firesafety.uk.com

Advice

We are unique in being able to offer our fire extinguisher calculator to assist you to work out how many units you will need to cover the size of building you have, providing you with the peace of mind that you have adequate fire protection cover.

General

Most workplaces will require a minimum of 2 water-based extinguishers for their primary protection.

Fire protection requirements in the home, or in schools, hospitals on building sites etc can all be different which is why at Firesafety.uk.com we have specially devised packs available for purchase.

	Paper, Wood, Textiles A	Flammable Liquids B	Flammable Gases C	Flammable Metals D	Electrical Equipment	Cooking Oils and Fats F
Water
Foam
Dry Powder (ABC)
Carbon Dioxide
Wet Chemical
Special Powder

Fire Safety Order

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the Order)

As part of its commitment to reduce death, injury and damage caused by fire, the Government has reviewed the fire safety law and has introduced "The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005" (the Order) (FSO).

The changes apply to non-domestic premises and took effect from the1st October 2006, throughout England and Wales. The FSO has replaced most existing general fire safety legislation. For example, fire certificates have now been abolished and cease to have any legal status. The new fire legislation covers fire precautions and other fire safety duties, which are needed to protect people in case of a fire in non-domestic premises.

The RRO continues the trend set by the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 (as amended in 1999) by placing a requirement on the responsible person for the premises (normally the employer) to ensure that there is a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment of the premises on site.

A competent person should complete the fire risk assessment and take into account not only the risks of the building and processes within it, but the effect a fire might have on surrounding premises and/or persons. This includes the safety of the fire fighters should they need to enter the building. The Fire Risk Assessment must be regularly reviewed to account for any changes to the building or its use.

As from 1st October 2006, The Fire & Rescue Services of England and Wales enforce more vigorously the new regulations and the Government has suggested that 'failure to have a valid fire risk assessment could lead to prosecution under the H & S at Work Act' (as quoted by FIA).

Does the Fire Safety Order affect me? - Yes if you are: -

• Responsible for business premises.
• An employer.
• Self employed with business premises.
• A charity or voluntary organisation.
• A contractor or agent with a degree of control over any premises.

Siting and Fixing of Fire Extinguishers

Extinguishers should be located where they can be seen and available for immediate use (not locked away in a cupboard). They should be sited on stands or securely fitted on a bracket on the wall. If they are fitted to the wall the handle of larger/heavier extinguishers should be 1 metre from the floor, smaller extinguishers should be mounted so that they are 1.5 metres from the floor.

Fire extinguishers should be located close to the exits and within 30 metres of the specific risk they are used to deal with.

Wherever possible fire extinguishers for different fire risks should be grouped together to form a fire point with the correct identification signs.

Fire Extinguisher Maintenance

Extinguishers should be checked by the user preferably at monthly intervals but not less than quarterly to ensure they are where they should be and that they have not been tampered with or lost pressure.

Annual inspections should be completed by a competent person. When discharge testing and/or specialist testing is due it may be more cost effective and environmentally friendly to replace with new especially at our low prices!

How to use a Fire Extinguisher

Water

Direct the jet at the base of the flame and keep it moving across the whole area of the fire. After the main fire is extinguished check for any 'hot spots'. If a fire is spreading upwards it should be attacked at the lowest point and followed upwards.

Foam

Where the liquid on fire is in a container, point the spray at the back edge of the container. This will allow the foam to build up and flow across the surface to smother the fire. If this is not possible stand well back and direct the spray with a gentle, sweeping movement allowing the foam to drop down and lie in the surface of the liquid. Do not aim the spray directly into the liquid, as this will have the effect of driving the foam under the surface where it will be ineffective. Also it may splash the fire onto its surroundings.

Dry Powder

On fires that involve either liquids in a container or a spillage, direct the nozzle towards the near edge of the fire. Using a rapid sweeping motion drive the fire back towards the far edge until all the flames are extinguished.

For flowing liquids direct nozzle at the base of the flame and sweep upwards.

For electrical fires, if safe to do so switch off the current and direct nozzle straight at the fire. If the equipment is enclosed direct into any opening to penetrate the interior.

When the fire appears to be out shut off the discharge of powder and wait for the atmosphere to clear. If there is any flame still visible, discharge again.

CO2

For electrical fires, if safe to do so switch off the current and position the horn towards the fire. If the equipment is enclosed direct into any opening to penetrate the interior.

DO NOT HOLD THE HORN AS IT BECOMES EXTREMELY COLD DURING USE.

On fires that involve either liquids in a container or a spillage, position the horn towards the near edge of the fire. Using a steady sweeping motion drive the fire back towards the far edge until all the flames are extinguished.

When the fire appears to be out shut off the discharge of CO2 and wait for the atmosphere to clear. If there is any flame still visible, discharge again.

Wet Chemical

SPECIFICALLY FOR USE ON DEEP FAT FRYERS.

DO NOT USE ON LIVE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.

Turn off the source of the heat if safe to do so. Hold the lance at arms length, well above the fire with the nozzle at least 1 metre away from the fire.

Keep the lance still and discharge so that the spraying wet chemical falls gently on the surface of the fire.

Even if the fire appears to be out, discharge the entire contents of the extinguisher.

Fire Safety Signs

Fire safety signs - general

The Health and Safety (safety signs and signals) Regulations 1996 together with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that premise have the correct safety signs. Firesafety.uk.com supplies fire signs which meet fire signage aspects of these regulations. All the signs are also photoluminescent (glow in the dark) to assist people from exiting a building quickly and safely; locating the fire equipment and the fire alarms. All signs can be either glued (FSGAB1) or stuck to the wall using special adhesive pads (FSPASS).

EXTINGUISHER IDENTIFICATION SIGNS

Firesafety.uk.com recommends that every extinguisher or fire blanket that is installed within every premise has a ID sign fitted, normally on the wall or on the stand. Every sign is photoluminescent, shows the position of the extinguisher, the type of extinguisher and the fires or risks that it is safe/not safe to use on.

FIRE EXIT SIGNS

Fire exit signs need to be positioned at the fire exits, over doors leading to the exits or on the walls of an escape route, all designed to help people exit safely and quickly. The standard fire is exit sign is 400 x 150 mm for viewing distances up to 22m, K size as indicated at the end of the sign code. For longer distances up to 30m the larger J size should be used.

FIRE ACTION SIGNS

Fire action signs advise people what to do in the event of a fire; normally they are position be every fire alarm call point, together with a small picture sign highlighting the call point FS26421A .The standard sign is FS25425D but there are other versions too.