Information

  • Name of Establishment/Building

  • Location
  • Third Fire Risk Assessment review conducted on

  • Details of Fire Risk Assessment being reviewed (include PDF)

  • Date of Fire Risk Assessment being reviewed

  • Next review date or before if required (see below)

  • Date of Second (previous) Fire Risk Assessment review

  • - a material alteration takes place
    - a significant change occurs in the given factors that were taken into account when this fire risk assessment was carried out
    - a significant change in fire precautions occurs
    - or when there is any other reason to suspect that the fire risk assessment is no longer valid.

  • Name of assessor for review

  • Training & experience or knowledge of assessor for review

  • AREA OF INSPECTION: Most accessible areas, which included most rooms, and installations were inspected.

  • AREAS NOT INSPECTED: Some locked rooms, cupboards, ceiling voids and roof areas.

  • Person consulted with during the review

  • Executive Summary: This assessment considers that the risk to life from fire at these premises is:

About Delegated Services CIC

  • We are delighted to be the expert market leader in the region and at September 2023, proud to support, through our 3yr and 1yr agreements, c 9,725 staff, 76,250 pupils.

  • Our Vision: That Delegated Services CIC (Community Interest Company) is the regional not for profit, natural choice best provider of support services in the field of Education and Community for our core service skills and our wider network partnership expertise.

  • Why Delegated services is unique and successful:
    ● CIC/Not for Profit
    ● Region based not national
    ● Our experienced, skilled Team and our Network Partners
    ● People focused
    ● Proud
    ● Adaptable - Not one size fits all and agile
    ● Committed
    ● Our reputation/testimonials/word of mouth recommendations
    ● Our breadth of services and their content

  • Our Mission: For the Education and Community sectors in our region:
    ● Provide support, advice, training, supportive auditing and more to ensure that our customers have proportional, robust and resilient Safeguarding systems including Child Protection, HS&W/Compliance, Emergency Procedures, Continuity and Recovery.
    ● With our wide range of Network Partners provide additional and complementary best value support services. In August 2017 DS took on the service commitments of PCS Enterprises.

  • Competence: The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) require an employer to appoint one or more competent people to help them implement the measures they need to take to comply with the legal requirements. The Health and Safety Executive states that competence is vital, as it ensures the competent person recognises the risks in their activities and can apply the right measures to control and manage those risks.

  • At Delegated Services our experienced, skilled team and network partners offer a wide range of competence needed to support our customers and fulfil the legal requirements.
    Judith Hackitt, former HSE chair said: ‘The essence of competence is relevant to the workplace. What matters is there is a proper focus on both the risks that occur most often and those with serious consequences.
    Competence is the ability for every director, manager and worker to recognise the risks in operational activities and then apply the right measures to control and manage those risks.’

Introduction

  • The purpose of this first fire risk assessment review was to analyse the findings of the previous fire risk assessment and carry out an inspection of the school to identify fire hazards and risks, in order to satisfy the Regulatory Reform (Fire safety) Order 2005 and to prioritise findings to allow significant people such as Board of Governors, Head Teacher, Business Manager, Site and Facilities manager and/or the senior leadership team to deal with any fire management issues, or potential problems, as quickly as possible.

    In order to comply with the legislation there are three key elements that need to be addressed. Firstly that the employer implements measures to prevent fires starting, e.g. have effective maintenance systems in place and keep flammables etc. away from ignition sources. Secondly the employer needs to ensure that if a fire occurs that its potential to spread is reduced, e.g. provide good compartmentation and maintain fire doors self-closing. Finally, that the employer ensures everyone can get to a place of safety, e.g. provision of sufficient exit doors and routes, together with detection, fire alarms and first aid fire-fighting equipment as appropriate.

    The overall standard of fire safety for the school buildings at the time of this fire risk assessment review is concluded in the executive summary but there were a couple of issues identified that were considered significant. The failed items are recorded at the beginning of the report and recommendations made in the action plan. These have been RAG rated where Red items are considered an imminent danger or are major contraventions and action is required almost immediately, and certainly within 3 months, Amber is where work is felt to be necessary to comply with legislation or specific standards and needs to be completed before the next risk assessment, and Green are items which may be necessary to comply with legislation but which are longer term or items which are viewed as good/best practice or simply items for management to consider.

  • ‘Reasonably practicable’ guidance.

    Health and safety law support a balanced business judgment about the measures required to control risks against the time, trouble and cost of their implementation.

    The term reasonably practicable allows for a cost benefit analysis to be used when determining the actions to be taken in response to an identified risk, or for a comparison to be carried out with “good practice” in similar circumstances. The preventative measures taken should however be commensurate with the magnitude of the risk. The school’s management team must show they can justify the level of the identified fire risk and they have taken all reasonable measures to mitigate the risks of fire.

    Both “practicable” and “reasonably practicable” are statutory criminal liabilities in health and safety legislation. Ultimately, the courts decide whether duty holders have complied with their obligations but case law has established certain precedents and the Health and Safety Executive have published useful guidance. A pivotal case in the law on ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’ and ‘as low as reasonably practicable’ was that of Edwards v The National Coal Board (1949) see: http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/theory/alarpglance.htm.

    HSE guidance has been published on how this should be interpreted and the use of Cost Benefit Analysis. Several important points should be noted:
    • There should be a transparent bias on the side of health and safety. For duty holders, the test of ‘gross disproportion’ implies that, at least, there is a need to err on the side of safety in the computation of health and safety costs and benefits.
    • Whenever possible, standards should be improved or at least maintained, thus current good practice is used as a baseline - the working assumption being that the appropriate balance between costs and risks was struck when the good practice was formally adopted.
    • Certain hazards are regulated through a safety case regime requiring an explicit demonstration in the safety case that control measures introduced conform to the ‘as low as is reasonably practicable’ principle.

    This fire risk assessment review aims to assist the responsible person and persons in charge of the premises, to chart progress and to assist in providing a full audit trail of any action taken.

    Once this fire risk assessment review has been completed, school owners/managers must take ownership of the document and its findings. Although support will be available from Delegated Services the responsibility for carrying out remedial action rests with the responsible person.

    The school management must make this fire risk assessment review and original fire risk assessment available for inspection to Enforcing Authorities and other relevant third parties. It must be reviewed whenever it is considered to be no longer valid, i.e., significant change in working practices, material alteration, following any fire incident (or near miss) and in any case, at a suggested period not exceeding 14/26 months.

  • Notes:

    This fire risk assessment is divided into sections. Each relevant section has its own post control risk rating. The ratings are based on the following classifications.

    HIGH – Strong likelihood of significant injury to life, or considerable damage to property occurring.

    MEDIUM – Possibility of injury to life, or damage to property occurring.

    LOW – Potential of a minor injury, or slight damage to property only.

Part 1: General information

Part 1: GENERAL INFORMATION

1 The responsible person for fire safety

  • 1.1 Owner/ Employer

  • 1.2 Name of the Responsible Person/s

  • 1.3 Person/s responsible for the premises

  • 1.0 Are any concerns identified that require addressing?

2 The Occupants/ Visitors/ Contractors

  • 2.1 Maximum number of staff

  • 2.2 Approximate number of pupils

  • 2.3 Approximate number of visitors at any one time

  • 2.4 Approximate number of contractors at any one time

  • 2.5 Occupancy Profile:

    This is to identify how many occupants are present at various times of the day, including the week and if applicable, the weekend. Please choose appropriate number range for the timings listed below

  • 2.5a Weekday 00:00 - 04:00

  • 2.5b Weekday 04:01 - 08:00

  • 2.5c Weekday 08:01 - 12:00

  • 2.5d Weekday 12:01 - 16:00

  • 2.5e Weekday 16:01 - 20:00

  • 2.5f Weekday 20:01 - 24:00

  • 2.6 Is the establishment occupied at the weekend?

  • 2.6a Weekend 00:00 - 04:00

  • 2.6b Weekend 04:01 - 08:00

  • 2.6c Weekend 08:01 - 12:00

  • 2.6d Weekend 12:01 - 16:00

  • 2.6e Weekend 16:01 - 20:00

  • 2.6f Weekend 20:01 - 24:00

  • 2.7 Has a large room (hall/ theatre etc.) capacity been established in the previous fire risk assessment?

  • 2.7a What is the name/ reference of the room being assessed?

  • 2.7b What is the approximate area of the room?

  • 2.7c Are suitable and sufficient number of exits available (provide details and refer to guidance found on the PDF below calculating the escape route capacity of the room)

  • Escape Route capacity

  • Capacity calculations due to type and use of the room

  • When calculating the capacity of the room depending on the types of use, also consider the available exits. Specify the maximum numbers in the questions below stating if this is the due to available space or exits

  • 2.7d Maximum number of persons permitted in the hall/ theatre when used as a dining room/ exam room/ meeting area (loose tables and chairs)

  • 2.7e Maximum number of persons permitted in the hall/ theatre when used for productions/ presentations (seating in rows)

  • 2.7f Maximum number of persons permitted in the hall/ theatre when used with large tables (exhibition space/ jumble sale)

  • 2.7g Maximum number of persons permitted in the hall/ theatre when used as an assembly hall (staff and pupils standing)

  • 2.8 Is there an additional large room that has not been considered in the previous fire risk assessment?

  • 2.8a What is the name/ reference of the room being assessed?

  • 2.8b What is the approximate area of the room?

  • 2.8c Are suitable and sufficient number of exits available (provide details and refer to guidance found on the PDF below calculating the escape route capacity of the room)

  • Escape Route capacity

  • Capacity calculations due to type and use of the room

  • When calculating the capacity of the room depending on the types of use, also consider the available exits. Specify the maximum numbers in the questions below stating if this is the due to available space or exits

  • 2.8d Maximum number of persons permitted in the hall/ theatre when used as a dining room/ exam room/ meeting area (loose tables and chairs)

  • 2.8e Maximum number of persons permitted in the hall/ theatre when used for productions/ presentations (seating in rows)

  • 2.8f Maximum number of persons permitted in the hall/ theatre when used with large tables (exhibition space/ jumble sale)

  • 2.8g Maximum number of persons permitted in the hall/ theatre when used as an assembly hall (staff and pupils standing)

  • 2.9 Is there an additional large room that has not been considered in the previous fire risk assessment?

  • 2.9a What is the name/ reference of the room being assessed?

  • 2.9b What is the approximate area of the room?

  • 2.9c Are suitable and sufficient number of exits available (provide details and refer to guidance found on the PDF below calculating the escape route capacity of the room)

  • Escape Route capacity

  • Capacity calculations due to type and use of the room

  • When calculating the capacity of the room depending on the types of use, also consider the available exits. Specify the maximum numbers in the questions below stating if this is the due to available space or exits

  • 2.9d Maximum number of persons permitted in the hall/ theatre when used as a dining room/ exam room/ meeting area (loose tables and chairs)

  • 2.9e Maximum number of persons permitted in the hall/ theatre when used for productions/ presentations (seating in rows)

  • 2.9f Maximum number of persons permitted in the hall/ theatre when used with large tables (exhibition space/ jumble sale)

  • 2.9g Maximum number of persons permitted in the hall/ theatre when used as an assembly hall (staff and pupils standing)

  • 2.0 Are suitable arrangements in place for the occupants at the setting?

3 Occupants at special risk

  • 3.3 Are there persons with disabilities or special educational needs?

  • 3.4 Permanent PEEPs in place at time of the risk assessment. NB: the content is incorporated into the individual pupil risk assessments necessary as they pose an additional challenge either physical, medical or behavioural. NNB: we will update this figure if necessary, should the number change during the year up until the review date.

  • 3.5 Temporary PEEPs in place at time of the risk assessment

  • 3.0 Are suitable arrangements in place for the occupants at special risk?

4 Fire loss or False alarms

  • 4.1 Have there been any incidents of fire or false alarms since the previous fire risk assessment? (Provide details)

  • 4.0 Are suitable arrangements in place to learn from fire loss/ false alarms

Part 2: Compliance checklist

  • Please include details of any evidence seen during the review such as dates of inspections, companies used etc.

5 Building compliance

  • 5.1 Fixed electrical installations (Every 5 years or evidence of rolling basis)

  • 5.2 Portable appliances testing. Risk assessed, proportional and recorded approach, (some items may only need visual lead checks from new and when undisturbed for years) Provide details in notes

  • 5.3 Lightning protection system, if in place (Annual inspection)

  • 5.4 Solar panels, if present (Annual inspection)

  • 5.5 Gas boilers (Annual inspection)

  • 5.6 Gas kitchen equipment (Main kitchen)

  • 5.7 Gas kitchen equipment (staff room/ curriculum facility)

  • 5.8 Gas bottles and equipment, if present (visual inspections with records)

  • 5.9 Kitchen filters changed and ductwork cleaned (Annually)

  • 5.10 Oil, if present

  • 5.0 Are suitable arrangements in place to ensure building compliance is suitable with regard to fire safety?

6 Fire safety system compliance

  • 6.1 Fire detection and alarm system (Annual inspection)

  • 6.2 Fire call point (Weekly testing)

  • 6.3 Emergency lighting - Power off and duration testing (This will include the decision making on 1- or 3-hour emergency lighting.)

  • 6.4 Emergency lighting (Monthly flick test)

  • 6.5 Fire extinguishers (Annual, maintenance and inspection)

  • 6.6 Fire extinguishers (weekly, tag in place, not obstructed)

  • 6.7 Sprinkler system (if present) (Annual maintenance and inspection)

  • 6.8 Sprinkler system (if present) (Weekly testing)

  • 6.9 Wet/dry risers (if present) (monthly/ 6 month/ annual inspections)

  • 6.10 Fire doors and final exit doors (Weekly checks, not obstructed either side, well fitting, not compromised (e.g., unauthorised use of door wedges etc.)

  • 6.11 Automatic devices linked to the alarm inspected ( e.g., kitchen shutter, locked doors release, hold open fire doors close)

  • 6.0 Is adequate inspecting, testing and maintenance carried out of the fire safety system and relevant components?

7 Training compliance

  • 7.1 Fire awareness training for all staff (every 3 years)

  • 7.2 Fire marshals/ wardens (Every 3 years)

  • 7.3 Responsible person (date of last training)

  • 7.4 Fire drills. Details including any challenge/ feedback

  • 7.5 Fire panel training (appropriate number of staff to cover all times)

  • 7.0 Are suitable drills carried out and training appropriate?

Part 3: Walkabout

  • The following walkabout list is meant as an aide memoire. Consider other items that may also be seen and relevant to fire safety. These can be included in the text box at the end of this section or in the notes for each item below

  • 8.1 Is the standard of housekeeping adequate?

  • 8.2 Is waste disposed of properly? Unnecessary accumulation of combustibles and waste avoided? Consider also building/ contractors materials, forest school materials etc.

  • 8.3 Is waste stored away from the buildings to prevent possible arson attacks?

  • 8.4 Does basic security against arson appear to be appropriate?

  • 8.5 Is there appropriate storage of hazardous materials? Flammable items in suitable storage containers and locations, consider petrol/ diesel etc.

  • 8.6 Do the furniture and furnishings comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations, and in good condition? (undamaged, foam not exposed) Consider also stage curtains etc.

  • 8.7 Does the premises have a reasonable standard of fire safety signs and notices? Consider exit signs, directional signage, assembly point, fire safety notices, call points etc.

  • 8.8 Will fire exits easily and immediately open where necessary? Not obstructed or fastened inappropriately (such as bolted), opening in the direction of travel etc.

  • 8.9 Are escape routes unobstructed? Corridors kept clear, routes through classrooms with bags and coats stored appropriately etc.

  • 8.10 Are suitable means of escape in place for disabled occupants if required?

  • 8.11 Are escape routes adequately protected? Position of electrical items such as photocopiers/ charging stations avoided in escape routes etc.

  • 8.12 Is sufficient emergency lighting available to ensure safe exit, also considering exit from the building (outside lighting)?

  • 8.13 Does the standard of compartmentation and separation appear sufficient? Breaches seen in walls/ ceilings, roof tiles damaged or incorrectly fitting etc.

  • 8.14 Are linings that promote fire spread avoided as far as reasonably practicable? Notice board material not excessive, bunting, material draped from ceilings or near electrical items etc.

  • 8.15 Are stairwells kept clear and the build up of combustible material avoided

  • 8.16 Are the fire doors along escape routes suitable and sufficient? Close properly without large gaps, not inappropriately propped open, if they have maglocks/ hold open devices, are these working etc.

  • 8.17 If portable heaters are used, are the more hazardous types (radiant bars, fan heaters and LPG) avoided? Positioned away from combustible material, switched off if room is not occupied etc.

  • 8.18 Are charging devices managed appropriately? Switched off when not in use, system in place to ensure charging stations are not left on, personal chargers not seen etc.

  • 8.19 Are electrical cables and extension leads managed appropriately? Coils unwound, no daisy chaining seen, sockets not overloaded etc.

  • 8.20 Are kitchen areas kept free of build up of fat/ oils, and appropriately managed to avoid fire?

  • 8.21 Are boiler rooms/ electrical intake cupboards free from combustible material?

  • 8.22 Is smoking prevented on the site? No evidence seen, notices displayed etc.

  • 8.23 Are fire extinguishers, blankets, manual call points, emergency stop devices etc. easily accessible and in good working order

  • 8.24 Are fire extinguishers the correct type for use and in date/ recently serviced?

  • 8.25 Are fire blankets available in kitchen areas?

  • 8.26 Are hose reals provided and easily accessible?

  • 8.27 If the fire alarm is zoned, is there a map with details available next to the fire panel?

  • 8.28 Please list any other relevant fire safety items that are of note

Part 4 Observing a 'No Notice' drill with a challenge

  • We attend a no notice drill with a stated challenge.
    (Before arrival DS check the time it would take F&R to arrive from the nearest station.)

    Just before alarm activation DS team member will go to the challenge site (with a stop watch) to observe the nature and quality of the challenge(s).

    On alarm activation DS team member will then note the actions of staff and pupils to it (at the challenge site then will move to the assembly point)

  • DS may need to interrupt the procedures, depending on the timing of when the F&R are predicted to arrive, to check that someone is indeed in Command and Control and ready to meet them and can address the contents below. They should also be holding any new arrivals to the site with them

  • 9.1 Description of challenge

  • 9.2 Comments on challenge. Was there confusion/ delay/ panic etc.

  • 9.3 Enroute to assembly point was there appropriate assembly area signage/understanding of how all line up, including on site and visiting contractors, visitors, etc.

  • 9.4 At assembly point, was there calm, command and control of the staff member in charge?

  • 9.5 Is there a deputy 1 and deputy 2 for the role of command and control?

  • 9.6 Is a suitable distance from the potentially burning building of all at the assembly area?

  • 9.7 Time taken for full assembly, including roll call

  • 9.8 Was there a successful roll call, not only of pupils, staff but also visitors and contractors - does it all tally with registers?

  • 9.9 Was a briefing provided after the drill to all at the assembly point, and if so can they all hear - do they have a sufficient sized megaphone?

  • 9.10 Was a grab bag taken to the assembly point and was this thought to be comprehensive, such as emergency medication with a list of all with permission, access to contact details of school community/ governors etc. Access to business continuity plans, details of fall back location including keys if required etc.

  • 9.0 Are arrangements considered to be suitable and sufficient with regard to the observed fire drill with challenge?

Fire Risk Assessment

  • Taking into account the fire prevention measures observed at the time of this risk assessment, it is considered that the hazard from fire (likelihood of fire) at these premises is:

  • In this context, a definition of the above terms is as follows:

    LOW: Usually, low likelihood of fire as a result of negligible potential sources of ignition

    MEDIUM: Normal fire hazards (e.g., potential ignition sources) for this type of building and activity, with fire hazards generally subject to appropriate controls (other than minor shortcomings)

    HIGH: Lack of adequate controls applied to one or more significant fire hazards, such as to result in significant damage

  • Taking into account the nature of the building and the occupants, as well as the fire protection and procedural arrangements observed at the time of this fire risk assessment, it is considered that the consequences for life safety in the event of fire would be:

  • In this context, a definition of the above terms is as follows:

    SLIGHT HARM: Outbreak of fire unlikely to result in serious injury or death of any occupant (other than an occupant sleeping in a room in which a fire occurs)

    MODERATE HARM: Outbreak of fire could foreseeably result in injury (including serious injury) of one or more occupants, but is unlikely to involve multiple fatalities

    EXTREME HARM: Significant potential for serious injury or death of one or more occupants

  • Accordingly, it is considered that the risk to life from fire at these premises is:

  • Risk levels: Action and timescale

    TRIVIAL: No action is required, no additional detailed records need to be kept

    TOLERABLE: No major additional controls are required. However, there might be a need for improvements that involve minor or limited costs

    MODERATE: It is essential that efforts be made to reduce the risks. Risk reduction measures should be implemented within a defined time period. Where moderate risk is associated with consequences that constitute extreme harm, further assessment might be required to establish more precisely the likelihood of harm as a basis for determining the priority for improved control measures.

    SUBSTANTIAL: Considerable resources might have to be allocated to reduce the risk. If the building is unoccupied, it should not be occupied until the risk has been reduced. If the building is occupied, urgent action should be taken

    INTOLERABLE: Building (or relevant area) should not be occupied until the risk is reduced

  • Note that, although the purpose of this section is to place the fire risk in context, the above approach to fire risk assessment is subjective and for guidance only. All hazards and deficiencies identified in this report should be addressed by implementing all recommendations contained in the action plan. The fire risk assessment should be reviewed regularly.

  • Link to the Fire Risk Assessment Action Plan (copy and paste the link when in the correct folder in Google Docs)

  • Actions that are carried over from the previous fire risk assessment will be included in the latest action plan if they have not been completed, or have only been partially completed.

    Additional actions will be included as a result of findings from the compliance checks and the walkabout

Conditions

  • The Fire risk assessment review is limited as follows:
    It may be that certain conditions or situations were either not noted, not informed or not being performed during the visit and, therefore, non-inclusion of such conditions or situations in this report does not equate to legislative compliance;

    • Delegated Services CIC will not be able to report on conditions or matters that are covered, hidden or inaccessible
    • Delegated Services CIC may rely on information that is not verified on site, which is made available by the Establishment or a third party
    • Delegated Services CIC will not be liable for any loss suffered arising as a result of the provision of false, misleading or incomplete information or documentation, or the withholding or concealment or misrepresentation of information or documentation by any person.

    Subject to the statements above, no liability can be accepted by Delegated Services CIC if, as a result of the interpretation of this report or the misapplication of remedial measures by the Establishment any proceedings, claims, loss or damage occurs. The report is solely for the Establishment to use. No responsibility will be accepted to other persons seeing the report who rely on it at their own risk.

    Produced by the Chief Executive, Delegated Services, as Competent Person

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