It is essential for businesses within the hospitality industry to consider the importance of fire safety in their buildings. The consequences of a blaze in a hotel can have a devastating impact with tragic consequences on its guests and employees. It is imperative that fire safety measures are implemented; such as the correct fire protection equipment throughout the building and adequate training for staff.
The hospitality industry is required by The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to complete risk assessments on all businesses and provide resolutions for all risks identified. As a FIRAS accredited provider, Broadsword can provide these services to companies in the sector including hotels and restaurants providing all fire protection and prevention services.
As a qualified provider of fire protection and prevention services here are our top tips for fire safety within hospitality.
Fire Risk Assessments
As part of the Fire Safety Order, a risk assessment for fire safety is required. The responsibility of arranging the fire risk assessment usually lies on the owner of the building or the person they have appointed to be the ‘responsible person’.
A fire risk assessment must include:
• Hazards – What potential hazards were found on the premises that could increase the risk of a fire.
• Who the risk affects? – Considerations as to who could be directly impacted from a fire breaking out in the building.
• Evacuation Plan – Based on the potential hazards and people identified in the risk assessment, a plan should then be considered of how the business will evacuate these people in an event of a fire.
• Findings – Record the actions taken by the company to reduce the risk of fire including the removal of fire hazards or the additional training that staff undertake.
• Maintain assessment – Renew the fire risk assessment regularly and when updates have been made to the premises.
Fire Wardens
Fire wardens are essential for the safe evacuation of guests and employees in the event of a fire. When appointing fire wardens there are some important factors to consider:
• Competency – Is the potential person competent of all the tasks they would be expected to do? Are they happy that they understand the importance of the task and comfortable with the level of responsibility they’d have?
• Training – The company is required to adequately train their fire wardens to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities and are able to carry them out.
• Scheduling – A fire warden must be present on the premises at all times and it is the responsibility of the ‘responsible person’ to ensure that a fire warden is on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Quantity – The number of fire wardens required is dependent on factors including the size and layout of the building and the number of guests.
Fire Safety Training
In the event of a fire, the business requires employees to be trained in what actions to take for themselves and the safety of the guests. Failure to train employees could result in unnecessary confusion and risk.
Companies should consider:
• Do employees know what the fire alarm sounds like?
•Do employees know the evacuation procedure?
• Do employees know what to do if a fire occurs?
The Fire Safety Order states that fire safety training to employees is a legal requirement. Hazard perception training is something that a lot of companies will also teach their staff in order for employees to understand what to look out for when they are at work.
Fire Escape Routes
Multiple fire escape routes should be implemented so that all guests and employees have a variety of ways of escaping the building should a fire break out. These routes should be clearly signposted to everybody and should be kept clear of any obstructions including boxes, furniture or equipment. Alternative routes should be available for people with disabilities.
Fire Evacuation Drills
After evacuation plans have been put in place and fire wardens are appointed, it is essential that companies have regular fire drills to ensure that employees are familiar with the procedure.
Appoint a Trusted Fire Safety Services Provider
Fire safety is a legal requirement that businesses want to get right. It is highly recommended that you enlist the advice of a qualified Fire Safety Provider to remain compliant and ensure that you meet the British Standards.
At Broadsword, we understand the responsibility that business owners have to comply with the law, protect their building and ensure the safety of their staff and residents. This is a job that needs to be done correctly, first time. As a FIRAS accredited company, Broadsword have the knowledge and expertise to ensure fire safety compliance for all required works without the need for additional contractors. It is our promise to you to carry out work to the highest standard and the utmost professionalism. Business owners never need to worry again with the peace of mind of total fire protection.
Install Reliable Fire Safety Systems
Fire detection and alarm systems are legal requirements in a lot of hospitality establishments. There are many factors to consider including the following:
• Are the alarms appropriate for those with hearing difficulties?
• Are there a sufficient number of fire extinguishers on the premises?
•Are call points free from vandalism?
System Maintenance
Your Fire Safety services provider should be able to maintain your fire protection systems should you require it. As part of this service, Broadsword can check fire safety equipment as well as carry out any repairs.
We are able to carry out maintenance on the following:
• Fire extinguishers
• Emergency lighting
• Fire alarms
• Kitchen suppression
• Sprinkler systems
Communication of Procedures
Businesses are required to communicate their fire evacuation plan to guests, visitors and contractors.
This information can be provided in a number of ways including a verbal briefing or in written format that is presented to the guest or is displayed somewhere they will see it.
Review Your Process
All fire safety practices should be regularly reviewed particularly when the building has been updated in any way such as the installation of new fire doors or if the purpose of a room has been changed.
02380 675888
Fire stopping – what is it and why is it important?October 15, 2021 - 5:40 pm
8 Top Tips for a Successful School RefurbishmentSeptember 17, 2021 - 11:37 am
Fire stopping – what is it and why is it important?
/0 Comments/in Fire Protection, Home Page news feed, News /by Georgia RobertsonFire stopping is an incredibly important part of fire protection and can help to ensure the safety of people within a building. This is especially important in a commercial environment as not complying with fire protection rules and regulations can be very damaging to a business reputation and can also have severe legal consequences, depending on the level of violation.
Fire stopping refers to the use of fire-resistant materials to fill openings and joints between walls and floors in buildings. The idea behind doing this is to slow down the spread of fire between building ‘compartments.
Fire sleeves
The idea of fire stopping methods are to prevent fire from spreading through cavities in buildings, and as pipes and cables run through these cavities and openings, it can allow fire to spread. This is where fire sleeves come in. Fire sleeves are used to fill and seal the gaps that can be created where the pipes and cables run through. In the event of a fire, the sleeve will expand in order to fill the available space. If there is a plastic pipe, then the fire sleeve will crush and seal off the pipe, which will prevent fire and smoke from passing through. Insulated fire sleeves are intended for use on most plastic pipes, copper and steel and can usually provide up to 2 hours of fire protection.
Fire covers
The purpose of a fire cover is to stop fires of luminaires in suspended ceilings that are fire rated. In the event of a fire, a fire cover will expand internally and fill all available space with a fire-resistant, highly insulating char.
Fire collars
A fire collar is a circular device that can be fitted around the base of pipes. A fire collar can then be attached to a masonry, plasterboard or concrete partition. In the event of a fire, pipe and cable openings can become weakened and the fire can affect the pipe or cable quite significantly. Using a fire collar can reinstate the integrity of the resistance of the wall and is fire tested for up to 4 hours.
Fire sealants and gap fillers
If lines are installed after a building has already been built, no matter how well it was built, the integrity of the building can weaken. Building on top of something that may have the best fire protection strategy in mind, can compromise safety. This is where fire sealants and gap fillers come in. Gap fillers and sealants can close any penetrations and restore the building to its original fire safety standards.
The best materials for fire stopping
In order to ensure that maximum safety is in place when it comes to fire-stopping, you must make sure that openings for things such as cables, beams, pipes, ducts are kept as minimal as possible to ensure maximum safety for a building’s occupants. Common fire stopping materials can include, cement mortar, cement or gypsum-based vermiculite mixes, intumescent mastics, fire shutters and curtains, fire-resistant glazing, linear gap seals, cavity barriers and fire-resistant air transfer grilles.
There are some things that you should always be aware of when it comes to implementing certain fire-resistant materials. Make sure that all pipes, cables and ducts are inspected by a professional, in order to make sure that they are completely safe.
The importance of fire stopping
Fire stopping is incredibly important as it can quite literally save lives. Fire stopping is also an essential component of maintaining building safety. However, once installed, the fire safety measurements will need to be checked regularly by a professional. Failure to do this, could mean breaking fire safety laws, which could have legal consequences. This also means that in the event of a fire, you could be held accountable.
8 Top Tips for a Successful School Refurbishment
/0 Comments/in Fire Protection, Home Page news feed, News /by Georgia Robertson1. Planning and organising
A lot of planning is required in order to conduct a successful school refurbishment, as children are at school for the majority of the year. The best times to conduct the refurbishment would be during the holidays, Christmas, Easter and summer. These times are best for smaller projects and also medium sized projects.
Basic principles
The basic principle of any building is to consider the actual, physical construction of the building. This includes insulation. The insulation is incredibly important, especially in a school, as buildings can get incredibly cold in the winter in England. The role of insulation is also to keep heat out during summer. These factors will play a crucial role in the comfort of students and teachers within the school. This will in turn increase productivity and moral.
Consider space
Space must be considered when completing a school refurbishment. This is very important for schools, as students need space to learn. A typical classroom can consist of around 20-30 students, and each student will need at least a chair and a desk or table. So, in order to create a successful school refurbishment, making the most out of space will be one of the most important considerations.
Outdoor space also must be considered. This is due to the fact that most schools have a playground for children to play in. Most schools will also have at least a couple hundred students in them, and these students will all have lunchtime at the same time, and so will use the playground at the same time.
Comfort
A school needs to be a comfortable place for all parties. Most students will be at school around 8 hours, and so need to be comfortable. Floorspace is a big consideration when refurbishing a school. Children need space to comfortably learn and having a large enough classroom with enough floorspace is key to this. The whole purpose of a building is to provide comfort and safety to its occupants. Therefore, the comfort of its occupants needs to be one of the main considerations when carrying out refurbishments. Things such as air conditioning, temperature, and natural lighting must all be considerations.
Consider its location
Location is a very important consideration when conducting the refurbishment of a school. The amount of outdoor space in the school’s location can determine the size of a school, the amount of playground space, and also if any residential areas etc are nearby. Also, if there is a forest or lake nearby, then these can be utilised within the refurbishment of the school.
Reducing waste production
The construction industry is responsible for most of the waste produced in this country, which is a staggering 40% of total waste production. This is argued to be because of the population growth that most cities are experiencing, as well as the large increase in construction from the 1960s. We can combat this by ensuring that most, if not all, waste is sent to recycling facilities, and also using more recycled materials.
Responsibility
At the very early stages of the project, responsibility needs to be assessed and given to whoever needs to take responsibility. It is important that the school is kept informed every step of the process. The school needs to have a clear understanding of the design and contract programme and also needs to know what is going to happen every step of the way of the school refurbishment. The school official also needs to know about health and safety and contractual regulations regarding the build.
Health and safety
Both the school and the construction contractor have a responsibility to ensure that risk assessments and method statements are consistently monitored. For example, fire exits, and all fire systems need to be agreed upon by all parties. It is also important that these exits, and site boundaries are clearly marked, and signage is amended as appropriate.
Why fire doors are critical for your commercial building
/0 Comments/in Fire Protection, Home Page news feed, News /by Georgia RobertsonAs it’s a legal requirement in commercial buildings to have the correct systems in place for fire stopping and fire protection, the importance of fire doors cannot be underestimated. It’s a key feature which will help protect the lives of customers and the public, as well as all members of staff, in the event of a fire. Having fire doors fitted by FIRAS accredited experts will ensure that the surrounding walls and structures stay intact, unfortunately there have been many instances of fire doors not doing their job due to poor fitting and maintenance.
Since Grenfell in 2017, fire regulations have become a lot stricter and there is a lot more scrutiny based on whether a company complies with fire regulation. Only 66% of fire audits conducted across England were deemed satisfactory in 2019/2020, and only 59% of licensed premises were satisfactory. Therefore, it is obvious that some work needs to be done in order to raise the bar on fire safety standards.
However, it can be difficult to navigate the rules surrounding fire doors, as it depends on many factors, such as the number of occupants, overall purpose and size of the building, to name a few.
Different types of fire door
Fire doors are heavily tested in order to find out their ‘grade’. The grade refers to the duration that a fire door can provide protection for in the event of a fire. The materials that were used to build the fire door can mean that the results can vary for different doors.
The main organisation that gives fire door ratings is the British Woodworking Federation (BWF). The ratings are assessed using 4 main integrity levels and can also vary from FD30 (30 minutes) to FD120 (120 minutes). The average fire door grade in commercial buildings is typically FD60 or above, compared to FD30 or FD60 in residential buildings. This can all depend on the materials being used to build the fire door, as commercial buildings will typically opt for a much safer door due to the presence of high-risk materials or things that are of a particular value to an organisation.
Steel doors
In a commercial building, a steer door may be the best way to go. This is because they are solid and durable and can offer the maximum protection of above FD120 (120 minutes). A lot of the time, steel doors are used in settings such as hospitals and kitchens.
Glass fire doors
Glass fire doors must be made from fire-rated glass, it cannot be made from regular glass. Regular glass will shatter if it reaches temperatures above 120 degrees Celsius. However, fire-rated glass can withstand temperatures of up to 900 degrees Celsius and can last up to 60 minutes without cracking or breaking.
Wooden fire doors
Wooden fire doors are very popular in residential properties, and they can provide the same level of protection as glass fire doors. This can be anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes. Many wooden fire doors’ cores are made from magboard, particleboard, flax board or timber.
Frames and hinges
Regulations should be followed to the letter as it can mean the difference between life or death, when it comes to the event of a fire. This includes the use of fire door frames and hinges. Frames and hinges must also comply with fire door regulations and the materials and products used for these is just as important as the materials used for the actual fire door itself.
All materials that are used in the construction of fire doors, frames and hinges must be Certifire approved, and where necessary, CE marked. CE marking is how a product complies with EU safety, and other safety legislation. CE marking also requires being vetted by an independent third party. The gap between a fire door and its frame cannot exceed 4mm in size. This is in order to block smoke coming through to the rooms protected by fire doors.
The hinges in which fire doors hang must be made of metal with a metal point of above 800 degrees Celsius. The hinges also must be CE marked and there must 3 hinges on every fire door.
Commercial regulations
A ‘responsible person’ must be allocated on each commercial premises and it will be that person’s job to conduct a thorough fire risk assessment (FRA). In this assessment, any misuse or neglect must be noted. For example, it can be dangerous to wedge open a fire door. However, this is an extremely common thing to do, which compromises the fire door’s ability to do its job and protect people in the event of a fire. It was reported that 68% of buildings visited by the fire service in 2018, had doors wedges open.
The risks of non-compliance
There are very high penalties for not meeting the fire protection regulations, fines of £5,000 and even prison sentences can be carried out for not complying with fire safety regulations. In 2007, supermarket brand Tesco was fined £95,000 for wedging open its fire doors.
5 Fire Safety Elements for Commercial Buildings
/0 Comments/in Fire Protection, Home Page news feed, News /by Georgia RobertsonIt is incredibly important to maintain fire safety in a commercial building. It’s important as it keeps your customers safe, as well as yourself and your employees. It’s crucial to maintain fire safety equipment and to make sure that your building covers fire laws.
Commercial fires can be caused by the same reasons that domestic fires can, such as ovens, faulty electrics, arson etc. However, the good news is that these fires can be prevented, and measures can be taken to ensure that the building is as safe as it can be.
Use of fire alarms
Fire alarms are an incredibly important part of fire safety as they are the warning signal to people to exit the building. Fire alarms are arguably, the most important feature in a fire safety system. Fire alarms are used as they usually detect a fire the earliest.
However, you are not actually required by law to have a fire alarm system on the premises, it is typically the easiest and most convenient system to have. Although the law states that you do not have to have a fire alarm system in the building, you must have an appropriate fire detection system in place.
Exit Signs
Exit signs are another crucial part of fire safety in a commercial setting. This is because people need to know where to go in the event of a fire. Having signs that clearly point to the exit, is crucial. If people do not know here to go, then a panic will ensue. These kinds of panics can sometimes be fatal as people tend to not think logically. It’s imperative that people remain calm when there is a fire, as it can mean the difference between life and death. Therefore, exit signs are so important.
Emergency lights
Emergency lights are also incredibly important to use alongside exit signs. During a fire, there is typically a lot of smoke. This can obscure vision and make the setting extremely difficult to navigate around, even in a familiar setting. Therefore, emergency lights are important, as they can guide people to the exit. They are easier to see through the thick smoke. Furthermore, light up exit signs switch to emergency power when it cannot connect to the main power.
Fire extinguishers
A lot of commercial buildings have fire extinguishers nearby. However, you must know how to use one in order to operate it. Usually, the operation of these is included within fire safety training.
Fire extinguishers should also not be any further than 75 feet away from each other, as people should not have to travel more than this in order to reach a fire extinguisher. They should also be stored near the exits, as people coming in should not have to travel far to reach one to put out a fire.
Fire sprinklers
A lot of the time in commercial buildings, a sprinkler system will be used. This can be an effective way to reduce a fire, or even stop a fire. These systems require regular maintenance and upkeep by licensed inspectors.
Eco-friendly wood materials for fire protection
/0 Comments/in Fire Protection, Home Page news feed, News /by Georgia RobertsonThere is an increasing demand for eco-friendly materials to be used wherever they can due to the current climate crises. Is this actually what’s good for your construction though?
The requirements of fire protection materials
First of all, there are many requirements that need to be met when using eco-friendly materials. Safety is of the utmost importance when it comes to fire protection, so companies have a responsibility to make sure that the materials that they are using to build with are safe to use and will remain safe throughout the building’s life cycle.
In any building structure, compartmentalising can make the building much safer in the event of a fire and compartmentalising buildings should be the standard practice whenever building any structure. This method can be useful as it can restrict the spread of a fire.
In order to make a wood building fire resistant, internal cladding and linings should be used in the compartments. Also, cavity barriers should be positioned in the external cavity walls of a timber frame structure as this can also prevent a fire spreading through the concealed cavities of a building. You can read more on this here.
Using wood for fire-protection
Surprisingly, wood can actually be a good fire retardant material because its properties are well-known, and it is known how wood typically reacts in a fire. The charring properties of wood can prevent a structure from collapsing. It has been known that wood chars evenly at a rate of about 1 millimetre per minute. Being able to predict how a material will react in the event of a fire can be invaluable. This allows the emergency services to be able to formulate a plan to combat the fire as they know what’s going to happen and the speed at which the fire is likely to spread.
There is actually an 18-storey timber-frame building in Norway that is the tallest timber frame building in the world!
Eco-friendly material
Eco-friendly materials can have different descriptions based on personal opinion and personal passion. In general terms, eco-friendly refers to being good or bad for the environment, but it can have complex discussions surrounding the issue.
Wood, when being used to build with, requires treatments to make it fire-retardant. A lot of these treatments can be toxic, which is not good for the environment, or good for human health. However, there has been a lot of research conducted more recently on toxic and non-toxic treatments for wood.
Treatments for wood protection have been used ever since timber was first used by man. Some conventional timber treatments would include oil or wax, such as linseed, beeswax and tung oil. These are regarded as eco-friendly materials. In more modern times though, wood treatments have been more reliant on harsh substances and chemicals. Creosote (made from coal tar), for example, used to be a popular wood sealant. It was later found out that Creosote is carcinogenic, so as of 2003, it has been banned in Great Britain to the general public. A lot of these harsher methods for wood treatment have now been banned.
How can the eco-friendly wood materials help with fire protection?
Fire Protection for New Buildings
/0 Comments/in Fire Protection, Home Page news feed, News /by Georgia RobertsonFire Protection and the Law
Risk Assessing
Active and Passive Fire Protection
Active Fire Protection
Active fire protection is the term given to fire safety measures taken to fight fires after they have started. They are a powerful and essential line of defence for all buildings. Active systems include sprinklers, fire extinguishers and automatic dousing systems. Designers should consider each system to the building using water, foam, powders or gases to stop a fire in the quickest and safest way.
Passive Fire Protection
Passive fire protection is imperative to preventing the spread of a fire. Passive measures resist the fire, compartmentalise its impact, protect the structural integrity of the building and provide vital time for people to evacuate. They are referred to as passive measures because they require no action in order to work.
Common passive fire protection installations include fire doors, partition glazing, cavity barriers and gap seals. Passive measures can also be found in the foundations of buildings in the form of concrete, bricks and gypsum plasterboard. This is also used to protect structural stability of the building and compartmentalises fires. Some measures can offer up to four hours of protection allowing time for firefighters to arrive and tackle the blaze.
Planning Evacuation
Fire Stopping And The Law
/0 Comments/in Fire Protection, Home Page news feed, News /by Georgia RobertsonAccess to these services requires there to be gaps between the fire-resistant elements. These must be sealed so that the integrity of the elements is maintained.
What National Regulations Cover Fire-Stopping?
Why is Fire Stopping Mandatory?
“Compartment walls and compartment floors (including a fire resisting ceiling) are intended to prevent fire passing from one compartment to another. Openings and service penetrations through these walls or floors can compromise their effectiveness and should be kept to a minimum. The solum and roof space should not be forgotten. Openings and service penetrations should be carefully detailed and constructed to resist fire.” (2.1.15)
“Where a wiring system passes through elements of building construction such as floors, walls, roofs, ceilings, partitions or cavity barriers, the openings remaining after passage of the wiring systems shall be sealed according to the degree of fire resistance required of the element concerned.” (527-02-01)
“Where a wiring system such as a conduit, cable ducting, cable trunking, busbar or busbar trunking penetrates an element of building construction having specified fire resistance it shall be internally sealed so as to maintain the degree of fire resistance of the respective element as well as being externally sealed to maintain the required fire resistance.” (527-02-02)
Why Should All Firestop Products Be Tested?
Approved Document B states the following on the subject of testing:
“the….product…should be in accordance with a specification or design which has been shown by test to be capable of meeting that performance or have been assessed from test evidence against appropriate standards.” (Appendix ‘A’ 1a)
“Provide…propriety fire-stopping and sealing systems which has been shown by test to maintain the fire resistance of the wall or other element.” (10.19)
Regulations and Guidelines
Why is it Recommended That Specialist Contractors are Accredited to a Third-Party Scheme?
Approved Document B states the following on the subject of accreditation of contractors:
“Third party accreditation of installers of systems, materials, products or structures provide a means of ensuring that installations have been conducted by knowledgeable contractors to appropriate standards, thereby increasing reliability of the anticipated performance in fire.” (0.15)
All of our contractors are members of FIRAS. FIRAS is a UKAS certification scheme run by the Warrington Fire Research Establishment.
Fire-Stopping and Liability
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order
The Fire Safety Order applies to all workplaces within England and Wales with the exception of mines and workplaces that occur offshore. Every employer or building owner appoints a ‘Responsible Person’ who ensures the company’s compliance in the regulations the order stipulates.
One of the pivotal duties that a ‘Responsible Person’ performs is the undertaking of an annual risk assessment on the building which includes identifying potential features that could promote the spread of fire and the steps that are going to be taken to reduce the likelihood of those features contributing towards a fire.
In Scotland, The Fire Act 2005 applies in the same way as the Fire Safety Order.
Fire Safety in Hospitality
/0 Comments/in Fire Protection, Home Page news feed, News /by JamesFire Risk Assessments
Fire Wardens
Fire Safety Training
Fire Escape Routes
Fire Evacuation Drills
Appoint a Trusted Fire Safety Services Provider
Install Reliable Fire Safety Systems
System Maintenance
Communication of Procedures
Review Your Process
Fire Compartmentation in Hotels
/0 Comments/in Fire Protection, Home Page news feed, News /by JamesWhat is the Purpose of Compartmentation?
What are the Fire Protection Systems?
Fire Safety Tips and Checklist for Hotels
The Broadsword Promise
Passive Fire Protection in Hospitals
/0 Comments/in Fire Protection, Home Page news feed, News /by JamesFire safety including passive fire protection in hospitals is of the utmost importance particularly when considering the number of potentially vulnerable people at risk on the premises. Hospitals could not only find themselves financially liable for millions of pounds in repairs, they could also face the possibility of prison sentences and fines should they be found negligent for not having the correct systems in place. The cost of not complying with the law far outweighs the cost of installing the correct systems and should be a priority for all healthcare facilities.
What is Passive Fire Protection?
Passive fire protection is the use of fire-resistant materials and structural components that look to separate the building into different areas of risk. Essentially, they work to slow the spread of fire and smoke, to protect the structural integrity of the building and to provide time for all occupants of the building to evacuate. Passive fire protection is a component of a total fire protection system that looks to collaboratively suppress and resist fire. Passive fire protection looks to contain fire and is achieved through the installation of columns, walls, floors and doors. Each of these need to prevent structural collapse, heat conduction and the spread of smoke and noxious gases to be considered effective.
Fire Safety and the Law
Lessons from History
What Passive Fire Protection is required in Hospitals?
The Broadsword Promise