As a landlord, you have a number of responsibilities to your tenants that are enforced by law. Anyone that has lived in rented accommodation will know the merits of having a landlord when the toilet decides it won’t flush anymore or the boiler decides it’s time for a rest, but landlords also have a lot of other responsibilities that are a little more subtle. Chief among these is their responsibility to ensure adequate fire safety is provided in the accommodation. This month, we’ll be looking at some of the key areas of fire safety landlords need to worry about when renting…
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Many business owners struggle to know where they stand when it comes to the law and fire safety. No matter how big or small your business is, you are legally required to have at least two people trained as a fire marshal to guide other staff members in the event of a fire. You can be trained as either an appointed person (or ‘deputy’), fire warden or fire marshal. Depending on how large your place of work is, the role of a fire warden and marshal may be given to two people or split across multiple people. The difference in roles…
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Although this is not something which is commonly thought about, fire extinguishers, like many pieces of health and safety equipment, have a lifespan. Over time, fire extinguishers which are non-gaseous will eventually corrode. That is, the contents of the extinguisher itself will eventually corrode the canister or body and also, the extreme pressure of the contents will eventually weaken the seams of the body, despite the fact that it’s made of robust metal. Fire extinguishers also require proper maintenance and if this isn’t carried out properly, then things such as valves, seals and levers can become stuck during use, posing a…
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Protecting your business premises from fire is a priority for any employer, as the outbreak of a fire could not only be devastating for the business itself, but could also put the lives of employees and others in the building at risk. There are two types of fire protection: active and passive. Active protection takes the form of more commonly known fire suppressants such as sprinklers, fire extinguishers and detection systems, which actively seek to detect and fight fire should it break out. Passive fire systems, on the other hand, are always working, rather than having to be activated in order…
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A reported 45% of major fires in businesses are attributed to arson attacks, seriously affecting the daily runnings of any premises. It’s important to ensure that your building and your staff are prepared for the risk of arson, and keep a vigilant eye out while on site. We’ve listed some precautionary measures all businesses can take to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of arson. Nominate a Fire Warden Nominate a member of staff to be responsible for fire safety around the office. This will include regular inspections that the fire risk assessment guidelines are being adhered to, fire safety…
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In the event of fire, a comprehensive emergency evacuation plan and procedure is an indispensable part of ensuring everyone escapes danger safely and quickly. To ensure that your business meets all the most stringent fire safety rules and legislation, you’ll need a thorough evacuation plan in place. This month, we’ll be looking at just some of the key areas you should consider when forming your own evacuation procedure. Identify an Assembly Point When you evacuate your premises following the fire alarm sounding, you need to head to an agreed assembly point. This should be far enough away from the building that…
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As a legal requirement, all business, industrial and commercial environments must have a clear fire procedure and fire evacuation route in place to avoid risk of injury or fatality. A fire emergency evacuation plan (FEEP) is a written document which includes the action that must be taken by all staff in the event of a fire and the arrangements for calling the emergency services. The general fire notice for small premises typically takes the form of a simple fire action sign posted in areas where staff and relevant personnel can read it and make themselves familiar with its instructions. In light…
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Warehouses have a high risk of fire, and due to the high quantities of stock they often hold, can also be a costly accident for businesses. The layout, and flammable goods often stored in warehouses mean a fire could easily start and spread throughout the whole building, so as a business owner it is important you ensure you know the risks, and take preventative steps to ensure your staff and the premises are safe. Risks: Many warehouses will use flammable substances, such as cleaning products Machinery used could develop faults that can lead to fires Smoking materials such as that from…
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Once you have bought a fire extinguisher and ensured that your premises meet fire safety standards, you might forget about regularly checking your extinguisher. Unfortunately, fire extinguishers do eventually expire, meaning you need to keep an eye on them and have a professional check them at regular intervals. Ensuring that your fire extinguishers are in full working order is of the utmost importance, and knowing how long they last is pivotal in this. Generally, fire extinguishers last between 5 and 15 years, according to manufacturers, though this can vary depending on the circumstances. In this month’s article, we’ll be running you…
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Here at Protect & Detect, on our blog, we feel it is our duty to make sure you understand the various applications of the different types of fire extinguishers. Just as important, though, we want you to understand the differences between the types of fires which they were constructed to fight. However, in this article, we will be shining a light on foam fire extinguishers, ensuring that, by the end of this article, you understand how to identify a foam extinguisher, what fires they able to fight and how to properly operate one. How to Identify a Foam Extinguisher Firstly, before…
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