All commercial and certain residential properties should have a fire risk assessment carried out in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. One major issue found within many properties is the lack of good housekeeping. We often find that companies and tenants do not adequately dispose of their storage items and leave items along means of escape passageways and within inappropriate areas.
This can increase the chances of a random arson attack and can also block of escape routes and egress into a building. It is often a good indicator of other fire safety deficiencies found within a building which we encounter when carrying out a fire risk assessment.
One thing which should not be overlooked is having a good commercial cleaner to keep your premises clean with good housekeeping procedures maintained. I believe the two go hand in hand and commercial cleaners can maintain good fire safety precautions within a building. They can achieve this by by help keep the escape routes clear and ensure any unnecessary combustible materials are removed from buildings on a regular basis.
I believe good communication and co-operation between fire risk assessors, commercial cleaners and those responsible for the Health and Safety within a building is crucial. We can also ask cleaners to look out for fire safety deficiencies while they clean for example, overloaded plug sockets and portable heaters being used underneath desks close to flammable materials. They can also ensure extractor fans are kept clean and free from obstruction. The build-up of dirt and grease in these fans can potentially cause electrical breakdown and pose a fire risk.
We can also take this one step further in the common parts of residential properties and potentially train the cleaners to test the fire alarms weekly and emergency lights on a monthly basis. This can save the client money and also ensures these systems are tested on a regular basis. Any defects that the cleaners notice can then be passed on to the responsible person and action taken. It makes sense to have as many people as possible checking the fire safety precautions within a building as everybody is so busy these days, things often get ignored or overlooked.
At Whale Fire, we specialise in carrying out fire risk assessments to the common parts of flats, HMOs and all commercial properties. We also provide a full range of fire safety services and maintenance contracts. You can find out more at www.whalefire.co.uk
