Evaluate, Reduce, Remove and Protect
Evaluate the risk of fire occurring
How you manage your premises and the way in which people use your premises will influence your evaluation of risk.
You will need to evaluate the risk of a fire starting in your premises, the risk will be low if there are few ignition sources, and any combustible materials are kept away from them.
Fires generally occur in one of three ways:
- Accidentally
- Neglect
- deliberately (arson).
When evaluating your premises, you will need to be critical to try and identify any accidents waiting to happen, for example a display that could be knocked over and cause a fire. Any piece of electrical equipment that hasn’t been serviced recently, or bins stored in close proximity to your premises.
Evaluate the risk to people
It is unlikely that you will have not identified any fire hazards in your premises.
After identifying the fire hazards, you will need to take actions to either remove or reduce them. This is an essential part of the fire risk assessment.
- Remove or reduce the hazards.
- Remove or reduce sources of ignition.
- Remove or reduce sources of fuel.
- Remove or reduce sources of oxygen.
- Remove or reduce the risks to people.
The level of fire protection measures you will need to provide will be dependent on the level of risk that remains in you premises after you have removed or reduced the hazards.
It is important to remember that toxic gases are also produced by the fire, these can become thick and black and prevent people escaping from the building by blocking exits and causing difficulty breathing.
Ensure there are no gaps or holes in the building structure as smoke will pass through any holes or gaps in the walls and ceilings potentially blocking peoples escape routes.
When evaluating risks to people consider the following:
In multiple storied buildings any fire starting on a lower floor will affect people on uppers floor’s ability to escape.
The risk of fire spreading rapidly through the building due to the combustible structure of the building, or large quantities of combustible goods, for example, extra stock for the festive period.
If there are large, racked displays in the premises, the potential vertical spread of fire.
Poor installation/maintenance of fire doors, or fire doors being propped open, this can cause rapid spread of fire throughout the building.
Ensure suitable and sufficient fire safety measures are in place.
Make sure all staff and especially new staff are trained in the fire safety measures for the premises.
Checklist
- Have you evaluated the risk to people if a fire starts?
- Have you removed or reduced the hazards that might cause a fire?
- Have you removed or reduced the risks to people in your premises if a fire occurs by implementing fire safety measures?
For more information and guidance on your fire risk assessment click here.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service supports local businesses and recognises their importance to the community. We are committed to keeping people and buildings safe.