April 2025
Thinking outside the box when considering the appreciation of risk is essential when trying to understand and interpret what is seen or anticipated might impact on the risk for the client site, the business activities and the people involved.
In most applications the base content of a PAS document will only suffice for smaller very low risk sites without either a sleep-in provision or any significant storage or practical works on-site.
Anything with Heat or Production or Manufacturing will need to be considered within the parameters of the work applications, shifts if 24/7 and materials and products used.
Also, other areas and situations where external factors will impact the client’s needs, these might include for example “Dirty Water” post a fire situation where the clean-up of fire water is required, the Environment Agency will expect the client to both have a plan for this and to have internal insurance cover to cover the cost of the clean-up.
Having a considered Business Continuity Plan for the continuance of the day-to-day activities with adequate consequential loss insurance for a sufficient period.
For buildings without adequate Lightening Protection there should be consideration of localised Surge Protection for the critical fire and life safety systems in the building(s), Fire Alarm, AOV, Refuge etc:
Understanding the expectations of others in respect of either a Fire Inspection or indeed a Fire event in respect of the ability to provide all of the relevant documentation for the site to validate the previous testing, training drills and system performance as will be expected from the other stakeholders so having a cloud based platform to retain off-site comprehensive information to prove the efficacy of the systems use and compliance.
EV provision is a growing problem in that it is 99% unregulated and Approved Document S notwithstanding has no reference points, in residential blocks with car parking the arrival of EV has been a challenge as it tends to be fitted without external consultation to other stakeholders, local authority, insurance providers or freeholders are usually the last to find out.
Due to the overall lack of capability for the brigade to deal effectively with a thermal runaway situation the implications for a serious and significant fire becoming a much bigger issue are likely, lithium ion gives off hydrogen gas which is fatal if inhaled and lithium polymer burns at anywhere from 750c-1000c which is sufficient to melt the steel reinforcing in a car park floor and thus create other problems for the emergency services.
Vermiculite extinguishers and blankets have some efficacy but they have limited applications and sprinklers/misting systems have similar limited potential.
Therefore when looking at sites where EV is either required or already in situ then any FRA needs to make very specific references to what might be necessary and also to ensure the client discloses the provision to their insurance people as it’s a mandatory disclosure.
Understanding Disability Planning and provision is a little more complex than a PDA link for a hearing aid and whilst HMG have scrapped a plan to bring in the recommendations of Grenfell part 2 there is still a raft of requirements for disability planning and delivery in all parts of our work including the following:
- Approved Document M – fire doors width and provision
- Approved Document K – Low level high performance photoluminescence
- BS 8300
- EN54 part 23 – impaired hearing issues
When identification is needed to establish what issues or ailments will require further comment the following should be/would be included:
- Persons with permanent impairment and who also may be bariatric
- Persons with temporary impairments
- Ladies who may be pregnant
- Photosensitive Epilepsy
- Colour Blindness
- Vertigo
- PSTD
- Aspergers Syndrome & Autism is its various elements across the spectrum
- Anxiety issues including the use of a support dog and Agoraphobia
- Impaired hearing
- Impaired sight including the use of a guide/support dog
- Persons on prescription medication which might affect their ability to react to an evacuation or impact on others trying to evacuate.
In sites with a Concierge or Waking Watch/Roving Patrol provision then what must also be understood is that where such support is provided significant and appropriate training must be included in the plan as the current brigade expectation is that these persons are required to assist and support any evacuation of persons within who themselves cannot self-evacuate be they office staff, residential occupants or persons in a commercial or industrial facility – the training is key.
For sites that have external management provided it is now a requirement of PAS 8673 that they are able to demonstrate that they can meet the benchmark for assessing competence in building safety management for building structures, systems including fire and life safety elements, the risks from such and information management & change management.
This includes staffing (especially temporary and relief staff) with adequate training covering all of the issues within the building, especially disability planning and evacuation procedures and the correct appropriate appointment of incumbent partners including those for fire risk assessment.
Consideration of the business activities on site with regard to Consequences is essential as some products and processes give off toxins and create explosive reactions, some nylon and polyester products give off cyanide gas when heated and some materials react to static energy which can create sparks to ignite gas or vapour.
Understanding the environmental impact of a fire on the business and the property when toxic issues and or considerations of processes within the site, these may have not only an impact of the types of alarm systems provided but also a wider issues for the client in terms of consequences post a fire or even a spillage and therefore the FRA and any strategy planning must/should take full account of these and recommendations relating to liaison with the insurance provider and potential orientation visits by the emergency services included along with a M.A.P – a Major Accident Plan which will need to be documented, rehearsed and planned for at a worse-case-scenario situation.
Sites with storage of products likely to cause issues would include for example, tyres, commercial and industrial paint and anything with Heat – Oxygen & Acetylene, Nitrogen and all works where MSDS notes for a COSHH/Dsear plan may be required will ALL need to be considered as hazardous and likely to have significant environmental consequences.
The motor trade now with issues for A/C, welding, EV issues and oils and lubricants create serious potential problems which are sometime back-of-house and less seen but none the less serious.
The storage and disposal of waste in these circumstances is also a critical element in respect of both the content of a report and the clients appreciation of potential issues from nefarious activity and arson in creating an environmental problem for the client and the emergency services.
Whilst and explosive situation will have a big short-term impact airborne issues from tyres and oil based products will have a much larger spread of problems which may produce significant litigation for the client if the HSE consider insufficient planning and contingencies have been made, waste storage and scrap yards also have serious issues which will have all of the above within them to a lesser or greater extent.
Some issues on site will have seasonal impacts, especially in the colder weather when potentially doors/shutters may remain closed and internal LPG or Warm Air heaters and Blowers used and these issues may not be immediately obvious for an FRA done in warmer weather but their use and consequence should be no less anticipated in terms of accidental fires when heaters are used and left on for prolonged periods of time.
Finally at this time I’d like to make a couple of observations regarding time on site:
- If you have to go into an environment where any of the following are likely – COSHH/Dsear/ Alcohol and IS or really dirty sites then it is likely that anti-static clothing and footwear should be used to avoid the risk of a spark – less than 100mj (millijoule’s) can create a situation which if local to a vapour cloud or floor based charge could create an explosion.
- Always ask for the last issued assessment as it may have been re-done in-between your last site visit or meeting with the client and review the action plan to ensure you know exactly what is required and the time scales to deliver it.
Other considerations that should now be included are those related to “dirty water” following a fire and it’s consequences when the issue of pollution if this water soaks into the ground and then bleeds into a local water course, it is essential that the client has discussions with their insurance providers to establish the provision of cover adequate to meet such remedial works, this is likely to be a significant cost so the levels of cover provide need to reflect this.
Discussions with your utility provider would also be prudent to ensure you are fully cognisant in the situation and likely outcome.
