Section 29

Appendix 1

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Regulatory Reform [Fire Safety] Order

FIRE RISK ASSESSMENTS

FIRE SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR BUILDING OCCUPANTS

The following Checklist has been designed to be used by non-specialists to check the fire safety of their buildings. The questions have been worded such that a 'Yes' answer is the ideal outcome.

General precautions which are applicable to all areas of all buildings.

	Check Item	Yes	No	N/A	Comments	Guidance Notes
1	Are all fire escape routes clear of potential fire hazards and obstructions?					Items which pose a potential fire hazard and those which could cause an obstruction must not be located in corridors or staircases used as a means of escape. Flammable or combustible materials, eg. paper packaging, foam filled furniture, provide the fuel for a fire which could jeopardise an otherwise protected route out of the building. Notice boards must be taken into account (see Appendix 4). Storage of materials in corridors, staircases, etc. seriously impedes rapid evacuation from buildings, particularly for disabled people. Temporarily stored items, including items in transit, e.g. furniture and waste bins, must not be located in corridors or staircases which serve as the sole means of escape from a building or part of a building.
2	Are all final exit doors from the building capable of being easily and immediately opened without use of a key from the inside whenever the building is occupied?					Some buildings still have final exit doors that can only be opened in an emergency by retrieving a key from a glass fronted box adjacent to the door. Such 'key boxes' will be phased out in due course.
3	Have tripping hazards along fire escape routes been eliminated?					Note particularly worn or 'curling' carpets, loose or missing nosings on stairs.
4	Do all fire doors close on their own securely into the door frame?					Fire doors can be recognised by a small notice on each side with the wording "Fire Door - Keep Shut" or similar. Pay particular attention to fire doors to staircases as these are used as refuges for wheelchair users during a fire
5	Where a vision panel is fitted in the door can you see clearly through the full area of the panel?					Vision panels are fitted to give early visual warning of a fire on the other side of the door. There is a tendency to obscure them with posters, leaflets, curtains, etc.
6	Have you taken steps to identify wheelchair users (and others with restricted mobility) and persons with a learning or sight impairment who may need assistance during a fire emergency?					You will need to speak to each person individually and explain what he/she needs to do when the fire alarm sounds. Persons with impaired vision should be "walked" along the escape routes including, particularly, the routes which are not in general use. See Appendix 2 of Manual of Safety Section 29 for further guidance on the use of lifts.
7	Are fire extinguishers/hose reels in position and ready for use?					The correct location of fire fighting equipment can be checked if necessary with the Safety Office. All such equipment is serviced bi-annually and a servicing sticker on the appliance should show a date within the previous 6-month period. Fire blankets do not have stickers. All fire extinguishers should be either mounted on brackets or placed in extinguisher stands.
8	Are fire evacuation notices in position with up to date information					Notices are generally positioned at final exit doors adjacent to break-glass alarm points. In larger buildings there may be a notice at each staircase landing. In residential buildings, there are additional notices in each study/bedroom.
9	Are smoking prohibitions enforced where appropriate?					The University policy on Smoking at Work is contained in the Manual of Safety, Section 7.
10	If smoking is permitted, are persons encouraged to dispose of smoking materials in a safe manner and are suitable receptacles provided in communal areas where smoking is permitted?					Discarded smoking materials are often the cause of fires
11	Are flammable/combustible materials kept away from radiators and other heating appliances?					A slow build-up of heat has been known to cause fires. Plastic chairs have been known to catch fire in this way.
12	Does random sampling of test labels indicate that portable electrical appliances are within the correct interval for safety testing?					Faulty or poorly-maintained electrical appliances have been known to cause fires. The frequency of safety electrical testing can be found in the Manual of Safety, Section 6. Testing is organised by Estates
13	Have steps been taken to identify persons who may work alone in the building?					In the evenings and at weekends, many doors which provide an exit from buildings during normal working hours, are locked for security reasons. Lone workers must be made aware of any changes to the opening mechanisms on the doors on the escape routes outside normal working hours. All means of escape required during normal hours must be available whenever a person works in the building outside normal hours. See Manual of Safety, Section 23.

Additional precautions that are applicable to laboratories, workshops, service areas, etc.

	Check Item	Yes	No	N/A	Comments	Guidance Notes
14	Is the amount of flammable liquid stored in the work place kept to a minimum?					Up to 50 litres of flammable liquid in total can be stored in each workroom. Quantities greater than this should be kept in a properly designated storage area.
15	Are flammable liquids being stored correctly?					When not in use flammable liquids must be kept in closed, properly labelled containers in a fire-resisting bin or cupboard designed to contain leaks.
16	Are spillage kits, or other appropriate means of containing and clearing up spillages of flammable liquids, readily available?
17	If freezers/refrigerators are in use, are the thermostats spark-proofed or located outside the appliance?					Sparking thermostats inside appliances have been known to cause explosions when flammable vapour has ignited.
18	Are flammable liquids kept well away from "hot" activities such as welding, brazing, flame cutting, use of blow lamps and grinding machines?					Vapour from flammable liquids can travel long distances across floors or surfaces and be ignited.
19	Are spare compressed gas/ LPG cylinders kept in properly designated storage areas?					Compressed gas/LPG cylinders can overheat and explode in fires. Only during changeover periods are additional cylinders permitted in workplaces.
20	Are such cylinders positioned away from exits?					If the contents of cylinders ignite, the means of escape may be jeopardised, particularly if the workplace has only one exit.
21	Where equipment, or parts of equipment, are likely to produce static sparks, is adequate earthing provided?					Static sparks have been known to ignite flammable liquid vapours.