WHAT FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT?
There are a number of factors which need to be considered during a fire risk assessment, including: identifying all the fire hazards, identifying any people who are at risk, evaluating and removing or eliminating the risks, assessing a building’s layout, construction, design and use, determining if there are any vulnerable occupants, assessing any electrical equipment which could be a source of danger, or if the building has a history of fire loss, and recording any findings. All fire risk assessments involve a detailed review and evaluation of the whole building, home, or facility as well as practical advice about how to eliminate any potential fire risks.
HOW TO DO A FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT?
A fire risk assessment is conducted by identifying all the fire hazards and people who are at risk and either removing or reducing these risks. It is a mandatory requirement for every home, business, or environment. A fire risk assessment can determine any potential risks to any person, property or building. A comprehensive design installation assessment and fire compliance review is required. A fire risk assessment is crucial in protecting all the occupants and the property by ensuring all the possible safety measures are aligned with the nature of the premises to assess for fire protection. A risk assessment is also carried out to identify all the sources of ignition on the site, consider the performance of any existing fire suppression systems, or any communication or documentation of any potential future fire risks, and to ensure the delivery of fire safety and emergency training and education.
WHAT ARE THE KEY ELEMENTS OF FIRE PREVENTION?
There are a number of key elements which need to be considered and put into practice for fire prevention which are: always keeping any gas bottles upright and away from any source of heat, when using a barbecue it’s important to remain a safe distance away from any exterior walls or anywhere else that could burn as well as any electrical ignition sources, any smokers need to ensure they extinguish their cigarettes fully, remove any clutter, rubbish or flammable items from a balcony and keep any furniture away from exterior walls, keeping clothing items away from air conditioning units, always keeping fire doors clear, closed and unlocked all the time, having knowledge of the emergency plans and becoming familiar with the escape routes and procedures and keeping a dry powder fire extinguisher easily accessible constantly and only used in the case of a small fire. It’s also crucial to ensure any smoke alarms have not been disconnected or covered and are regularly checked and tested. It’s important to replace any batteries which are needed and for the smoke alarm to be replaced every ten years.
WHO WILL DO A FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT?
A fire safety engineer will conduct a fire risk assessment of a house, building or premises. This assessment is necessary to determine any possible risks and consequences and to ensure all the existing fire safety equipment is in working condition as well as identifying any potential risks or hazards and assessing risk conditions. Fire safety assessors are qualified and experienced professionals which provide a thorough evaluation and fire risk assessment and analysis. They are specially trained and aware of all the necessary checks and procedures to ensure that all the possible safety precautions are in practice.
CONCLUSION
It’s crucial to understand and practice all the fire safety procedures and measures by conducting a professional fire risk assessment to prevent and reduce the sheer devastation and destruction caused by a fire. There are fundamental fire safety principles which prevent any cause of fire events and manage the impact which a fire causes. By practicing the following the steps of preventing, detection, communication, occupant protection, containment and extinguishment which should be applied constantly, this ensures all the necessary steps and safety guidelines are being followed. A fire risk assessment is required by a trained professional who ensures the optimal methods of protection are maintained as it’s vital to follow an emergency plan and response as well as a fire drill. Lives cannot be replaced and there is nothing more important than protecting, preserving, and saving the lives of people, animals and most of all, our families.
