Fire Risk Assessment 4 Advice for B&B Owners The final word?
We have tried since the recent fire legislation was enacted to make some sense of the 'new' Fire Regulation Order as it applies to smaller accommodation providers and some common themes, from all the Fire and Rescue Services asked, have become apparent.
ALL Fire and Rescue Services place a high degree of importance on the businesses Fire Risk Assessment. It must be completed and it must be carried out by a 'competent person'. Some Services think that the business owner is not necessarily a 'competent person'.
Nearly all Services appear to want to work WITH business owners and keep them on board rather than alienate them by heavy handed attitudes towards compliance.
Very few Services mentioned action to ensure business compliance although a couple did say it as part of their policy to ensure compliance.
Most Services were happy to quote relevant passages on the published guidance to try and ensure compliance but as the guidance is what seems to have caused the problems in the first place that seemed rather pointless.
Further guidance is due in the Autumn of 2008 which I think may initially be a consultative document to allow for further input from interested parties, not least I hope smaller accommodation providers. It will also allow further input from Fire and Rescue Services some of which were not too happy about the new guidance. They considered that the 'guidance' was all there and a 'competent person' should be able to decipher the guidance and determine what exactly was required for that business.
Most Services seem to be taking a pragmatic approach to the requirement for a 'hard wired alarm' system. As an example:
A business that has say two ground floor rooms both of which open on to a garden/courtyard area via a French window would NOT in the opinion of most Services require a hard wired alarm. Conversely:
A business with two or three rooms of the ground and/or first floor with NO DIRECT EXIT would in most Service's opinion need a hard wired alarm.
It should be said here that all Services spoken to on this topic said that 'the businesses Fire Risk Assessment if carried out by a competent person should indicate (or not) the requirement for a hard wired system'.
Editor Sidebar
All Services that I spoke to about 'a radio network alarm system' in place of a hard wired system said that now a British Standard had been granted to such network systems they would be happy to accept such a system in a smaller premises. Again they referred to its requirement IF the Fire Risk Assessment determined that one was needed.
Most Services considered that 'sleeping accommodation' was 'high risk' as people are 'in an unfamiliar place' and are 'asleep' although no Service could point to any historic incidence of smaller accommodation providers being more prone to fire, in fact the opposite seemed true.
So what have we learned and what is the way forward?
- Carry out a Fire Risk Assessment.
- Act on the findings.
- Keep the document updated.
- Make sure you are a 'competent person.' (training?)
- Consider professional help if you think you need it.
- Consider also asking another operator to check or perform another Fire Risk Assessment on your premises (under a reciprocal agreement?) and compare results, What have you learned?
- Don't be afraid to question any Fire Officer's concerns about your premises or your Fire Risk Assessment.
- If your Fire Risk Assessment evidences remedial work produce an action plan on paper.
Investigate ways of keeping up with the game. (belonging to bandbowner.com is a good start!) - If you try, even if you fail, you will most likely not incur the wrath of your local Fire and Rescue Service.
Finally no one will ever blame you for trying. If you can evidence you have tried, even if you get things wrong, and you are prepared to learn from your mistakes then I think you will be warmly welcomed by your local Fire and Rescue Service who will try and put you on the straight and narrow.
Very finally when we at bandbowner.com hear of any proposed changes either to the published guidance or the Fire Regulation Order itself we will post the information on the www.bandbowner.com.