DEPUTY COMMISSIONER’S DIRECTORATE: COMMUNITY SAFETY
Identifying the most vulnerable fi’om fire:
Appendix A
It is important to consider the likelihood of fire occurrh~g and the individual’s ability to respond
appropriately.
In simple terms this can be thought of as
Hazard: the ig~fition source for a fire and materials to aid combustion (the fire itself)
Likelihood: the likely occurrence of a fire starting (the hazard being realised)
Risk: the person being unable to escape in sufficient time to avoid injury or death from fire
Vulnerability may be considered as any one of a combination of human traits or disabilities causing
them to have poor reaction or realisation of the danger presented by fire. Typically we may identify
people with certain mobility problems as being a vulnerable person, for example with age many
people can take a significant time to get out of bed at night, and therefbre unable to escape quickly.
This does not make them particularly vulnerable as the likelihood of fire may be low. However a
person with very limited mobility who is a habitual smoker that refuses to modify their habit and
evidence suggests they place themselves at risk by smoking in bed may be considered to present a
sufficiently high level of risk to be considered vulnerable.
LFB encourages that wherever vulnerable persons at high risk from fire are identified, the
responsible person or organisation is encouraged to take measures to make the individual safer from
fire. The responsible person / organisation may be the individual themselves, a family member,
lm~dlord, Local Authority, registered social landlords and others with legal or moral obligations to
protect vulnerable person(s). The measures may include provision of fire retardant materials and /
or installation of a suitable AFSS to protect life; and inform thein of the additional benefit of
property protection.
Vulnerability: Significant Factors
The factors below are not a conclusive list but may be primary indicators for concern, providing evidence for the first group (1.) can be through observation: and are factors affecting the likelihood of a fire occurring. The remainder (2.) may require confirmation from a medical or social care agency and are importantly linked with the matter of ability to escape.
Risk
High fire risk activities or habits
¯ Fire-setting behaviour
¯ History of near misses
Inability or willingness to escape
¯ Impaired mobility affecting ability to escape
¯ Impaired reaction to fire or warning devices
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DEPUTY COMMISSIONER’S DIRECTORATE: COMMUNITY SAFETY
¯ Impaired senses affecting ability to respond to alarms
¯ Poor situational awareness
¯ Dependency on stilnulants lowering reaction to alarms
The most vulnerable persons will be influenced by factor(s) from both groups.
Note: hoarding or abnormal fire loading is not included. This should be managed through removal
of the materials as any sprinkler system is unlikely to control any fire in such situations as it is
beyond the scope of the design specifications. The vulnerability can then be addressed.
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DEPUTY COMMISSIONER’S DIRECTORATE: COMMUNITY SAFETY
AFSS for Persons Vulnerable from Fire: risk assessment
ID No.
Name and Address
of resident
Assessment Date
Assessor(s)
Section 1: Risk of Fire - complete 1 & 3 or 2 & 3
1) Does the person carry out high fire risk activities or have habits that are likely to cause an
accidental fire in their home?
Insert rationale
Score
never highly
unlikely
unlikely Likely probable
5
2) Is a fire likely to be started through deliberate fire setting action affecting the hoine or
direct access to or from it?
Insert rationale
Highly unlikely possibly Probable Highly
unlikely probable
Score 1 2 3 4 5
3) Is there evidence or history to demonstrate that fires have already occurred within the
home?
Insert rationale
I I No history I No evidence I 1 fire I 2 fires I 2 or more I
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fifes
Score 1 2 3 4 5
Section 2: Ability or willingness to escape - complete boxes 1) and 2) and the most significant
other category.
1) Does the person under assessment have sufficient a mobility (unaided by another person) to
escape from their home when from rest?
Insert rationale
2 minutes a minutes 4 minutes More than 5 Unable to
minutes escape
Score 1 ~ 3 ~ 5
2) How does the person under assessment understand the intent of fire alarms and warning devices?
Insert rationale
Immediate responds in Responds Aware of No response
response good time slowly alarm but
confi~sed
Score 1 ~ 3 4 5
3) Does the person under assessment have sensory deprivation (with aids) that will affect their
response to a fire alarm or linked device?
Insert rationale
I Good I Limited I Requires a I Poor I Unable to
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DEPUTY COMMISSIONER’S DIRECTORATE: COMMUNITY SAFETY
response to response to device to response with sense alarms
alarms alarms sense alarms a device
Score o 1 2 3 4~
4) Is the person aware of their environment and the matters that affect their safety?
Insert rationale
good Aware of Limited Unaware of Dependant awareness of safety and awareness of their on others for safety and surroundings safety and surroundings safety surroundings surroundings
Score o 1 ~ 3 .
5) Is the person under assessment dependant, or through their actions suggest they have a dependency, on prescribed or non-prescribed medication or other stimulants (consideration to alcohol too) which will affect their ability to respond to fire alarms?
insert rationale
never Occasional or Regular or Periods of Prescribed at
conditions daily hmapacity all times
Score o 1 2 3 4~
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DEPUTY COMMISSIONER’S DIRECTORATE: COMMUNITY SAFETY
Scoring methodology:
Section 1: the score result of the two categories (either 1 and 3 or 2 and 3) are multiplied.
A case for consideration for AFSS inust score at least 15 in this section.
Section 2: is scored by multiplying categories 1 and 2 and then adding the third most significant
score from 3, 4, or 5
Section 1 total (must be 15+)
Section 2 ( Qs 1 x 2)
Section 2 (add most significant of 3,4 or 5)
Total
Referral BC/Assessors Comments:
Name l [Role
Comments:
Details of housing provider (where applicable)
Contact name and telephone number for housing provider or responsible person
Signature I lDate 1
CS Partnership Manager/CS Research and Policy Manager:
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Name
t Role Date received
Comments
Decision Log
Decision makers: Borough Cmdr Fire Engineer - central RFS
Commentary from decision makers:
Case Approved for
AFSS / FRB (detail which)
Cost of FRB £ Cost of AFSS £ required, when required, xvhen known known
AFSS site survey: AFSS site survey: Fire Engineer Date
Date of provision: Progress review to FRB: be undertaken AFSS: (date)
Monitoring
Name I IR°le I Comment
Date:
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F ollowup required 1 [Datewhen 1 Comment
Installation Certification seen completed (date) and valid
AFSS for sheltered housing: risk assessment
Appendix B
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DEPUTY COMMISSIONER’S DIRECTORATE: COMMUNITY SAFETY
Sheltered housing has moved on from the traditional warden controlled flats where being elderly
was the only requirement. Permanent wardens in Local Authority schemes are almost non existent
and have been replaced with a manager who covers a number of schemes. Also the Lvpe of people in
the schemes could be receiving care packages which are sometimes called ’extra care’ or ’supported
living’.
When selecting a suitable premises you must ensure that it has more than one vulnerable person
resident, by using the risk assessment in appendix A.
To complete the risk assessment below please liaise with you Fire safety Team leader.
RA Methodology for Sheltered Accommodation/Supported Living/Extra
Care/Retirement Home
Descriptor
Year/Decade of Construction
Type of Construction
Number of Floors
Number of Flats
Fire protection Measures excluding Detection and "vVarning (D&~V) Fire Brigade Access
Negligible
l_point Built to 2oo7 Building Regulations
Brick/concret e
1 to 2 above grouud
<5
Full fire safety protection including suppression
Access to all sides of building, on site manager or warden or
caretaker to meet and
Moderate
5 points Built after Building Regulations 19S0s
Brick/concret e skin with timber floors
3 above grouud
11-15
Fire safety measures need SOIIle
enhancement
Access to all sides of building
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greet
"vVater Supply
for firefighting
Detection and
"vVarning
System
Alarnl
Receiving Centre Connection
Telecare Connection/Pul 1 Cord
Warden Controlled
Emergency Evacuation Plan
Statutory and
private
hydrants
Full modern commercial and domestic D&W systems in communal and domestic areas
D&W systein connected to ARC with
management for false alarms and Uwfs
Full Nurse call system with interaction with D&W
system
24 Hour Oil
site
Warden
Sound plan for both domestic and communal areas that includes PEEPs
Statutory Hydrants in vicinity
D&W system
to BS 5839
part 1 ~00~
+A2 with no
connection to
domestic
premises
D&W systein connected to ARC no
management system for false alarms and Uwfs
Nurse Call system
Warden
during day plus night time cover
Sound plan for COllllllunal
areas
Marks should be allocated to each answer in each column in the table with one mark for
each of the white areas, 2 marks for each of the green areas, 5 marks for each of the yellow areas, 8 marks for each of the amber areas and lO marks for each of the red areas. With 12
questions, the maximum amount of points allocated would be 10 x lg = lg0
The risk associated with each premises should be assessed with regard to the points allocated:
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DEPUTY COMMISSIONER’S DIRECTORATE: COMMUNITY SAFETY
Extreme Risk
Minor Risk
Negligible Risk
10g to lg0 points
Between 80 and 101 points
Between 28 and 79 points
Between 14 and 27 points
< 14 points
Points Allocated Risk level Recom~nendation
Premises Address Date Area Lead officer
Date: Decision makers: Borough Cmdr Fire Engineer - central RFS
Commentary from decision makers:
Case Approved for
AFSS / FRB (detail which)
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