Fire engineering solutions
The four main types of fire risk assessments
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all owners of non-domestic premises must take action to reduce the risk of fire and keep visitors and employees safe from potential harm. The order was updated by the Fire Safety Act 2021 to clarify that the assessments must cover external walls, including cladding and flat entrance doors in multi-occupied buildings. The act also requires the ‘responsible person’ to ensure these elements are included. There are four main types of fire risk assessments:
Type 1 fire risk assessments
The most common type of inspection, the Type 1 fire risk assessment focuses on shared spaces in most purpose-built blocks of flats, such as corridors and stairwells to ensure clear escape routes and that all fire safety equipment and measures are functioning correctly. It’s a ‘non-destructive’ visual-only assessment, without the need to access individual flats – unless there is an overriding concern regarding health and safety issues, or arrangements have been made to view a tenant’s front door, for example.
Type 2 fire risk assessments
Similarly covering the common parts of the building, Type 2 involves an element of destructive inspection, such as the small-scale opening of panels or lifting floorboards to check hidden compartmentation or fire-stopping measures, normally carried out by a competent fire risk assessor or contractor. A Type 2 fire risk assessment is not commonly used as standard and only when serious structural issues are suspected that need further investigation to prevent the spread of fire through a building.
Type 3 fire risk assessments
This inspection extends beyond the communal areas of a residential building to include individual flats. Non-destructive, the Type 3 fire risk assessment consider the means of fire detection, escape routes and the compartmentation between flats. These are normally used when it is believed there is a potential fire risk in a dwelling and can be more difficult to arrange in occupied premises or those under leasehold ownership. It gives a more comprehensive understanding of resident safety than a Type 1.
Type 4 fire risk assessments
A more comprehensive version, the Type 4 fire risk assessment covers both common parts of a building and individual flats where there are serious fire safety concerns. This is a destructive inspection, with a search for possible defects in compartmentation or building materials that involves opening walls, ceilings and floor – all needing to be repaired afterwards by a contractor. It may cause disruption to residents but provides the highest level of fire safety assurance.
Construction Phase Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) (HSG 168)
To legally manage fire safety in premises that are being built, the Construction Phase Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) (HSG 168) needs to be conducted by a ‘responsible person’. Article 3 of the Fire Safety Order defines a responsible person as:
- The employer – if it’s a workplace that the employer controls
- The person in control – if they run a business, activity or organisation there, whether for profit or not
- The owner – if no other person using the building for work or business has control
The responsible person may change throughout the project’s duration of the project, for example in many cases it will be the principal contractor during the construction phase.
Five steps to undertake a fire risk assessment
What is a fire strategy report?
A package of fire safety information must be created and given to the responsible person when a property has been built, extended or undergone a material change of use, to comply with Building Regulations. This fire strategy report is a technical document that sets the basis for fire safety control measures from the design of a building – it is not a fire safety plan or an evacuation plan or procedure. At Fire Consultancy Services, our experts have years of experience in creating these essential documents. We review all architect drawings and legislative guidance, carry out a full desktop review of the information provided and complete a familiarisation visit before writing a fire strategy report. The report will include an analysis of the following inn accordance with Approved Document B or equivalent:
B1: The means of warning – an analysis of the standard of fire detection the premises requires for the quickest possible arrival of the fire and rescue service.
B2: The means of escape – we analyse and record the travel distances involved and whether the proposed escape routes leading to a place of safety are sufficient for everyone at risk in the premises. This includes the provision of emergency and external lighting and signs to aid escape.
B3: Internal fire spread/passive fire protection – we identify and propose the level of internal protection required along escape routes (including protected routes, fire doors, the treatment of service penetrations and joints in construction). This ensures that vital fire separation is achieved to aid safe evacuation and meet other fire safety objectives, including those required by Building Regulations. Specific lining requirements to ensure that surface flame spread is effectively minimised should also be considered.
B4: External fire spread – we analyse the degree of further damage should the fire spread externally via break-out zones, across roofs, cladding or other materials used on the external envelope, or through the transfer of heat to adjacent buildings.
B5: Access/facilities for the fire and rescue service – we ensure all provisions satisfy both the Building Regulations and the local fire authority’s requirements. This includes reviewing external vehicle access and hydrants – and establishing if rising fire mains, access points and firefighting lifts are needed.
Other factors to consider – these may include the use of sprinkler or other suppression systems and smoke control and ventilation systems. Their implementation may be used to compensate in a building with increased risks present, such as extended travel distances, limited means of escape or significant life risk. Fire strategies are usually created during the building’s design stage, alongside the architectural plans, to be submitted to building control. It sets out the permitted occupancy and explains how occupants can escape through horizontal and vertical means of escape. It also outlines the fire-resistant sections, or compartmentation, to help contain fire and smoke. Not just for new builds, a retrospective fire strategy document can also be created for existing buildings. Each fire safety assessment must follow this vital reference point and cannot deviate from it.
Who can create a fire strategy?
Fire strategies must be created by competent fire safety engineers with the right qualifications and experience. Here at FCS, we have extensive experience of building design and fire safety regulations.
Next steps for your building’s fire strategy
Ensure your buildings has an updated – or retrospective – fire strategy and follow these steps:
- Check the strategy reflects the building’s current use, layout and fire safety features
- Regularly review the document and share it with your fire risk assessor
- A suitable fire risk assessment, based on the fire strategy, will help the building’s responsible owner to meet their duties under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
What can you expect from working with Fire Consultancy Specialists?
Our in-depth fire safety advise is trusted by a wide range of clients across the UK in sectors including education, student accommodation, social housing, healthcare, commercial property and hotels and leisure. Our technical expertise is backed up by our knowledge of fire safety legislation. We are highly experienced in providing fire engineering solutions, fire risk assessments and essential fire strategy reports.
Contact us today to talk to one of our fire safety experts
We strive to be in constant communication with our clients. To discuss, just drop us a line. We look forward to working with your business.