PHC06 - Fire Safety v2.0 2020

01. Is it clear who the Responsible Person(s) and Competent person(s) (as defined under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005) is/are?<br>*Guidance: Responsible Person(s) and Competent Person(s) for all aspects of Fire Safety should be identified and recorded on the H&S Responsibilities Matrix and appointed in writing where required.*

02. Has a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) been carried out by a competent person and formally reviewed within the last 12 months?<br>*Guidance: Look for IFE accreditation or BAFE SP205 when assessing competence. A copy of the up to date FRA should be held on file and be available to all building users.*

03. Is there evidence that reasonable steps have been taken to reduce or eliminate any risks or issues identified in the FRA?<br>*Guidance: Evidence and records should be available to show that actions have been completed within reasonable timescales.*

04. Has an Emergency Evacuation Plan been developed and has this been practiced in the last 12 months. Are all fire muster points clearly identified and signposted?<br>*Guidance: Is the plan available and communicated to all stakeholders?*

05. Is there evidence of emergency evacuation routes being maintained and kept clear at all times?<br>*Guidance: Daily checks of escape routes should be undertaken to ensure that fire doors are not propped open and routes are not impeded Final Exit doors normally kept closed should be opened weekly to ensure that mechanisms and door opening devices remain operational?*

06. If required by the FRA or Evacuation Strategy have fire marshals been appointed and trained as to their responsibilities? Are Training Records maintained?<br>*Guidance: Suitable numbers of persons should be delegated to be fire marshals. They should have been trained within the last 3 years and aware of their role and responsibilities.*

07. Have appropriate and evidenced checks of passive fire protection measures been completed by appropriately competent persons.<br>This should include as a minimum fire stopping of fire compartments and around service penetrations and fire door penetrations. External finishes should also be reviewed.<br>*Guidance: Surveys should be completed by appropriately qualified and accredited experts.*

08. Are appropriate planned maintenance regimes in place to undertake ongoing inspections of passive fire protection measures. Are checks completed and appropriately recorded/evidenced?<br>*Guidance: Weekly, Monthly & Annual Inspections should be completed as required by legislation, manufacturer’s requirements and good industry practice such as SFG 20.*

09. Have specific checks been undertaken in relation to installation, orientation, fire stopping and operation of Fire Dampers?<br>*Guidance: A comprehensive report should be available with photographic evidence if possible.*

10. Are appropriate planned maintenance regimes in place to undertake ongoing inspections of fire dampers? Are checks completed and appropriately recorded/evidenced?<br>*Guidance: An annual report with photographic evidence evidence of open/closed dampers is now best practice.*

11. Have specific checks been undertaken of the installation, and operating condition of Fire Doors?<br>*Guidance: Checks should be in line with ‘Checkmate Fire Door Checklist’ as a minimum.*

12. Are specific planned maintenance regimes in place to comprehensively and periodically check/inspect fire doors for conditions and operation? Is the frequency appropriate?<br>*Guidance: Weekly, Monthly & Annual Inspections should be completed as required by legislation, manufacturer’s requirements and good industry practice such as SFG 20.*

13. Are appropriate and evidenced planned maintenance regimes in place to undertake inspections of other fire protection systems such as sprinklers systems (and other suppression systems), fire alarms, break glass points, detectors, hold open devices, fire doors and fire dampers? Are checks completed and appropriately recorded?<br>*Guidance: Weekly, Monthly & Annual Inspections should be completed as required by legislation, manufacturer’s requirements and good industry practice such as SFG 20.*

14. Have any remedial actions identified in 07-13 been appropriately rectified, certified and recorded?<br>*Guidance: Records to be appropriately filed on G:\Drive. Helpdesk should also capture any remedial actions identified.*

15. Are records of false alarms kept and are such events investigated? Have areas of concern been investigated and addressed?<br>*Guidance: Excessive numbers of false alarms may give rise to complacency in an actual emergency.*

16. Are appropriate and evidenced planned maintenance regimes in place to maintain emergency lighting systems and fire signage? Are checks completed and appropriately recorded?<br>*Guidance: Weekly, Monthly & Annual Inspections should be completed as required by legislation, manufacturer’s requirements and good industry practice such as SFG 20. Fire Log Books.*

17. Are appropriate and evidenced planned maintenance regimes in place for portable firefighting equipment? Are checks completed and appropriately recorded?<br>*Guidance: Fire extinguishers should be visually inspected weekly and subject to a more thorough examination annually, with all findings recorded.*

18. Is a Fire Emergency Folder/ Grab Pack available and accessible by the Emergency Services if required?<br>*Guidance: Fire Emergency Folders should ideally include floor plans with details of the location of any hazardous materials and substances, details of building construction occupation and escape routes, locations of isolation points for electricity, gas and water and any other useful information, such as the presence and location of asbestos and fire hydrants.*

19. Is there evidence that fire awareness training has been provided to the service providers and building users staff, visitors and 3rd Party users?<br>*Guidance: Training should be incorporated into employee and site inductions and refresher training covering items such as what to do in the event of finding a fire, what to do on hearing the Fire Alarm, Muster Points, correct Use of Fire Extinguishers, specific fire hazards on site, site rules, smoking policies etc.*