Fire statistics provided by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
A total of 484,700 fires were attended in the UK in the year ending September 2004.There were 48,300 accidental dwelling fires in the year ending September 2004.This is the lowest level recorded since the early 1970s.Deaths arising from fires in the UK for the year ending September 2004 were 566 fatalities.Injuries arising from fires in the UK run at approximately 9000 per year.
Source www.odpm.gov.uk
TOP TEN TIPS FOR FIRE SAFETY AT HOME & OFFICE
Fit a smoke alarm(s) in a suitable place and check it regularly.At work an appointed member of staff should be made responsible for this.
Do make a fire action plan so that everyone in your house or place of work, knows how to escape in the event of fire.This is a legal requirement in a workplace.
At home, take care when cooking with hot oil and think about using thermostatically controlled deep fat fryers.Kitchens in the workplace must be suitably equipped to deal with any hazards.
Never leave lit candles unattended.Never use naked flames in the workplace.
Ensure cigarettes are stubbed out and disposed of carefully.At work there should be a designated place for smokers with facilities to extinguish cigarettes or cigars.
At home, NEVER smoke in bed.
Keep matches and lighters away from children.They can be very attractive toys in a childs eye.
Keep clothing away from heating appliances both at home and at work.
Take care in the kitchen! Accidents whilst cooking account for nearly 60% of fires in the home.
Take special care when you are tired or when you've been drinking. Half of all deaths in domestic fires happen between 10pm and 8am.
At your workplace there should be someone appointed to ensure that any potential
fire hazards are minimised.
HOW TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER
P PULL THE PIN OUT
A AIM THE NOZZLE
S SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER
S SWEEP ACROSS THE BASE OF THE FIRE
HOW DOES A FIRE START?
Fire is essentially a chemical reaction between oxygen and fuel. A side effect of this reaction is heat. Oxygen, fuel and heat form what is known as the ‘Fire Triangle’. Without any one of these, it’s impossible to have fire.
Oxygen is all around us. Fuel can be solid (like wood or coal), liquid (petrol) or gas (butane, like fuel for a lighter or methane). To start the fire, the fuel has to be heated by something. A match, a bolt of lightening, or a spark from a shorting electrical contact may start a fire, as long as the heat they produce is enough to cause the fuel to reach its ignition point.
The heat produced will sustain a fire as long as there’s fuel and oxygen, so the fire will stay lit. The chemical reactions produce a lot of new heat, which also helps to keep the fire going. How hot the fire gets depends on how much oxygen there is available and how well the fuel burns.
Some common causes of fires and how to guard against them
Smoking. Smoking is still a major cause of fires in buildings. In the workplace consider having a ‘No Smoking’ policy. If this is not practical set aside a designated area for smokers and make sure a fire extinguisher is suitably located. At home make sure that you regularly empty ashtrays into the household rubbish, making sure that cigarettes are fully extinguished before doing so. NEVER smoke in your bedroom and check that all cigarettes are fully extinguished before going to bed. Consider the purchase of a small fire extinguisher for the home to compliment your household smoke alarm.
Cooking Never leave cookers or hobs unattended. A chip pan fire is one of the most common causes of domestic dwelling fires. Never use water on a chip pan fire use a suitable fire blanket that meets BS EN1869:1997 standard or a damp tea-towel. Only tackle a fire if you feel it is safe to do so. Make sure that everyone leaves the building by the safest exit and call the fire brigade.
Electrical faults Neglect and misuse of electrical wiring, fittings and equipment can easily cause fires in the workplace and home. Electrical circuits overheating, old wiring connections, using very old electrical appliances, multi-point adaptors and the use of extension leads are all hazards which often result in fires starting. Ensure that all electrical equipment and circuits in the workplace & home are regularly inspected and tested. (Note: at work there is a requirement to do this under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.) Any faults in wiring or fittings are repaired promptly by a qualified electrician, do not undertake this yourself. Switch off electrical equipment when it is not in use and particularly at the end of the day’s work. Computers left on over night not only consume electricity and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions but may overheat and cause a fire. At home don’t leave your electrical equipment on standby or leave portable heaters on when retiring to bed.
Rubbish and Waste Materials Do not allow rubbish and waste materials to build up, this can easily add to the spread of fire. Ensure that you clear all waste materials from the workplace and home in the appropriate manner. Do not start a bonfire, even if you think it is safe to do so. Bonfires can easily get out of control. If you start a bonfire, make sure you have a bucket of water nearby to douse the fire.
Combustible & Hazzardous Materials All combustible materials should be kept in a secure container, refrain from keeping items such as glues, varnishes, solvents or gas cylinders in the home. At work keep only the required amounts on the premises keeping the rest in a separate storage area away from any possible sources of ignition. Remember a gas cylinder can still explode even when empty if exposed to heat. Check with your company’s Health & Safety officer if you need to apply the Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied Petroleum Gases regulations 1972 to your company.
Heating Appliances Portable heaters can often be hazardous in the workplace and at home. Make sure they are not placed too close to soft furnishings. Convector heaters are generally safer than radiant fires. If you do need to use portable heaters make sure they are correctly positioned, do not plug them into extension leads or adapter sockets. Never allow any ventilation grilles to become obstructed by placing clothes near the heater to dry.
Arson The starting of deliberate fires is unfortunately inevitable and this type of fire is on the increase. approximately 52% of major fires in the UK are caused by arson. In the workplace check that all doors, windows are secured correctly, especially when it is closed at night and over the weekend. All waste materials and rubbish are easy targets for the arsonist, make sure that all such material is stored away and not left lying about where it can be easily ignited.
WHAT TYPE OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER DO I NEED?
The type of fire extinguisher you will need will depend on the type of fire that you may experience. As we are unable to visit your premises to advise you fully we recommend that you either contact us on 01903 761288 to discuss your requirements or contact your local Fire Officer based at your nearest fire station and they will be able to guide you on the best solution for your premises.
The number of extinguishers that you will require is calculated by the size of your premises and of course the risk involved.
The general guideline for, low risk premises, is one 9 litre Water or Foam extinguisher per 200 square metres or 2153 square feet. Current recommendations state that no person should be more that 30 metres from a fire extinguisher. An extinguisher for special risks such as CO2 will also be required for electrical or liquid fires.
EXAMPLE SITUATIONS:
Residential
Generally for domestic premises a 1 kg powder or 2 kg powder will normally suffice. A fire blanket should also be located in the kitchen, not above the cooker or boiler. Position the fire extinguisher in a hallway if practical or along your pre-planned escape route. Houses with thatched roofs must consult their insurer to check if there are any special requirements on their policy with regards to having an extinguisher on the premises. We also recommend that you install a smoke alarm to alert you to a fire hazard.
Industrial
For industrial premises there is a general mix of Powder and Foam extinguishers with CO2 for special risk fires. Your companies Health & Safety officer will assess your requirements along with a representative from the Health & Safety executive. Premises will have their own requirements depending on the type of business and risks involved.
Catering
This will obviously depend on the type of catering being carried out. CO 2 will be suitable for any electrical fires, Wet Chemical extinguishers are used for deep fat fryers, i.e. Fish & Chip, shops. Dry Powder is suitable for flammable gas appliances and a fire blanket is essential for hob fires.
Transport
Cars and small vans should be equipped with a 1 kg powder located near the driver. Larger and Heavy Goods Vehicles will be ‘goods’ specific and we cannot suggest what type or size extinguisher should be used.
Office
For each floor being occupied there should be at least a Water or Foam extinguisher and a special risk extinguisher such as a CO2 for electrical or liquid fires. Kitchens must also have a fire blanket.
Where should I site my fire extinguisher?
Ideally you should site your fire extinguisher somewhere obvious on the way out of the building along your escape route. It must have the corresponding identification sign next to it to prevent the incorrect extinguisher being used. The extinguisher should be wall mounted and easily accessible. Never try to tackle a fire if it has started to spread, make sure that everyone leaves the building closing doors behind them. Do not use lifts. Call 999. Stand a safe distance away from the premises. Do not under any circumstances re-enter the building. Do not site your fire extinguisher near any heat source such as radiators or boilers.
MAINTENANCE
It is a requirement that all extinguishers are service annually. They need to be tested and recharged. For many companies this will be a requirement by their insurers and failure to do so may result in insurance cover being withdrawn. Instructions accompanying the extinguisher will give advice on maintenance and general upkeep of your extinguisher. For maintenance and service we suggest that you contact your local fire safety officer who will recommend a local company to test and service your extinguisher.
