FIRE SAFETY IN

CONSTRUCTION and

CDM Presenter:

Roberto Demidio Dip RSA Grad IOSH MILM NDIPM CERTHSC RMASP MIFL SIIRM

LEGISLATION

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)

Order 2005

• HSAWA74

• CDM 2007

• MHSWR99

Guidance

HSE HSG 168 FPA

The Construction Industry

• Mobile

workforce

moving from

site to site,

company to

company

• Site changes

on a daily basis

Project Risk Management

In planning and design risk

mitigation controls during the

life of the construction project

Duty holders are required to plan,

implementation and constant

review Fire Safety mitigations controls

during the life of the project

Traditional and Timber Frame Buildings

Construction

All buildings under construction are vulnerable

Fire can occur no matter how simple or complex a project, and no matter

what the construction material

• Brick and stone flakes and disintegrates

• Concrete can be subject to explosive spalling

• Steel can buckle in severe heat

Fire in timber frame projects

Timber frame will burn faster and more completely when panels are incomplete

Timber frame construction is fast, so full fire protection is reached quickly

16 Steps to fire safety on Timber Frame

Construction Sites

The 16 steps are:

1. Compliance with CDM 2007

2. The Fire Safety Co-ordinator

3. The Site Fire Safety Plan

4. Checks, inspections and tests throughout construction

5. Communication and liaison

6. Promoting a “fire safe” working environment

7. Fire detection and warning

8. Protecting emergency escape routes (the 35m rule)

9. Building in fire protection along the way

10. Site Security against arson

11. Protecting temporary buildings and accommodation

12. Safe storage of materials

13. Designing out hot works

14. Keeping a tidy site

15. Dealing with plant and equipment

16. A “no smoking” site

Timber Research and Development Association

GENERAL PROCESS – V- FIRE PRECAUTIONS

Special technical or organisational measures to reduce

likelihood of fire and intensity through to work process

Control i.e. engineered controls such as passive

compartmentaion

OR

Planning and working to prevent the risk of a fire starting

i.e. Management controls such as Fire Risk Assessments

Designers

• can contribute to the elimination of

health and safety hazards in

construction, from the earliest stages

of a project.

• elements of design that differ from

what site staff perceive as the “norm”

such as fire engineering needs to be

considered for construction phase

(BS9999).

CDM - Fire Safety at Design stage

The fire risk of the construction project and the finished building is to be

assessed during the design phase.

CDM Regulations impose a legal responsibility on the designers, CDM

coordinator and principal contractors to ensure that the fire risk and

potential for fire to life and property have been properly assessed'.

Risks can be managed by considering alternative approaches, using non

combustible materials, avoiding hot work, better design of site egress,

early installation of fire protection features and systems

Fire Safety at Pre Construction Stage

• Should be considered before work starts

• Look at the process of construction and

general fire precaution listed below

• Should be site specific and appropriate

for the size of contract

CDM – Fire Safety during the Construction Phase

The Principal Contractor or Coordinator must:

•Identify the Responsible Person

•Develop and maintain the Site Safety Plan

•This must include organisation of and responsibilities for fire safety

•Details of measures taken including training

•General site precautions including location of fire alarms, extinguishers etc

•Location of smoking areas

•Hot work regime

•Temporary buildings and structures

•Means of escape (including evacuation plan and means of giving warning

of fire)

•Fire brigade access and facilities

•Fire instructions and notices/signs

•Means to minimise arson

•Materials storage and control of waste

CDM - Site Fire Safety Plan

A site fire safety plan must be developed and provide for the following:

•Organisation and responsibility for fire safety, training, record keeping

•General site fire precautions, fire detection and alarm, temporary

emergency lighting, and fire points

•Location of designated smoking areas

•Requirements for a hot work permit regime

•Temporary buildings and accommodation

•Fire escape routes, communications and procedures for calling the fire

and rescue service and for FRS s access to the site

•Instructions on actions in the event of fire

•Security measures to minimise the risk of arson

•Materials storage and waste control regime

•Maintenance and testing of temporary electricity supply

CDM – Fire Safety in Larger Projects

Consider :

•Appointment of Site Fire Safety Coordinator and site fire marshal and

deputies

•Fire marshal could be full time or combine this with other duties (eg

security or H&S)

•Liaison with police, fire and ambulance is essential

•On site power generation issues

•Changing access requirements

CDM – Fire Emergency Procedure

Must consider arrangements for:

•Means of giving warning - must be audible above ambient noise

level

•Written procedures at all fire points etc

•Clear access to the site and buildings maintained at all times

•Nominate personnel (eg security guards or fire marshals to

maintain access etc),

•Temporary emergency lighting

•Clear signs for escape routes etc

Fail to Plan - Peckham

5 Steps – Fire Safety Risk Assessment Process

OXYGEN

HEAT FUEL

Site Fire Safety - Fire Triangle

Combustible Materials

• Remember building and structural elements

combustible

• Size of timber sections

Build up of Combustible Material

Combustible material

Stock for

business

ordered

and stored

on site

IGNITION SOURCES

Fuel tank surrounded by rubbish

Security / arson

GENERAL FIRE PRECAUTIONS

Alarms

Means of Escape

Means of Escape

Not good in the event of a fire

Partial Occupation

Competence

• How many people in country are qualified

to produce suitable and sufficient risk

assessment High risk or complex

buildings

– Skill, knowledge and training

(Theoretical and practical)

– Institution of Fire Engineers; Register

of Fire risk Assessors and Auditors

Fire Safety In Construction Sites – Training Video

Fire in Construction

Thank You

Fire Safety Order

Fire Risk Assessment

Presenter:

Roberto Demidio Dip RSA Grad IOSH MILM NDIPM CERTHSC RMASP MIFL SIIRM

What is a Fire Safety Audit?

• Assessing the current procedures and

working practices;

• Identifying significant findings;

• Using a structural logical review

process.

Where am I now?

• Procedures in place?

• Additional Resources required?

Can I carry out a FRA?

• Do I need an expert?

• Who is competent?

Competent Persons

The Competent Person(s) must have

“...sufficient training, experience and

knowledge....”

Ownership

• Manager;

• Supervisor;

• Co-ordinator;

• Staff.

All Involved

Encouraging Involvement

• Create fire safety culture;

• Ownership – everyone in the

organisation;

• Assess own areas – identifying

significant findings.

Delegation

Why Assessment Areas?

• Spreads the load;

• More manageable;

• People working in the area know what is

significant.

Significant Findings

Significant =

“important”

“considerable”

“having or expressing a meaning”

5 STEPS - Fire Risk Assessment

Step One

Document Checks

Fire certificate/Licence/Risk Assessment;

Building completion certificate;

Means of escape provision;

Step One

Document Checks continued...

Fire Doors;

Emergency lighting;

Fire detection & alarm systems;

Step One

Document Checks continued...

Fire extinguishers;

Hose reels;

Hydrants;

Step One

Document Checks continued...

Sprinkler system;

Contractors;

Mandatory notices & fire safety notices;

Arson & other incidents;

Step One

Example

• When was the fire certification/licence/risk assessment issued?

• Is the documentation available to be seen?

• Have any significant changes taken place since then? (eg construction, layout etc);

• If yes, have the appropriate authorities been informed?

• Have the changes been inspected?

Step Two

Training Log

• Personnel Policy – All Staff;

• Personnel Policy – Fire Wardens;

• New staff policy;

Step Two

Training Log continued...

• General staff training;

• Contractors;

• Visitors.

Step Two

Fire Warden - example

• Do you have nominated Fire Wardens?

• Is there a list of staff who perform the task of Fire Warden?

• Do Fire Wardens undertake specific training?

• Is this accurately documented?

Step Three

• Building profile;

• Flammable Substances;

• Combustible Materials;

• Interior Furnishings;

Step Three

• Heating Appliances;

• Electrical Appliances;

• Other sources of heat – Lighting &

Smoke.

Step Three...continued

• Occupancy profile

• Persons at risk

• Escape

- Special risk;

- Public;

- Asleep;

- Rooms;

- Corridors;

- Stairways;

- Areas ‘not normally

occupied’.

• Deliberate or suspicious ignition

Step Four

• Record

• Plan

• Train

Step Five

• Review

Follow a standard Approach

PAS 79:2012 Fire Risk

Assessments Guidance

Questions

Do you have any questions?