When constructing a building, it’s important that the required level of fire safety is taken into account and given the attention it needs. If a building does not comply with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, it can put its occupants at risk of serious injury and death. To find out more about fire safety building regulations, continue reading our helpful guide.
Fire safety building regulations
When constructing a new building, there are many roles and responsibilities regarding fire safety. This is not only to ensure the safety of construction workers during the building process, but also to make sure occupants of the building, when construction is complete, are safe.
A publication by the Health and Safety Executive details responsibilities and processes during the construction of a building to ensure the safety of both workers and future occupants. Every year there are hundreds of fires on construction sites that put the lives of construction workers, and even members of the public, at risk. Fire safety building regulations are an important step in attempting to eliminate fire risk during the design and construction phase.
Roles and responsibilities during fire safety design in buildings
According to the HSE, it is the client’s responsibility to ensure that a construction phase plan is in place that includes specific fire risks and any procedures in case a fire breaks out. The client must also recruit a principal designer or contractor that has to ensure that any fire risk is identified, eliminated and controlled. This includes challenging the decisions made by the building designers to make sure they have carried out their duties in regards to fire safety regulations.
The building designer, whether an individual or an organisation, must consider the fire safety design of the building. This includes considering the risk of fire when designing the construction project, including the choice of building materials and the process of the build itself.
The designer must also consider the off-site fire risks, including the impact on neighbouring buildings and their emergency escape routes.
From there, it is then down to the contractor to ensure fire mitigation measures are implemented on-site. They must also assess and manage fire process safety risks, such as the use of solvents of fire spread.
Finally, during the construction process of a building, it is down to the workers to comply with on-site rules and regulations regarding fire safety.
If every rule is followed strictly from the start to the finish of the construction process, it will limit any risks of injury to fire, which is precisely why the regulations are in place.
Buildings and fire safety
Once a building has been constructed, there are more steps the owner or occupier can take to ensure it is safe from the risk of fire.
There is the required fire risk assessment, of course, which is the legal responsibility of the property owner, landlord or managing agent. A fire risk assessment is an organised inspection of a building to ascertain if there are any fire hazards that could cause harm. It also identifies the measures currently in place and estimates the level of risk for existing hazards.
Modern buildings, when constructed correctly, should have adequate compartmentation. If there are concerns about the standard of existing compartmentation in a building, a compartmentation survey may be commissioned.
This is a process of subdividing buildings to help prevent the spread of smoke and fire. A compartmentation survey assesses how well a building can protect escape routes in the event of a fire. It involves detailed investigative work within ceilings and floor voids, roof spaces, service rises, behind boxings, and more.
When you might need a fire strategy
A fire strategy report is often overlooked for existing buildings but more and more building managers are beginning to understand the value of them, and how they can assist with all fire safety related issues
A fire strategy report is often overlooked for existing buildings, but more and more building managers are beginning to understand the value of them, and how they can assist with all fire safety related issues. If a building is being erected, extended or undergoing a material change, Regulation 38 of the Building Regulations requires that a package of safety information has to be compiled and given to the responsible person of the premises.
If this information has not been provided, or is not available for the property, the owner of the premises may wish to commission a retrospective inspection to analyse the potential fire spread, and implement a plan to minimise any destruction a fire could cause.
Fire strategy reports are commonly used as a means of collating and providing this information. They can also be used during the design stage of a building project. This will ensure the required fire safety features of the final build have been correctly incorporated into design ideas.
Fire safety services at NW Fire
If you require any fire safety services for your building, old or new, then don’t hesitate to contact NW Fire Solutions on 0151 665 0124 or email us at info@nwfiresolutions.co.uk.
Our qualified fire professionals can perform expert fire risk assessments, fire compartmentation surveys and more on your building. We can also come to your workplace and provide high-quality fire safety training for your employees.