Fire Safety Guidance

Health and safety services
Fire safety
Guidance
(Page 1 of website guidance)
Part 1 General guidance

The theory of combustion
Oxygen
Heat
Fuel
Fire fighting equipment
Fire extinguishers
Water extinguisher
Carbon dioxide (CO2) extinguisher
Dry powder extinguisher
Foam extinguisher
Means of escape
Fire doors
Fire evacuation procedures
What to do on discovering a fire
What to do on hearing the fire alarm
Responsibility of staff
False alarms
Liaison with the fire service
Re-entry procedure
Fire evacuation drills
General precautions summary
Gas leak procedures
Overview
Fire safety strategy and operational procedures
1 - Fire safety inspections and audits
2 - Fire wardens
3 - Fire safety maintenance
4 - Fire safety training
5 - Fire incidents
Part 2 practical guidance
Introduction
Risk assessments an overview
University compliance policy
Maintenance of existing fire precautions
General guidance for risk assessments
Fire safety for disabled people
Forms
For forms, see separate Appendix
The Theory of combustion

Every fire needs fuel, oxygen and heat to burn; Remove any one of these and the fire
will be extinguished.
Fuel
Oxygen
Heat
The type of fuel burning determines which of the three we need to remove.
1 - Carbonaceous fire, such as wood and paper - We remove the heat by cooling with
water.
2 - Flammable liquid fire - We remove the air and hence the oxygen by smothering the
fire.
3 - Gas leak which has ignited - We remove the fuel by turning off the gas at the
mains.
More about oxygen

Rate of burning
The supply of oxygen determines how fast a fire burns. The greater the supply of
oxygen, the faster the reaction, so closing the door of a room will slow the rate of
burning.
When a solid fuel is divided into smaller pieces there is a greater surface area in
contact with oxygen in the air, making the fire burn faster. When a fuel is in dust form
and suspended in air, the reaction is so fast that a dust explosion can occur if ignited.
Oxidising agents
Some chemical compounds contain a large amount of oxygen, for example:
Potassium nitrate
Sodium chlorate
Hydrogen peroxide
Most of these compounds are non-flammable, but when they are mixed with other
fuels they produce additional oxygen. They will burn fiercely if ignited because of this
oxygen and in some cases can even explode. Any such oxidising agents should be
stored in a cabinet and kept clear of other combustible materials.
Spontaneous ignition
Some substances can ignite on their own without an external heat source. For
example, cleaning rags impregnated with oil or wax polish may spontaneously ignite This is why all cleaning cloths should be stored in a metal bin with a lid.
Sources of heat
Sources of heat are everywhere around the University, so it is important to be aware
of where they are and keep control of them. Sources of heat include:
Electricity
Overloading sockets by using too many adapters
Damaged wiring
Loose plug connections
Arcing caused by faulty insulation
Electrostatic discharge igniting flammable vapours
Portable heaters
People should be discouraged from using portable heaters, but the following types are
acceptable in the event of central heating failure:
Electrical storage convectors
Oil-filled electrical radiators
Electrical convectors with enclosed heating elements
The following heaters should not be used on University premises:
Electrical open element radiators
LPG heaters (liquefied petroleum gas)
Material should never be placed on any heater, and flammable materials such as
cardboard and paper should never be stored next to them.
Smoking
Where smoking is permitted, a suitable receptacle should be provided for cigarette
ends and a separate container for other waste materials.
More about fuel

Fuels can be split into three basic types - gas, liquid and solid.
Gas
1 - If you smell gas, immediately look for an obvious cause and switch off the supply if
possible.
2 - Ventilate the area by opening doors and windows - Remember that domestic gas is
lighter than air so make sure there is high level ventilation.
3 - Do not turn any electrical switches on or off as this will cause a spark and could
ignite the gas.
4 - If the source of the gas leak cannot be detected and cut off, the building should be
evacuated and the gas company called.
Liquefied petroleum gas LPG

LPG includes Calor Gas, Propane, Butane etc.
These gas cylinders should be stored outside and only brought into the building for the
time they are being used.
These gasses are heavier than air and in the case of a leak, will travel a great
distance at floor level.
The vapours can easily be ignited by a spark or other heat source.
In the event of a leak, the cylinder valve should be turned off.
Remember when ventilating, the gas is heavier than air therefore low level
venting is necessary.
If such gas cylinders are involved in a fire, do not attempt to tackle the blaze
and immediately evacuate the building.
Flammable liquids
Some solvents, especially those that are petroleum-based, give off flammable vapours
at normal temperatures and pressures. These vapours are heavier than air and like
LPG, they will travel a great distance, increasing the chance of ignition.
All flammable liquids should be kept in a purpose built store, preferably outside.
Small quantities may be stored inside the building in a fire resistant cabinet or
cupboard, and only the smallest quantities removed for immediate use.
All containers should be clearly marked and fitted with a gas-tight lid.
Remember that a seemingly empty can or drum still contains vapours and can
explode in a fire.
If any flammable liquids are spilt, they should be contained and then soaked up
by using sand or vermiculite immediately, and the area ventilated.
If a liquid is on fire do not use water to extinguish it.
Solids including wood and paper

Solid fires should usually be extinguished with water, and the fire extinguisher or hose
reel should be directed at the seat of the fire. The water changing into steam
extinguishes the fire.
Water should not be used on electrical equipment, burning metal, flammable liquid
fires and on fires involving certain chemicals.

The University uses three types or fire fighting equipment:
Portable extinguishers
Hose reels
Fire blankets
Advice on using fire fighting equipment

1 - Familiarise yourself with the fire fighting equipment provided
2 - Read the instructions on the various types of extinguishers
3 - If hose reels are provided, physically examine them so you know how they operate
4 - Remember that an extinguisher contains only a small amount of water, powder or
gas. If you are tackling a large fire or a fire behind a closed door, an extinguisher may
not be suitable.
5 - If you are tackling a fire, always check that your means of escape is clear - Look
behind you to ensure the escape route has not become smoke logged.
6 - Stop fighting the fire if any of the following circumstances arise:
The fire grows in intensity despite your efforts
Any gas cylinders are nearby
The smoke becomes thick and affects your breathing
Your escape route becomes threatened
Fire extinguishers
You can identify the type of fire extinguisher by the colour of the container, in
compliance with the British Standard. New extinguishers now comply with European
Standards and are all coloured red. However all extinguishers manufactured in the UK
have a coloured bar or ring which complies with the old British Standard colour coding.
Colour
Type
Red
Water
Red with black band
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Red with blue band
Dry powder
Red with cream band
Foam
Water extinguisher
How to use a water extinguisher
1 - Pull out the metal or plastic split pin,
2 - Squeeze the hand grip and use the flexible hose to direct the jet of water at the
seat of the fire.
Water extinguishers contain nine litres of water and last for approximately two
minutes, throwing a jet of water at least 6.5 metres.
Water extinguishers are best suited for carbonaceous fires such as wood and paper.
Water should not be used on the following type of fire
1 - Certain chemicals
2 - Electrical equipment
3 - Burning metals
4 - Flammable liquids
Carbon dioxide (CO2) extinguisher

The CO2 extinguisher is ideal for electrical fires as it does not cause any damage to
electrical equipment such as computers or VDUs. It can also be used on small
flammable liquid fires.
Carbon dioxide is an inert gas, about 1 times heavier than air. It therefore
extinguishes the fire by smothering it and starving it of oxygen.
How to use a CO2 extinguisher
1 - Remove split pin from the operating handle,
2 - Squeeze the hand-grip and point the discharge horn towards the fire.
3 - For small quantities of a contained liquid fire, apply with a sweeping motion across
the surface of the burning liquid. Start at the leading edge and force the fire away from
you.
Important points to remember about CO2 extinguishers
CO2 extinguishers give off a loud noise when being discharged, which can
startle the operator.
Only hold the extinguisher by the handle provided and at the base of the
cylinder. Do not hold the discharge horn as it can cause cold burns.
Sometimes the operator can get a static electric shock. This is not large enough
to cause injury but it can be surprising.
CO2 extinguishers should not be used on fires involving loose material as the
force of the gas will spread the fire.
CO2 is not toxic but is an asphyxiant. It should not be used in a very confined
compartment.
CO2 extinguishers are not very effective in the open air or on large flammable
liquid fires as the gas quickly disperses and the fire can reignite.
Dry powder extinguisher

These are all-purpose fire extinguishers but are most suitable for flammable liquids
and electrical fires. Dry powder is best for chemical fires and solvents as it does not
react with most compounds. However, the powder is very messy and can damage
equipment, particularly machinery with moving parts.
How to use a dry powder extinguisher
1 - Remove the split pin
2 - Squeeze the handle and direct the jet of dry powder onto the fire in a rapid
sweeping motion, across the area of the fire.
Foam extinguisher
There are several types of foam extinguishers, the most common being a detergent
based compound called AFFF (aqueous film forming foam).
How to use a foam extinguisher
1 - Remove the split pin.
2 - Squeeze the handle.
When the burning liquid is contained, direct the foam onto the inside edge of
the container or onto an adjacent vertical surface above the liquid. This breaks
up the jet and allows the foam to flow across the burning surface.
For free flowing fire, apply the jet of foam in a slow sweeping motion and not
directly into the burning liquid.
Means of escape
Departmental fire wardens and other members of staff should consider the following:
In an ideal situation, occupants of a building should be able to turn their backs on any
fire and walk to a place of safety. In practice this may not always be possible due to
the design of existing buildings. For example:
Single staircase buildings
Rooms within rooms
Dead end corridors
Information about staircase enclosures

In general staircase enclosures should not be used to store combustible material. This
rule should be strictly adhered to in the case of single staircase buildings.
Information about rooms within rooms

Where the escape route from an inner room is through an outer room (access room) it
is important to make the occupants of the inner room aware immediately of a fire
occurring in the access room.
If the access room is always occupied then the fire warning can be given by word of
mouth or by sounding the fire alarm if a call point is in the immediate vicinity. (See
Figure 1)
FIGURE 1
In cases where the access room is empty and the inner room is occupied, one or both
of the following conditions are desirable:
1 - Provide vision panels in the walls of the inner room, to allow occupants to
see a fire in the access room (see Figure 2).
2 - Provide an automatic smoke detector sited in the access room and linked to
the fire alarm system to warn of a fire give immediately. (See Figure 2).
FIGURE 2
Information about corridors
Corridors should not be used to store combustible material and in dead end corridors
this rule should be strictly adhered to. In a dead end corridor it is desirable that the
route is half hour fire resistant to the point where an alternative exit becomes
available. (See Figure 3).
FIGURE 3
All doors with access in to the dead end corridor should be fire resistant and selfclosing, or at the very least they should be kept shut.
Alternative escape routes

Alternative escape routes are exits from the building that are not normally used for
access. These routes can pass through other departments and doors may be fitted
with special locks for security.
These locks can include
Break-the-glass bolts or locks
Panic bolts
Electric locks (with automatic releases when the fire alarm sounds)
Extra information
The alternative exit routes should be checked monthly by the safety supervisor and
fire warden to ensure the routes have not been obstructed, or the special locks
damaged or interfered with. The routes should be followed to the outside of the
building.
Most types of break-the-glass locks can be opened with a key but in emergencies it
may be necessary to break the glass. Replacement glass for the locks can be
obtained from the University locksmith.
It is essential that these doors are opened every month or two, as they tend to stick
and become inoperative.
The departmental safety supervisor and/or the fire wardens should ensure that all staff
and research students are familiar with the escape routes.
Where the routes are not normally used, all staff should go along the route at least
once a year, and in the case of new staff immediately after starting.
All alternative exit routes should be clearly indicated by conspicuous "Fire Exit" signs.
Fire doors
Fire doors are designed to hold back fire and smoke for a designated period,
preventing the spread of smoke and fire giving people more time to get out. Fire doors
are fitted with self closing devices that ensure that they are kept closed, but they are
sometimes wedged open in hot weather or in busy areas.
This is dangerous as well as illegal, but to overcome this problem, it is possible to fit
either of the following types of fire door retainers: A Dorgard type hold open device.
A magnetic hold open device.
An automatic self closing device.
These devices will hold a door open, while either constantly listening for the fire alarm
or activate when the fire alarm sounds, the device then releases the door and it closes
automatically.
Fire door retainers are the most satisfactory alternative to propping fire doors open.
For more information on fire door retainers, contact Estate Services or your fire safety
adviser.

These pages contain the following information:
False alarms
Re-entry procedure
Fire evacuation drills
General precautions summary
Gas leak procedures
Overview

1 - The fire alarm should be set off before the fire is tackled.
Use common sense and discretion if you discover a fire. In extreme cases it may be
possible to put out a fire before sounding the fire alarm, but only if the fire is very small
and you are confident it can be put out easily.
Use the nearest appropriate fire extinguisher but if this has no immediate effect on the
fire, operate the fire alarm.
If the building is not equipped with an electrical alarm, shout the warning "fire", or
operate the manual sounders. All staff should be told the correct way of operating the
fire alarm and shown the "break-the-glass call point or manual call point near where
they work.
2 - Call security on Ext 32222 to confirm it is a real fire
When the fire alarm sounds on campus, it will automatically inform security control.
The controller will not call the fire service immediately due to the large number of false
alarms, so it is essential that you call security on Ext. 32222 to confirm it is a real fire
and to give any relevant information.
Security will need information including:
a) The exact location of the fire
b) The location of any trapped people
c) The type of fire (including the type of fuel involved)
d) Any hazardous substances that may be involved:
toxic or explosive chemicals,

radioactive substances,
gas cylinders
3 At premises off campus, call the fire service directly on 999 after raising the
alarm.
Pass on all the relevant information to the fire service control.
Remember the fire service control is in Bradford and the operator may not be familiar
with the local area, so it is essential that you give the correct postal address of the
premises. It may be helpful to provide a clear notice next to the telephone which could
be used for calling the fire service. This notice should include the correct postal
address.
All staff should be told the system of reporting a fire that is relevant to them.
4 Only tackle a fire after the alarm has been raised and the fire service or
security informed.
In practice, the fire may be discovered by more than one person and the above
actions can be carried out simultaneously.
5 It is better for several calls to be made about the same incident rather than
no call at all.
Where more than one person is present it is possible that no one calls the fire service
or security, due to confusion. If in doubt call 32222 or 999
6 Dont risk your own safety.
If your efforts to tackle the fire have no effect or the fire is too big for you to fight,
evacuate the building immediately by using the shortest possible route, closing the
door to the evacuated room behind you.
7 After evacuation, report to the pre-determined assembly point
and await further instructions.
1 On hearing the fire alarm, all occupants should evacuate the building
immediately by the shortest possible route and then report to the assembly
point.
2 Fire wardens should check the areas they are responsible for only if safe to do
so, to help in the evacuation.
Pay particular attention to "out of the way" rooms such as bathrooms, toilets,
preparation rooms and dark rooms.
3 The fire warden should then evacuate and help the security staff to prevent
unauthorised people from entering the building.
All fire wardens and safety supervisors will be issued with orange arm bands for
identification. These armbands should be worn at all evacuation incidents.
1 At all fire evacuations, the security officer arriving at the scene will automatically
take charge unless relieved by a designated fire warden or safety supervisor. If
no approach is made, the security officer will stay in control until the conclusion
of the incident or the arrival of the fire service.
2 A designated fire warden or safety supervisor should only take charge of an
incident by approaching the security officer and telling them their name and
their appointment.
3 When the fire alarm goes off, a designated fire warden should proceed to the
fire alarm indicator panel to find out the location of the call point. They should
then investigate the area and if there are any signs of a fire they should inform
security (Ext. 32222) immediately, and then report back to the fire alarm
indicator panel.
4 The security officer in attendance will take charge of the incident in the
following instances:
After normal working hours and holiday periods

At incidents where the safety supervisor or designated person is not in
attendance at the fire alarm panel and it is apparent that no one is in
charge.
False alarms where the fire service are not called

1 If there is a false alarm, inform security control immediately.
2 After a building is evacuated where investigations have confirmed it was a false
alarm, the person in charge is responsible for making the decision to allow
people back into the building. This decision takes place only after consultation
with the security officer and the electrician who may be present.
Sounding of fire alarms

1 Once activated the fire alarm system must not be silenced unless it is an
obvious false alarm or is required by the fire service for operational reasons.
2 At all incidents, when the fire service has required the silencing of alarms, the
fire wardens and other available members of staff should help security in
cordoning off the whole building.
3 Hazard warning tape and danger notices can be obtained from security control.

The departmental safety supervisor and the fire warden who are responsible for the
area with the fire will have relevant local knowledge which may be helpful to the officer
in charge of the incident. They should therefore make themselves available to help the
fire service by reporting to the University fire officer or the senior security officer
present.
Re-entry after an incident

1 Once at the assembly point, all staff and students should await instructions
from the departmental safety officer, fire warden or security.
2 On no account should anyone enter a building when the fire alarm is sounding.
3 At most small incidents the officer in charge of the fire service will decide when
it is safe to re-enter a building. This information will be passed on to security
who will inform the fire warden and safety supervisor.
4 At larger incidents or where contamination is suspected, the University fire
officer will be responsible for re-entry, having first being given the all clear by
the fire service. In the absence of the fire officer, the responsibility for re-entry
will be taken by a representative from Estate Services. The person responsible
for re-entry will wear an orange arm band.
5 At a prolonged incident or in bad weather the head of the department may
decide to dismiss the staff and students at the assembly point. On such
occasions the fire warden from the evacuated building should make themselves
available to help the University fire officer in carrying out safety tasks prior to a
general re-entry, e.g. venting the building, checking for water damage, etc.
6 At a prolonged incident, members of staff or students wishing to retrieve
important documents should contact the departmental safety supervisor who
should then inform the fire officer.
7 At a prolonged incident the security staff will place "Danger, No access beyond
this point" notices at entry routes to a particular building. Department safety
supervisors and fire wardens should ensure that staff or students do not abuse
these notices.
Evacuation drills
Fire wardens should organise and implement an annual fire evacuation drill.
If you want to arrange an evacuation drill for your department, the procedures
are as follows:
1 - Arrange a date and time
2 - Send an internal works order to Estate Services requesting an
electrician to attend
3 - Inform security control
4 - Inform the University fire safety adviser
In larger buildings or areas containing more than one department, the different
fire wardens should liaise with each other to plan the evacuation drill. For help
in organising these larger drills, contact health and safety services.
If a building is evacuated due to a fire or a false alarm, this may be recorded as

a fire evacuation drill and health and safety services should be informed.
The purpose of an evacuation drill is to:

1 - Familiarise the occupants of a building with escape routes and
assembly points
2 - Identify any problems such as the volume of the alarm in certain areas
or overcrowding on any escape routes. Any problems should be reported to
health and safety services.
General fire precautions

1 - If a naked flame is being used or combustible material is being heated for
experimental reasons or otherwise, the departmental safety supervisor or fire warden
must be informed and if necessary extra precautions should be taken.
2 - Any physical alteration to escape routes should be reported to health and safety
services. This includes:
Sealing doors
Locking previously unlocked doors
Moving furniture to obstruct a previously open thoroughfare
Altering internal walls and modifying the means of escape
3 - Escape routes such as staircases are protected by half-hour fire resistant and selfclosing doors. Therefore fire doors should not be wedged open or tied back as this will
jeopardise everyones safety in the event of a fire.
4 - Check that all alternative escape routes are accessible - Sometimes doors get
inadvertently locked or obstructed.
5 - Do not allow combustible materials to be stored in staircase enclosures and
corridors.
6 - Ensure you know how to operate the fire alarm system and the location of the
break-the-glass call points.
7 - Do not allow waste materials such as paper to build up. Rubbish should be
removed every day.
Gas leak procedures

Suspected gas leaks
If you think there is a gas leak, follow these procedures:
1 - Look for an obvious reason for the leak and where possible turn off the supply.
2 - Ventilate the area by opening doors and windows.
Ordinary gas is lighter than air, so ventilate at high level.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is heavier than air, so ventilate at low level.
3 - Do not turn on or turn off any electrical supply, including light switches.
4 - Evacuate the area using word of mouth.
5 - In the event of a leak that cannot be detected and turned off, call security (Ext:
32222) who will dispatch an officer to the premises.
6 - In some cases it may be necessary to evacuate the whole building and this should
be done by work of mouth and by using compressed air horns which are kept at
security control.
7 - At all incidents where an evacuation is necessary other than fire incidents, the
senior security officer present will take command. The fire warden should assist
the security officer in any such evacuation.
Summary
The above notes are intended to provide basic fire prevention guidance for fire
wardens and safety supervisors.
It is not always possible to apply set procedures during a fire and some flexibility may
have to apply depending on the situation. However for the majority of incidents the
above procedures will be applicable.
Where possible fire prevention issues should be resolved at departmental level, but if
the issue is controversial or requires specialist advice please contact health and safety
services.
The following page is an overview of the above notes and summarises the
recommended duties of fire wardens.
Departmental safety supervisors and fire wardens

Overview of recommended duties
Theory of combustion
There are three elements of combustion; oxygen, fuel and heat. Take away any one
and the fire will be extinguished. The element we remove depends on which type of
fuel is burning.
Means of escape
1 - Carry out routine checks of the alternative exit routes.
2 - Ensure all staff and postgraduate students are familiar with the alternative routes.
3 - Check that corridors and staircase enclosures are not used for storing combustible
materials.
4 - Check fire resistant and self-closing doors are not wedged open or fastened back.
5 - Check that escape routes are clearly indicated by exit signs.
6 - Check that the blue fire notices are still in place and intact.
1 - Ensure all staff and postgraduate students are familiar with how to operate fire
extinguishers and hose reels.
2 - Ensure all staff and postgraduate students are aware of the dangers of using the
wrong extinguisher on a particular type of fire.
3 - Carry out routine checks of fire fighting equipment.
Fire drill procedure
1 - Ensure staff and postgraduate students know what to do when:
A fire is discovered
The fire alarm sounds
2 - On hearing the fire alarm, check the area is evacuated.
3 - Assist security to prevent anyone from re-entering.
4 - Liaise with the safety advisers and or security regarding any local knowledge that
may help the fire service.
Re-entry procedures
1 - Liaise with security regarding re-entry at small incidents.
2 - At prolonged incidents or where contamination is suspected, liaise with the safety
adviser. In their absence, liaise with the representative from Estate Services.
3 - Assist the safety adviser or the representative from Estate Services to carry out
any safety checks prior to general re-entry, if requested to do so.
Evacuation drills
1 - Arrange evacuation drills to be carried out annually.
1 - Give advice and approval on using naked flames and heating combustible
materials.
2 - Ensure that LPG and open element electrical fires are not used.
3 - Inform health and safety services of any changes that could affect the means of
escape or other fire precautions.
Fire safety strategy and operational procedures

Introduction
The following strategy and operational procedures detail how the University manages
and maintains a high standard of fire safety in accordance with the above policy.
Fire safety management structure & responsibility flow chart details how the
following strategy is implemented and clarifies duties and responsibilities for fire safety
management.
1- Fire safety inspections and audits

Fire safety advisers
The Universitys fire safety advisers will carry out a fire safety inspection or audit on
premises on a risk based inspection programme identified by the fire safety advisers
i.e.
High risk premises annually
Medium risk premises biennially
Low risk premises triennially
The fire safety advisers will carry out or review structural and electrical building fire
risk assessments using the form in Appendix 2 in liaison with the responsible person
or appointed representative. In addition, the fire and rescue service and the fire safety
advisers or health and safety services will carry out periodic visits and inspections as
they consider necessary.
The fire safety advisers may also visit premises and schools or services on an
informal basis to discuss fire safety procedures with staff. These visits may take place
at a time convenient to the school or service.
Following inspections, the fire safety advisers will prepare a report which includes the
recommended actions, the persons responsible and recommended completion dates.
Responsible person / Estate Services
The above reports will be submitted as appropriate to the estates zone team leader,
electrical energy technical officer and the responsible person for the school or service
who will arrange for the immediate implementation of any recommendations made
within their area of control as appropriate.
It is the duty of the responsible person or appointed representative to ensure that
employees are informed of progress in implementing any recommendations.
The responsible person will nominate appropriate staff to carry out six-weekly fire
safety checks (this will normally be a fire warden) and monitor this activity.
Implementing recommendations of fire safety advisers

The major fire precautions meeting is an Estate Services internal committee which
discusses priorities and funding in respect of fire precautions
Where any physical structural or electrical alterations are recommended, the fire
safety advisers will classify these according to priority and advise if they are legislative
requirements or could be considered as good practice in order to reduce risk.
Recommendations for medium or large scale physical alterations may need to be
considered by the above meeting in accordance with priorities and funding available
from within the Estate Services budget.
2 - Fire wardens
The duties of fire wardens are described below.

The fire warden should:
Complete an operational fire risk assessment using the risk assessment form
(Appendix 3). It should be reviewed annually and particularly if:
(a) They suspect it is no longer valid, or
(b) There have been significant changes in what it relates to. This can
include when changes to special measures, technical measures or
organisational measures.
Carry out six-weekly checks of the existing fire precautions within the area of
responsibility using the fire precautions checklist (Appendix 4), and ensure that
any faulty equipment or defects are reported to the responsible person, Estate
Services helpdesk or fire safety adviser as appropriate.
Keep a record of the fire precaution checks, together with a copy of the fire
safety advisers structural and electrical risk assessment
Regularly check the fire alarm panel and report any faults indicated on it
If the fire alarm panel shows an incident in their area of responsibility,

investigate what started it (without putting themselves at risk), contact security
and take charge
If the fire alarm goes off, help in the evacuation of the building and, where
necessary, redirect people to a less busy exit route.
Try to prevent any re-entry into the building until the all clear is given by the
officer in charge of the fire service, security or safety supervisor.
Liaise with the fire and rescue service and security at any incident
Report any irregularities that happen during the evacuation process to the
responsible person, the fire safety adviser or the health and safety team, so
action can be taken to rectify it.
Organise and supervise an annual evacuation drill via Estate Services

helpdesk, (making sure that security is informed and no direct call is made to
the fire service);
In some areas, duties are shared or organised differently to suit local

circumstances, and this is especially true in specialist areas or large buildings.
For example, if a school or service appointed a fire co-ordinator responsible for
compiling the operational fire risk assessment and organising fire drills, other
fire wardens would then help with the day-to-day duties and responsibilities.
3 - Fire safety maintenance

Estate Services use a planned programme of maintenance (PPM) as follows:
Fire alarm systems, including automatic door release mechanisms, are tested
every three months
Emergency lighting systems are tested every three months
Fire doors, fire exit doors and associated door furniture are examined and
tested every six months
Fire fighting appliances are examined and tested annually.
Records are maintained within the PPM system and/or in a fire logbook as
appropriate.
4 - Fire safety training
Training for fire wardens - delivered by fire safety advisers
Health and safety services run three fire warden courses.
Course A
Participants will get a greater knowledge and awareness of the threat of fire within
University premises. They will learn how to operate a fire extinguisher, and refresh
their existing knowledge of fire procedures. The course will also ensure they know the
duties and responsibilities of fire wardens.
Course B
A continuation of Course A which will give participants a greater knowledge and
awareness, so they comply with legislation and the Universitys fire policy.
The course will cover the following principles:
Means of escape
Fire compartmentation
Fire risk assessments
Following this course, the fire warden will be fully competent to carry out all the duties
and responsibilities in line with University policy, including fire risk assessments and
fire safety checks.
Course C
This is a refresher course and the content will vary from year to year. It will update fire
wardens on any changes to legislation and policy, and cover different themes.
Newly appointed fire wardens must attend fire warden course A, followed by course B
before they can be considered fully competent. They must attend course A within six
months of being nominated and then course B within six months of completing course
A. Failure to attend could incur a charge and the removal of their name from the list of
fire wardens.
Existing fire wardens who have completed courses A and B and have been appointed
for three years or more will attend course C as a refresher every three years.
Additional training is provided as requested, for example using the Evac chair or
breathing apparatus.
Training for all staff - delivered by fire wardens

All staff are to be trained in the following:
What to do if a fire is discovered
Re-entry procedure after an incident
The location of the areas fire fighting equipment, and basic operating
procedures
Any alternative exit routes
The responsible person must ensure that all their staff attend fire training sessions as
required by this policy, and monitor their attendance. They are also responsible for
releasing staff from duty so they can attend.
Supervisors must ensure that new employees attend an induction course of fire safety
training as soon as possible after the start of employment. Supervisors must also
inform these new employees of the following on their first working day:
Relevant fire evacuation procedures

Means of escape
The location of fire alarm points and fire-fighting equipment
5 - Fire incidents
The following procedure for fire incidents is generic throughout the University. There
may be a requirement to vary the procedure in special circumstances to suit local
requirements. If it is necessary to do this, the procedure should be approved by the
fire safety advisers.
On hearing the fire alarm, all occupants should evacuate immediately by the
shortest possible route and go to the assembly point designated on the fire
action notices. (Areas where there is a need to shut down experiments or
equipment prior to evacuation should have specific procedures in place. In
lecture theatres the lecturer is responsible for evacuation.)
If safe to do so, the fire wardens should check the areas they are responsible
for, ensuring that such areas as toilets, rest rooms, dark rooms etc are
checked.
The fire warden should then evacuate and assist security staff.
All fire wardens will, if possible, wear the orange identification arm band.
On hearing the fire alarm, a designated fire warden will proceed to the fire
alarm panel to ascertain the location of the call point or detector that has
actuated.
The fire warden in the area of the fire alarm actuation should investigate
(without placing themselves in danger) and if a fire is suspected immediately
inform security who will call the fire and rescue service. On arrival of security,
the fire wardens will make themselves known, giving their name and
designation and information regarding the incident.
At all fire alarm actuations where fire wardens are not present, security will
attend and take charge until a fire warden, with specific building knowledge,
takes charge.
The fire alarm must not be silenced until the cause of the fire alarm actuation is
known or may be silenced by the Fire and Rescue Service for operational
reasons.
The person in charge will make the decision when to allow persons to re-enter
the building only after discussion with security.
The schools or services safety supervisor or the fire warden should liaise with
the Fire and Rescue Service officer in charge to relay local knowledge of any
relevant information regarding the part of the building involved.
Confirmed fires must be reported on the Sentinel incident and accident reporting
system, giving a full description of the incident.
Part 2 - practical guidance

Contents
Introduction
Risk assessments an overview
University compliance policy
Maintenance of existing fire precautions
General guidance for risk assessments
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Introduction
The purpose of this circular is to assist the departmental safety supervisors and fire
wardens to carry out their duties and hence comply with the order.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 replaces previous fire safety
legislation. Any fire certificates previously issued under the Fire Precautions Act 1971
to many of the campus buildings are no longer valid and will cease to have any affect.
If a risk assessment has been carried out previously under the Fire Precautions
(Workplace) Regulations 1997, as amended 1999, and this assessment has been
regularly reviewed then all that will need to be done is revise the assessment to meet
this order.
The order applies to England and Wales and covers general fire precautions and other
fire safety duties which are needed to protect relevant persons in case of fire in or
around premises. The order requires fire precautions to be put into place where
necessary and to the extent that it is reasonable and practicable in the circumstances
of the case.
Responsibility for complying with the order rests with the responsible person. In a
workplace this will be the employer or any other person who has control of any part of
the premises. In all other cases the persons in control will be responsible.
The above order applies to virtually all premises and covers nearly every type of
building, structure and open space. The only exceptions are private homes, including
individual flats in a block or house.
The responsible persons must ensure that a fire risk assessment is carried out by a
competent person who must consider all relevant persons i.e. everyone who might
be on the premises, whether they are employees, visitors or members of the public. It
should pay particular attention to those at special risk, such as disabled people, those
who have special needs, and children, and it must include consideration of any
dangerous substances liable to be on the premises.
In premises where there are five or more people employed, the premises are licensed
or an alterations notice is in force then a record of the significant findings of the
assessment must be recorded.
Other fire safety duties within the fire safety order that the responsible person needs
to comply with are:
They must appoint one or more competent persons, depending on the size and
use of the premises, to carry out the preventative and protective measures
required.
They must provide the employees with clear and relevant information on the
risks to them identified by the fire risk assessment, about the measures that
have been taken to prevent fires, and how these measures will protect them if a
fire breaks out.
They must consult with their employees about nominating people to carry out
particular roles in connection with fire safety and about proposals for improving
the fire precautions.
They must inform non employees, such as students and temporary or contract
workers, of the relevant risks to them, and provide them with information about
who are the nominated competent persons, and about fire safety precautions in
the premises.
They must co-operate and co-ordinate with responsible persons, who also have
premises in a building, inform them of any significant risks, and how the
responsible person will seek to reduce or control those risks which might affect
the safety of their employees.
They must provide the employer of any person from an outside organisation
who is working in the premises (e.g. agency providing temporary staff) with
clear and relevant information on the risks to those employees and the
preventative and protective measures taken.
They must establish a suitable means of contacting the emergency services

and provide them with any relevant information about dangerous substances.
They must provide appropriate information, instruction and training to their

employees, during their normal working hours, about fire precautions in the
workplace, at the start of and periodically through their time of employment.
They must ensure that the premises and any equipment provided in connection
with fire fighting, fire detection, or emergency routes and exits are covered by a
suitable system of maintenance, and are maintained by a competent person in
an efficient state, in working order and in good repair.
Risk assessments An overview

Good management of fire safety is vital to prevent fires from starting, and to detect
and control them quickly if they do start. Departments should carry out fire risk
assessments to ensure the fire safety procedures and measures for preventing fire are
all in place and working properly.
In the event of a fire, anyone in the building should be able to escape to a safe place
easily and quickly. The purpose of the risk assessment is to find where fires could
start and identify anyone who could be put at risk from that fire.
This assessment method follows the 5 step model used in general health and safety
legislation. The results of the risk assessment must be recorded on the fire wardens
risk assessment form (Appendix 3).
1.
The 5 step approach to a fire safety risk assessment

Identify fire hazards
Sources of ignition
Sources of fuel
Sources of oxygen.
Notes
Sources of ignition that may cause a fire include naked flames, heaters, cookers,
boilers, electrical equipment and some commercial processes.
Sources of fuel include built-up waste, display materials, textiles, posters and
notice boards (particularly on escape routes), curtains, stocks of paper,
cardboard, plastics etc. Sources of oxygen include as air conditioning, medicinal
or commercial products
2.
3.
Identify people at risk

People in and around the premises
People who are especially at risk.
Notes
People at risk include people working near to fire dangers, people working alone
or in isolated areas, and disabled people.
Evaluate, remove or reduce, and protect from risk
Evaluate the risk of fire starting
Evaluate the risk to people from a fire
Remove or reduce fire risks
Remove or reduce the risks to people from a fire
Protect people by providing fire precautions
Notes
When assessing the level of risk in your area you should remove or reduce fire
hazards where possible and reduce any risks you have identified. For example,
replace highly flammable materials with less flammable ones.
Make sure you separate flammable materials from sources of ignition and have a
safe smoking policy. When you have reduced the risk as far as possible, assess
the remaining risk and decide whether any further measures are needed to reach
a reasonable level of fire safety.
The minimum fire precautions you should have are:
A fire detection and warning system
Means of fighting a fire
Safe routes for people to leave the premises.
Suitable fire exit doors
Emergency lighting
Fire safety signs
A management system to make sure you maintain your fire safety
systems.
4.
Record, plan, inform, instruct and train

Record any major findings and the action you have taken
Discuss the work with other responsible people
Prepare an emergency plan
Inform and instruct relevant people
Provide training
Notes
In this step you will record the dangers and people at risk you identified in step 1
and step 2. You should record what you did about it in step 3. You will tailor an
emergency plan to your premises, to ensure the people in your area know what
to do if there is a fire and that the premises can be safely evacuated.
Your emergency plan should be based on the outcome of your fire risk
assessment and be available for your employees, their representatives (where
appointed) and the enforcing authority.
In simple buildings the emergency plan might be no more than a fire action
notice, but in multi-occupied and more complex premises, the emergency plan
will need to be more detailed. It should include the following information where
appropriate:
The names and duties of staff and students who have specific
responsibilities if there is a fire
Arrangements for the safe evacuation of people at risk, such as young
children and babies in a crche, disabled people, contractors, members of
the public and visitors
Any machines, appliances, processes or power supplies that need to be
stopped or isolated if there is a fire
Arrangements for an emergency plan to be used by anyone who has hired
part of the premises
Procedures for meeting the fire service on their arrival and telling them of
any special risks, e.g. the location of highly flammable materials;
All employees should get enough information and training about the risks in the
premises. Fire wardens will undergo more detailed training.
5.
Review
Review your fire-risk assessment regularly
Make changes where necessary
Notes
You should make sure your fire risk assessment is up to date, and you will need
to re-examine the risk assessment if you suspect it is no longer valid. This may
be after a near miss or a significant change to the level of risk in your premises,
such as:
If the layout of the premises changes
If new procedures or equipment are introduced
If the number and location of people working in your premises changes.
Remember to review your fire-risk assessment regularly.
University policy for compliance

The responsible person must ensure that the school or service has sufficient fire
wardens to carry out specific duties. The names of the fire wardens must be forwarded
to health and safety services together with the following information:
Name of school or service.

Name and/or address of building.
Fire wardens e-mail address and telephone number.
Location of area within building.
Health and safety services will then arrange for the appropriate training to be given.
The training consists of two half-day courses.
Fire warden course A
After completing this course, the fire warden will be competent to carry out the
following duties:
Assist in the fire evacuation of the building.
Carry out training for other staff and postgraduate students in:
o Fire evacuation procedures;
o Use of fire fighting equipment.
Organise and implement a fire evacuation drill.
Fire warden course B
After completing this course, the fire warden will be competent to carry out the
following additional duties:
Routine inspections of the existing fire precautions.

A fire risk assessment.
The completion of the appropriate forms
Staff training on means of escape.
Training of staff and postgraduates

The fire safety order requires that all staff are trained in the following fire safety issues:

The location and when appropriate, the basic operating procedures for the fire
fighting equipment provided.
Means of escape
General fire safety
Evacuation procedures
All staff and postgraduate students should know precisely what action to take if they
discover a fire and also what to do on hearing the fire alarm.
Further information on evacuation procedures is given in the Fire Precautions Notes
for Guidance which is issued to all fire wardens who attend Course A.
Means of escape
All staff and postgraduate students should be familiar with any alternative exit route
they may have to traverse in the event of a fire. In some cases the routes are across
roofs and through adjacent buildings. In such cases the relevant staff should be shown
the routes and where appropriate led to the fire exit.
Many fire exit doors are fitted with special locking devices, e.g.
Panic bars
Break-the-glass locks
Electronic locks which are linked into the fire alarm system.
In such cases the staff should be told and shown how to operate the mechanisms.
Use of fire fighting equipment
All staff and postgraduate students should be told and shown how to operate the fire
extinguishers and how to identify the various types. They must know which
extinguisher is suitable for the various types of fires, and also the dangers of using
water on certain fuels. Further information can be found in the fire wardens notes for
guidance.
Staff and postgraduate students should be made aware of any fire resistant
door in the areas they frequent and the dangers in wedging such a door open.
Staff and students should also be made aware of any specific risks they may
encounter whilst carrying out their duties, eg. working with highly flammable
liquids or gases, carrying out hot work, etc.
All staff and postgraduate students should be trained immediately after their
appointment and annually thereafter, and all such training is to be recorded on the fire
risk assessment form (Appendix 3).
Maintenance of the existing fire precautions

Following the completion of the fire risk assessment and the recording of the
significant findings, it will be necessary to provide a plan of the building showing the
fire precautions that are in place.
Most schools or services are already in possession of suitable plans and these will
only need annotating. Where necessary such sketch plans can be obtained from the
Estate Services helpdesk.
Once the plans have been prepared the relevant fire warden can check the area
he/she is responsible for and ensure that all fire precautions are being maintained.
Obsolete fire certificate plans may be used for this purpose, however in some cases
they only refer to parts of buildings which are used as office premises and other areas
have been hatched. If these plans are to be used then all areas will need to be
shown on the plan.
An A3 plan drawing should be annotated with the following existing fire precautions:a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
Fire resistant screens, walls and doors: These items should be indicated by
double lines or outlined in red.
All doors required as an exit for means of escape purposes.
All Exit signs and other notices, eg fire Instruction notices, fire exit keep clear
signs, etc.
All fire fighting equipment, eg. hose reels, fire extinguishers (including type),
fire blankets.
Any special locking devices on doors required for means of escape
purposes, e.g. panic bolts, break the glass type locks, electro-magnetic
locks which operate on the activation of the fire alarm.
Fire alarm call points and any visual warning in case of fire, eg. flashing
lights.
Automatic fire detection where required for means of escape purposes, eg.
room within rooms, single staircase enclosures, dead end corridors.
Electro-magnetic door retainers.
See Appendix 5 for the recommended symbols for annotation.
Fire wardens routine inspections - check list

Fire wardens should carry out routine inspections regularly, every four to six weeks
depending on the risk in the area. The following information will help you fill in the fire
wardens fire precautions checklist and to report any problems you find during the
inspections.
1 - Check all escape routes are kept free of obstructions and combustible
material.
2 - Check all fire exit doors can be easily opened in the direction of travel
without needing a key.
3 - Check all fire resistant doors self-close fully and do not stick in the open
position.
4 - Check the fire alarm call points are clearly visible.
5 - Check the escape lighting luminaires and exit signs are in good condition.
Where fitted, check that the charge indicators are visible.
6 - Check all fire fighting equipment is still in the right location and the plastic
tamper seals are still intact. If you find any defects, report them to estates
services helpdesk (ext 35555) and remove the extinguisher from service.
7 - Check that all escape routes are indicated by clear and legible fire exit
signs, and the blue fire instruction notices are displayed clearly.
8 - Check that any other fire safety measures are being maintained.
Reporting procedure
If any work is needed to maintain the existing fire precautions, report it to Estate
Services helpdesk (ext 35555). This includes problems such as:
Fire doors not self-closing properly
Smoke seals or luminescent strips damaged or missing
Fire exit doors difficult to open
Quote a reasonable time limit for the work to be done. This time factor will depend on
the severity of the fault, for example:
A fire exit door that cannot be opened should be attended to immediately.
A damaged smoke seal is less urgent, so a month is a reasonable time.
The urgency of this corrective work is at the discretion of the inspecting fire warden.
When reporting any faults it is essential that you obtain a job number from the
helpdesk to verify the report. Then record the type of work, job number and completion
date on the routine inspection form
While carrying out these duties, all fire wardens should be aware of the existing fire
precautions. Any faults should be reported as a routine inspection and recorded
accordingly on the fire precautions checklist.
Note - In multi-departmental buildings, the safety supervisors and fire wardens should
liaise with each other to ensure all communal areas are covered in the routine checks.
It is also important to include areas such as computer clusters and lecture rooms in
the inspections.
Further guidance on completing risk assessments

Sources of ignition
Possible sources of ignition include
Heaters
Boilers
Engines
Naked flames
Heat from processes or electrical equipment.
Portable heaters are considered to be high risk especially LPG heaters and electrical
open bar radiators. Such types of heaters must not be used on University premises.
Combustible materials
Combustible materials do not normally cause concern if they are handled safely and
stored away from sources of ignition.
Some combustible materials such as flammable liquids, gases and plastic foams are
particularly hazardous. They ignite very easily and can produce large amounts of heat
and dense smoke.
Flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 40C should be stored in purpose built
cupboards, metal bins or storerooms and only the minimum amount required for a
specific use should be removed.
Flammable gas cylinders are extremely hazardous because of the risk of explosion,
either from a leak or if involved in a fire. They should be stored in an outside secure
compound if possible, or in a fire resistant storeroom sited well away from any other
combustible material. On no account should gas cylinders be sited on escape routes

or in staircase enclosures.
Waste combustible materials such as polystyrene awaiting collection must never be
stored on escape routes such as staircases, corridors or other circulating areas. A
discarded cigarette or even an arsonist could ignite the waste with disastrous
consequences.
Any concerns regarding the storage of flammable liquids should be reported to health
and safety services.
Dangerous substances
Specific measures must be taken in respect of dangerous substances.
A "dangerous substance" is:
1 - A substance or preparation that meets the criteria in the approved
classification and labelling guide for classification as any of the following:
Explosive
Oxidising
Extremely flammable
Highly flammable
Flammable
This applies whether or not that it is classified under the CHIP regulations.
2 - A substance or preparation which creates a risk because of its physico
chemical or chemical properties, and the way it is used or is present in or on
premises
3 - Any dust that can form an explosive mixture with air or an explosive
atmosphere, whether in the form of solid particles, fibrous materials or
otherwise.
To control the risk from dangerous substances, the following must be considered in
order of priority:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Reduce the quantity of dangerous substances to a minimum

Avoid or minimise the release of dangerous substances
Control the release of a dangerous substance at source
Prevent the formation of an explosive atmosphere, including the application of
appropriate ventilation
5. Ensure that any release of dangerous substances that could give rise to risk is
either:
Suitably collected
Safely contained
Removed to a safe place
Or otherwise rendered safe, as appropriate.
6. Avoid ignition sources including electrostatic discharges, and avoid other

adverse conditions that could result in harmful physical effects from a
dangerous substance.
7. Segregate incompatible dangerous substances.
If it is not reasonably practical to eliminate the risk, the following measures must be
applied:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Reduce the number of people exposed to a minimum

Take measures to avoid the propagation of fires or explosions
Provide explosion pressure relief arrangements
Provide explosion suppression equipment
Provide plant which is constructed to withstand the pressure likely to be
produced by an explosion
6. Provide suitable personal protective equipment.
Other considerations in respect of buildings, plant and equipment:
Ensure the premises are designed, constructed and maintained to reduce risk
Ensure that suitable special, technical and organisational measures are
designed, constructed, assembled, installed, provided and used to reduce risk
Ensure that special, technical and organisational measures are maintained in
an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair
Ensure that equipment and protective systems meet the following
requirements:
o Where power failure can allow the spread of additional risk, equipment
and protective systems must be able to be maintained in a safe state of
operation independently of the rest of the plant in the event of power
failure
o Manual override must be possible for shutting down equipment and
protective systems, incorporated within automatic processes which
deviate from the intended operating conditions. This override must be
operated by competent employees, and carried out as long as it does
not compromise safety;
o On emergency shutdown, accumulated energy must be dissipated as
quickly and as safely as possible or isolated so that it no longer
constitutes a hazard
o Necessary measures must be taken to prevent confusion between
connecting devices;
People at risk
Some people are at greater risk if they work in areas where fires are more likely to
occur or where fires could grow quickly. In such cases, it is important to control the
hazard which causes this increased risk.
Appropriate procedures, and specific steps should be taken to ensure people in the
high risk areas and adjacent areas are made aware of the dangers, and the action
they should take to ensure their own safety and the safety of others.
All such high-risk areas should be provided with alternative fire escape routes.
Fire detection and alarms

Estate services are responsible for providing and maintaining fire alarms and making
sure University premises are provided with adequate systems. However it may be
necessary to provide additional sounders and smoke detection if there are changes in
the workplace, such as refurbishment or a change in occupancy,
Additional sounders may be needed if a person reports difficulty hearing a fire alarm in
a test or evacuation drill.
Extra detection may be needed where people need an early warning of fire, including
dead-end corridors and rooms within rooms.
If you are concerned that a fire could break out in an unoccupied part of a building and
put people at risk, contact health and safety services on ext 34201.
Means of escape
It is likely that all University premises have adequate structural means of escape
enough to satisfy the fire safety order if they are maintained. The risk assessment,
however, should take into consideration the following circumstances where the means
of escape may have been affected:
Minor alterations to structure where estate services have not been involved.
Alterations to the layout of furniture.
Occupancy of rooms that were initially empty or used as storage.
Change in use of rooms.
Locking doors for security reasons.
If you consider the means of escape to be unsatisfactory, inform health and safety
services on ext 34201.
Remember that the basic principle is that people should be able to turn their backs on
any fire and walk to a place of safety. In cases where there is escape in only one
direction, it may be necessary to fire-protect the route or provide additional smoke
detection.
Doors
Where large numbers of people are likely to press up against an inward opening door
so that it cannot be opened, it may be necessary to re-hang the door so that it opens
in the direction of travel.
Considerations should be given for doors to open in the direction of travel in the
following circumstances:
Doors from a high-risk area such as a paint spraying room or a flammable
solvent storeroom.
Doors at the foot of staircases where there is a risk of people being crushed.
Doors that may be used by fifty people or more.
If your risk assessment reveals cause for concern, health and safety services should
be informed on ext 34201.

All University buildings should already be provided with adequate fire fighting
equipment, which is maintained by estate services.
Sometimes extinguishers are misplaced and additional fire fighting equipment may be
necessary when new apparatus is brought into the department. Therefore the risk
assessment should consider the provision of additional fire fighting equipment.
The most useful form of fire fighting equipment for general risks is the water fire
extinguisher. One such extinguisher should be provided for approximately 200 square
metres of floor space with a minimum of one per floor. If hose reels are provided and
they are of long enough to cover the risk area, the water type extinguishers are not
necessary.
Other types of extinguisher such as CO2, foam and dry powder are needed for special
risk areas. If you have risks such as flammable liquids or electrical equipment, you will
need one of these extinguishers If you think you need more extinguishers contact
health and safety services on ext 34201.
Emergency lighting
Estate services are responsible for providing and maintaining emergency lighting, and
most University buildings already satisfy the fire safety order.However, alterations to
buildings and general layout may reduce the effect of such lighting, and the risk
assessment should take this into consideration.
Emergency lighting is only necessary in escape corridors, staircases and large
occupied areas, and where:
There is no natural lighting, such as in basements
In premises which may be occupied after normal working hours.
For small buildings, hand lamps and torches provided as a result of the risk
assessment will satisfy the fire safety order. If you are concerned about emergency
lighting, contact health and safety services on ext 34201.
Fire exit signs

All University premises should already be provided with adequate Exit signs and
running man signs.
All exit routes must be clearly indicated so that strangers in the premises can find their
way out in the event of a fire evacuation. The risk assessment should include the
identification of all exit routes and if necessary additional signs should be provided.
If you are in doubt of the location of such signs, contact health and safety services on
ext 34201.
Contractors and hot work

During maintenance and refurbishment, contractors can bring combustible materials
and additional sources of ignition into the building, such as cutting and welding
equipment. It is important to assess these activities to reduce the risk of fire.
Assessments of hot work should consider the following:
The area should be kept clear of any combustible materials, and physically
cordoned off if appropriate.
If any smoke detectors are in the vicinity of the work area they should be made
inoperable by placing a plastic bag over the detector head - The bag should be
removed immediately after the work has finished.
If the hot work affects a large area, contact estate services helpdesk to arrange
for the automatic detectors to be isolated.
When hot work produces sparks or burning embers, then the area should be
inspected one hour after the work is completed. This means that hot work should stop
one hour before the end of the working day so the inspections can take place.
The area of work should be provided with the appropriate fire fighting equipment.
Where hot work is initiated by the estate services, the relevant technical officer is
responsible for supervising any fire safety precautions. In other cases the
departmental safety supervisor or fire warden is responsible. Where such work is
extensive, consideration should be given to issuing hot work permits.
Hot work permits

Hot work permits apply to all temporary operations involving
flame
arc welding
cutting equipment
brazing
blowlamps
bitumen boilers
grinding of metals
The use of hot air equipment may also require a permit if in a high-risk environment
such as solvent and chemical stores. Hot work permits are not necessary in purposebuilt work places such as workshops.
It is important to inform the school or services safety supervisor or fire warden of the
location of any workmen - particularly if they are working in isolated areas such as
ducting or on the roof. They should also be made aware of any emergency.
You can download the hot work permit or get copies by contacting the Estate Services
helpdesk.

Everyone has different abilities, and the unique characteristics of each building mean
it is vital to prepare with disabled people in mind.
What is a Personal emergency egress plan (PEEP)?
All disabled people need a PEEP - basically an individual plan, detailing how they will
be alerted to danger in an emergency, and how they will then reach safety. Every
person and every building in the University is different, so disabled people who
regularly visit several buildings will need a PEEP for every building they visit.
The legislation
PEEPs are based on the need to consult with disabled employees and take into
account the different features of every building.
The fire safety order requires the responsible person to make provision for the safe
evacuation of disabled people in the event of a fire. In cases where a disabled
member of staff or student requires assistance it is necessary to provide a PEEP.
More about PEEPs - University procedures
The departments safety supervisors are responsible for talking to all disabled people
and seeing whether they need any help in the event of an emergency.
If a member of staff or student will need assistance, the disabled person must
complete an emergency egress questionnaire, with support from the departmental
safety supervisor or fire warden.
A PEEP should then be created from this information, and the PEEP form completed
(see Appendix 6). Advice and support for completing the PEEP is available from
health and safety services, and equality services can help if required.
A PEEP will often build on existing evacuation procedures, so information on general
procedures should be available to everyone. Copies in alternative formats such as
Braille and tape are available through the transcription unit in equality services.
If assistance with escape procedures is required, the amount of assistance should be
identified in the PEEP, for example the number of assistants and the methods to be
used. Fire wardens and other assistants will get appropriate training where necessary.
Evacuation in an Emergency
Helping wheelchair users down stairs
Where disabled people are above the ground floor there are a number of factors to
bear in mind:
Refuges - A refuge is a designated space where a disabled person can wait for
help. It is a safe area that is protected by fire-resisting construction and
provides a safe route to the exit, as a stage of the evacuation.
An example of a refuge is the head of a stairway. The refuge should have clear signs
and be large enough to accommodate the flow of people who will also be evacuating
the building.
Lifts Lifts must not be used for evacuation unless they are either a fire
fighting lift or rescue lift. In an evacuation these lifts can be commandeered by
a fire warden or security officer to rescue any disabled people from the refuge
areas.
For further information on using lifts please contact health and safety services who
can also arrange the appropriate training.
SaferRoutes - A PEEP should contain details of the escape route disabled

people will use. Clear, unobstructed gangways and floor layouts should be
considered at the planning stage.
In areas of a building frequently visited by wheelchair users, it may be

necessary to provide special evacuation chairs which can be used on
staircases. It is also necessary to provide additional chairs for specific cases
which have been identified in PEEPs. Two types of evacuation chairs are
available - The PAR-AID and the SIROCCO
The PAR-AID is the preferred chair as it is easier to use, but for some types of
disability the SIROCCO is more suitable. The PAR-AID chair is also unsuitable for
very wide staircases.
Where the PEEP assessment shows evacuation chairs are needed, health and safety
services should be contacted.
Evacuations to adjacent buildings - Some buildings or groups of buildings

have a system of integral fire resisting compartments within their structure.
Where this is the case a wheelchair user could move to an adjacent building
when the fire alarm is activated.
Where wheelchair users are on the upper floor, they should proceed to the
refuge area. The designated assistants should check these areas immediately
when the fire alarm sounds. The wheelchair user can then be evacuated from
the refuge as set out in the PEEP. Departments must review and update
PEEPs at regular intervals.
Deaf and hearing impaired people

Most deaf people working alongside hearing colleagues will be able to see and
understand the behaviour of those around them. They do not need special equipment,
as long as they know what to do in the event of a fire.
However, deaf or hearing impaired people working alone may need an alternative way
of being alerted to an emergency. Many alarm systems have visual indicators such as
a flashing light, and additional units can be provided if necessary.
Deaf alerter systems are being added into existing alarm systems and will be built into
all new buildings. These are linked to vibrating pagers which are issued to deaf
students and staff.
Where a PEEP shows the need for a deaf alert pager, contact equality services.
Blind and partially sighted people
Blind and partially sighted people should be offered orientation training. Contact
equality services if needed.
Training
For an escape plan to work, it relies on the ability of staff to respond well. Staff will get
instructions, practical demonstrations and training appropriate to their responsibilities.
This might include some or all of the following:
Fire drills for staff and students
Specific courses for fire wardens
Training in how to use evacuation chairs, fire fighting equipment etc.
For further advice on the issues in this section, contact health and safety services Ext:
34201. The fire safety adviser will involve equality services if appropriate.
Summary
A fire risk assessment should be carried out annually and reviewed after any
changes to the premises or changes in their use. The findings must be
recorded on the fire risk assessment form (appendix 3).
Fire wardens are to carry out routine inspections and complete the checklist
form (appendix 4).
Where a disabled member of staff or student needs help in the event of a fire,
a personal emergency egress questionnaire and PEEP should be completed
(appendices 7 and 8).
All of these documents should be kept at the school or service and be
available for inspection by a fire authority officer.

Fire Safety Guidance

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Fire Safety Guidance

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Health and safety services

(Page 1 of website guidance)

Part 1 General guidance

(Page 2 of website guidance)

The Theory of combustion

More about oxygen

(Page 3 of website guidance)

More about fuel

(Page 4 of website guidance)

Liquefied petroleum gas LPG

Solids including wood and paper

(Page 5 of website guidance)

Fire fighting equipment

Advice on using fire fighting equipment

Red with black band

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Red with blue band

Red with cream band

(Page 6 of website guidance)

Carbon dioxide (CO2) extinguisher

Dry powder extinguisher

(Page 8 of website guidance)

Information about staircase enclosures

Information about rooms within rooms

(Page 9 of website guidance)

(Page 10 of website guidance)

Alternative escape routes

(Page 11 of website guidance)

Fire evacuation procedures

What to do on discovering a fire

toxic or explosive chemicals,

(Page 12 of website guidance)

(Page 13 of website guidance)

After normal working hours and holiday periods

False alarms where the fire service are not called

Sounding of fire alarms

Liaison with the fire service

(Page 14 of website guidance)

Re-entry after an incident

(Page 15 of website guidance)

If a building is evacuated due to a fire or a false alarm, this may be recorded as

The purpose of an evacuation drill is to:

General fire precautions

(Page 16 of website guidance)

Gas leak procedures

(Page 17 of website guidance)

Departmental safety supervisors and fire wardens

(Page 18 of website guidance)

Fire safety strategy and operational procedures

1- Fire safety inspections and audits

(Page 19 of website guidance)

Implementing recommendations of fire safety advisers

The duties of fire wardens are described below.

If the fire alarm panel shows an incident in their area of responsibility,

(Page 20 of website guidance)

Organise and supervise an annual evacuation drill via Estate Services

In some areas, duties are shared or organised differently to suit local

3 - Fire safety maintenance

Emergency lighting systems are tested every three months

Fire fighting appliances are examined and tested annually.

(Page 21 of website guidance)

Training for all staff - delivered by fire wardens

Relevant fire evacuation procedures

(Page 22 of website guidance)