As a building occupier in the UK, it’s essential to be aware of and comply with fire safety regulations to ensure the safety of occupants and the building itself. One way that the fire brigade ensures compliance is through random check-ups. In this blog post, we’ll go over what a building occupier can expect when the fire brigade arrives for a random check-up, and what steps can be taken to prepare for such an inspection.
When the fire brigade arrives for a random check-up, they will typically start by reviewing the building’s fire safety plan, including any evacuation plans, fire risk assessments, and fire safety records. To make sure these records are accessible and can be produced within a few minutes of their arrival, a digital fire logbook is recommended. They will also inspect the building’s fire protection systems, such as fire alarms, sprinklers, and fire extinguishers, to ensure that they are in working order.
The fire brigade may also perform a walk-through of the building to check for potential fire hazards, such as blocked exits, combustible materials, and other safety concerns. During this walk-through, they may also ask to see any fire safety training records for employees and check that the fire exits and emergency lighting are functioning correctly.
Additionally, the fire brigade may request to see any records of fire safety maintenance and testing, such as the records of any fire alarm system testing, sprinkler system testing, and fire extinguisher maintenance – the recommended format for your records is a digital fire logbook.
To prepare for a random check-up, building occupiers can take the following steps:
- Switch to a digital fire logbook and upload your building’s fire safety documents to the central storage.
- Review and update your fire safety plan and evacuation plans, ensure that they are up-to-date and all employees are familiar with them.
- Make sure that all fire protection systems, such as fire alarms, sprinklers, and fire extinguishers, are in working order and that records of their maintenance and testing are up-to-date.
- Conduct regular fire safety training for employees and keep records of the training.
- Ensure that all exits, emergency lighting, and escape routes are clear and functioning correctly.
- Make sure that any hazardous materials are stored safely, and that flammable materials are stored properly.
Keep all relevant fire safety records, such as fire risk assessments, fire safety plans, and fire safety maintenance and testing records, in an easily accessible location.
Overall, it’s essential for building occupiers to be prepared for a random check-up from the fire brigade. By taking steps to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations, building occupiers can minimise the risk of fire and ensure the safety of occupants and the building.
In summary, a random check-up from the fire brigade can be unannounced, and it can be stressful for a building occupier, however, by keeping fire safety plan, all fire protection systems, training records and any other relevant fire safety records up to date, a building occupier can minimise any potential issues and keep the building and occupants safe.