Fire Safety Flashcards

1
Q

What does the The Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 set out to achieve?

A

Provides a framework for regulating fire safety in all non-domsetic premises and parts of multi-occupied resi buildings.

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2
Q

Can you name a key conclusion from the Dame Judith Hackitt review Building Regs and Fire Safety?

A

A whole building approach to fire safety was required identifying the following areas for further consideration:
- Identificatioin of the Responsible Person and assurance that they undderstand and are competant to carry out their duties.
- Need to update guidance which supports legislation of the responsible person.

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3
Q

What are the responsiblities of the Responsible Person under the Fire Safety Order?

A
  • The premises reach the required standards
  • Employees are provided with adequate fire safety training
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4
Q

What are the required standards under the Fire Safety Order?

A

It depends on the building in question, however details can be foind on the GOV.UK website for Fire Safety in the Workplace where building specific sub sections are available.

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5
Q

Who can undertake Fire Risk Assessments?

A

A competent person.

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6
Q

What is a Fire Risk Assessment?

A

An assessment of the risk and hazards in a non-domestic premises pertaining to Fire.

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7
Q

In addition to FRA’s what is the responsible person required to do?

A
  • Consider who may be especially at risk/ vulnerable.
  • Eliminate or reduce the risk of fire as far as reasonably practical.
  • Provide general fire precautions to deal with any risk
  • Create a plan to deal with any emergency and where necessary record any findings.
  • Maintain facilities provided for use by firefighters
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8
Q

Can you briefly tell me about Approved Document B?

A
  • Appoved Doc B was initially issued in 2019 with amendments in 2020 and 2022.
  • Sets out guidlines to comply with the Building Regulations 2010 in regards to Fire.
  • Has 5 overarching requirements relating to:
    B1: Means of warning and escape
    B2: Internal fire spread (linings)
    B3: Internal fire spread (structure)
    B4: External fire spread
    B5: Access and facilities for the fire service
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9
Q

What is the maximum escape/travel distance under approved doc B?

A

This depends on the use of the premises, however, for office buildings, this is 18m to the nearest single point of exit.

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10
Q

What is the difference between an active and passive fire safety system?

A

Active - is about detecting stopping and escaping fire e.g. sprinklers
Passive - containing and preventing the spread of fire. e.g. intumescent strips or coatings

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11
Q

What is included within a Fire Risk Assessment?

A
  • All common areas
  • The Fire Safety Act clarifies where the building contains 2 or more domestic dwellings the FRA must include the building structure, external walls and flat entrance doors.
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12
Q

When were the Fire Safety Act incorporated into the Fire safety order?

A

2021

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13
Q

What did the fire safety act bring about?

A

Requirement for external elements and flat doors of multi tenanted domestic buildings to be included in FRA’s.

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14
Q

What is the difference between a fire risk and a fire hazard?

A

Fire hazard refers to the condition or material that has a potential to cause a fire or contribute to the spread of fire.

Fire Risks refers to the likelihood of a fire occurring combined with the potential consequences if a fire does occur. takes into account probability and potential impact.

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15
Q

When did Grenfell occur?

A

14 June 2017

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16
Q

How often should FRA’s be undertaken?

A
  • After any alterations
  • Change of occupation
  • The FSO states reviewed regularly and updated when required
  • Gov guidance for purpose built blocks of flats recommends a variance depending on risk i.e. height and age of building.
17
Q

What is a fire strategy?

A

A technical document that sets the basis for fire safety control measures from the design of a building.

18
Q

What is included within a fire strategy?

A

Similar structure to that in approved doc
- means of warning
- means of escape
- internal fire spread/passive fire protection
- access for fire safety services etc

19
Q

What should you do if a building doesnt have a fire strategy due to its age?

A

Undertake a retrospective fire strategy

20
Q

What are the key dates following Grenfell fire?

A
  • public enquiry - july 2017
  • Dame judith hackett report published may 2018
  • Building Safety Act granted 2022
21
Q

Who are the new bodies created from BSA 2022?

A
  • BSR
  • National regulator of construction projects
  • New homes ombudsman
22
Q

What is the BSR responsible for?

A

in short they are the building control of all higher risk buildings.

23
Q

What are the Gateways and what do they set to achieve?

A
  • Ensure safety is considered throughout design and construction life cycle
  • ## help with a goilden thread of info
24
Q

Name the tree gateways?

A
  • G1 - Planning Gateway
  • G2 - Prior to construction - building regs sign off
  • G3 - before PC to provide BSR completion cert.
25
Q

What are the three notices available to enforce under new BSA 2022?

A
  • Compliance notice
    -Stop notice
  • Notice requiring reinstatement
26
Q

When were the transitional period for the new building safety regime?

A

1st Oct 2023 - 6th April 2024

Notice must have been given prior to 1st oct and a meaningdul start must have been achieved by 6th apr, to continue on previous framework.

27
Q

What is PAS 9980?

A

PAS 9980 is a new code of practice for appraising the fire risk of external wall construction and cladding on blocks of flats. Takes a propportional approach to building safety.

28
Q

What is an EWS-1 form?

A

EWS 1 form is a document that proves the external wall system has been assessed for safety by a suitable expert.

It provides assurance to lenders, valuers and stakeholders.

29
Q

What are the different category of fire alarm?

A

BS 5839 states three types:
Category P (1-2)- protects property
Category L (1-5)- protects life
Category M - manual operation only i.e. break glass units

Category LD - domestic premises

30
Q

What are the euroclass fire performance ratings?

A

Categorise construction products on fire performance.

A-F on combustibility
S 1-3 on smoke
d 0-2 on drip factor

31
Q

Why is euroclass used over british class?

A

As british classifications only assess the surface spread of flame and not the system together.

32
Q

What is BS9999?

A

British standard that provides best practice guidance on the design, management and use of buildings to acheive acceptable levels of fire safety.

33
Q

Difference between ADB and BS9999?

A

ABD is a fixed guidance vs BS9999 is a flexible approach

BS9999 provides a more flexibile holisstic approach to fire safety and can be used on more atypical complex buildings.

The standard is based off a risk based structure that will take into account measures to offset shortfalls.

34
Q

What did the Fire Safety Act 2021 introduce?

A
  • Requirement for external wall systems to be included on high rise resi FRA
  • it clarifies the responsibles person roles for multi tenanted residential bioilding