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Fire Regulations - The Reality of Fantasy

By Mark Evans, FireMaster (South West) Ltd.  October 2007.

I wonder if you've ever seen one of those films where the hero enters a burning building to rescue someone in distress?  Fighting their way past carefully choreographed wisps of smoke and flickering flames, they quickly find their maiden in distress, effortlessly picking them up, they turn, clearly seeing their exit, soon emerging to an expectant crowd with only a smear of soot on their cheek and a shimmer of sweat on their brow. 

So much for the silver screen - the trouble with entertainment like this is it portrays a scene that is very different from reality, perhaps lulling us into a false sense of security.  The reality of a fire, like those portrayed, is one of intense heat that creates thick, black choking smoke.  Smoke that is poisonous, disorientating and confuses the mind.  Couple that with fear and panic, it paints quite a different picture.

When occurrences like this happen many of us expect the fire service to turn up and save the day.  With all their equipment and training and in our modern day and age surely no one should come to harm in such situations.  Sadly though, all too often, this is not the case.  Take into consideration in Devon and Cornwall the vast majority of fire stations are manned by ‘Retained' (called upon only when required) crews.  Response times for reaching properties in their catchment areas can range from a minimum of eight minutes and up to as much as twenty minutes near the peripherals.  By the time they arrive a fire can have had plenty of time to establish itself, leaving only limited opportunities for rescue and salvage attempts.

With all this in mind, arguably the best way to protect our properties and ourselves is to do some forward planning by means of a fire risk assessment.   We can then ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that we can save ourselves by carefully considered and protected means of escape, limit damage to our property and all before assistance arrives. 

Since October 2006 business properties, including holiday lets, are required by law, under the ‘Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, to ensure a fire risk assessment has been conducted for the safety of their employees and members of the public.  Guidance should be taken from the Order's accompanying eleven guides, choosing the appropriate one for the type of business.  Holiday letting comes under ‘Sleeping Accommodation'.

Each guide takes you through a comprehensive five-step fire safety risk assessment covering:

• Fire hazard identification - e.g. electrical and combustible items;
• People at risk - e.g. guests, lone workers, neighbouring properties;
• It asks you to evaluate the risk of a fire occurring, the risk to people from fire and to consider removal or reduction of fire hazards to lower the fire risk.  It also asks you to remove or reduce the risk to people from fire by provision of detection and warning, fire-fighting equipment, escape routes, lighting, signs, notices and maintenance;
• It asks you to record your findings, (compulsory if you have more than four employees,) prepare emergency plans, inform and instruct and provide training where necessary;
• Finally, it asks you to review and revise your assessment when and where necessary.

Throughout the assessment guidance should be taken from the Order's guide(s), a crucial indicator to the enforcing body (The Fire Service) should they want to audit your property's assessment.

With so many things to consider, hiring somebody to do the assessment for you can be a wise option - they can help with the interpretation of the guide(s) and apply what is adequate and necessary to your holiday let, possibly saving you many hundreds even thousands of pounds - but with so many companies out there - which one to choose?

Throughout the guides, reference is made to the term ‘competent person' - somebody who has the knowledge, skill and experience to carry out particular tasks.  When hiring a competent person you have to be sure that they have the levels of expertise to carry out the tasks you are hiring them for.  One way of assuring this is to confirm their qualifications and experience - beware, there are many people out there today doing fire risk assessments without any formal qualifications, suitable training or relevant experience.

Whatever your decision - either to do the fire risk assessment yourself, or to hire somebody to do it for you - ensure it is done sooner rather than later.   It is your responsibility to do so, so as to protect your guests and employees, giving them peace of mind, as well as yourselves, against the threat of litigation should a fire start.

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At FireMaster (South West) Ltd. Mark Evans holds the nationally recognised Business and Technicians Education Council's (BTEC) Advanced Award for Fire risk management, gained through Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS).  Mark has also gained invaluable experience through his ongoing employment of 20 years with DSFRS as a retained fire fighter, where he regularly experiences occurrences of inadequate fire prevention provision.  Should you want advice for any or all of your fire prevention needs, please ring without obligation 01803 853713/email: firemaster936@btinternet.com.