right fire extinguisher for your needs. Furthermore, keep them in the right zone; there’s no point having a fire extinguisher for kitchen grease fires in the dining area.
• Maintain equipment which could cause fire. If you have electrical devices in the kitchen, get them regularly PAT-tested. Look out for potential causes of fire, like worn cables or overheating appliances. Have your gas devices checked by a professional and keep everything up-to-date.
• Regularly clean the hard to reach areas. Whilst it’s a laborious task, cleaning the concealed and difficult-to-reach spaces we mentioned earlier will save you time and money in the long run. Build-ups of grease often harden and become stuck to appliances. Eliminate the need for expensive, professional cleaning crews by not letting them accumulate in the first place. Moreover, the financial devastation of a fire is infinitely more catastrophic than the extra wage for a restaurant cleaner or the time spent scrubbing yourself.

Conclusion

Restaurant fire safety is a constant battle for owners and managers. However, it is one you must take seriously; you are ultimately responsible for the health and wellbeing of your employees, customers and neighbours.

Related Links

• Fire Safety in the Workplace: A Guide
• Fire Safety in Schools: A Comprehensive Guide
• Online Fire Training Courses

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