Safety of Occupants When a Fire Spreads throughout the Building - Case Study Example

Running Head: RISK ASSESSMENT Risk Assessment [Writer’s name] [Institution’s name] [Course title] [Date] Abstract This paper is based on case study of a community centre. It’s consists of two parts , the first part is based on how the community centre should follow the building regulation 2000 Document B so that the building can be safe for it’s occupants when a fire spreads throughout the building . B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5 of the above mentioned regulation are considered important in this part of the paper. Calculations of the width of emergency entrances and number of occupants are an essential part of this paper. The second part of the paper consists of a fire safety strategy; this plan is in compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (FSO). The strategy consists of fire safety training, evocation procedures and safety plans. It should be kept in mind that both parts of the paper revolve around the same case study. Risk Assessment Part 1 Introduction This report consists of risk assessment of the below given case. For this the following points shall be considered keeping in mind the building regulation 2000 Document B: Fire detection and warning system Automatic fire detection system Provision of escape at all times Provision of Fire Fighting Stability Of Structure Access to fire fighting services and facilities External and internal spared of fire. Case The Anywhere community centre in Preston offers people with a range of community support services. Theses services include care and counselling, and the provision of advocacy, advice and information and an education centre, which provides course for IT etc. The centre can also be used by the local community for other function such as weddings, religious meetings, family gatherings etc. following the success over the years new and bigger facilities are being planned. The new buildings will include the following facilities; a hall, a stage room, a chapel, offices, youth room, infant rooms, kitchen, oil stores, and other facilities. The Anywhere community centre have hired a consultant to advice on the preparation of their fire safety strategy the planning authorities have stated that permission will be granted only subject to brining the exiting buildings up to the standard demanded by Morden building regulations. Building Regulations 2000: Document B Building Other Then Dwelling Houses Or Codes Building regulations document B other then dwelling houses is set of regulations, which give complete guideline about to construct safe buildings. It is used to make ensure that the risk of injuries and deaths during the event of a fire is reduced. The anywhere community centre will have to be constructed according to these regulations. The centre is will be constructed according to B1, B2, B3, B4 and B 5 of the regulations. And it complies with these different aspects of fire safety that must be considered by the building designer. The construction will have to be done in such a manner that the internal spared of fire, external spread of fire, automatic fire diction system, means of escape, provision of escape at all times, provision of fire fighting, stability of structure, access to fire fighting services and facilities carefully considered according to the above mentioned regulations. The construction will have to follow the regulation in order to avoid any adverse effects due to the spared of fire. The building can only be safe enough for it’s occupants if they follow the regulations. Number Of Occupants Per Room ROOM WIDTH OF ROOM FACTOR AS PER DOC B Table C1 CALCULATED NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS Hall 9.16m 0.5/m2 156 Stage Room 9.16m 1.5/m2 29 Infant Room 4.58m 1.0/m2 22 Youth Room 4.58m 1.0/m2 39 Chapel 4.58m 0.5/m2 78 Store 2.00m 30/m2 1 Kitchen 2.5m 7.0/m2 2 Entrance lounge 4.58m 1.0/m2 39 Office 4.58 6.0/m2 4 B1Means of Warning And Escape As per document B1 of the building regulations 2000 For the purposes of the Building Regulations, occupants should a fire occur1. The assessment the following are not acceptable as means should take into account the nature of the building of escape: portable ladders and throw-out ladders; and of fire safety management proposed. Where it is not possible to identify with any certainty. there are routes of sufficient number and to other parts of the building, usually along the capacity, which are suitably located to enable circulation routes. the routes are adequately lit; lobbies or stairways, the exits are suitably signed; and combustible content of such areas is restricted. “The escape routes from any storey should be of such a number and so situated that the distance of travel from any point to the nearest storey exit does not exceed the appropriate limits” 2 Thus it can be said that the easy access to the emergency according to approved document B will have to considered by the designer of the community centre so that the building can be safe for it’s occupants. As per the floor plan the width of the escape door as to be about 1500 mm The maximum number of people as per the width of exits is more than 220 as the width is approximately 1050 As the total occupation of the building is only 331, thus three exits and one portable ladder in the balcony is more than enough. Provisions Escape At All Times The community centre should follow all provisions of escape at all times. For the best provision for the community centre is: The routes are sufficiently protected from that the fire may start in the structure; there are chances that it may start from open areas. The escape door of the community centre should remain open at all times As shown in the floor map below there is not a lot of distance between the room and the two escape entrances. It can also bee seen that there are no obstacles on the way to the emergency exit. B2. Internal Spread of Fire In order to stop the fire from spreading inside the community centre and to avid risks of death and injury the internal linings will have to be: (a) Extremely resistant to the fire if it spreads over the community centre’s surfaces; (b) If there is fire there ash to be a way to release the heat which is practical in such risky situation. Here internal linings mean the materials lining of any kind of partition, such as the wall or ceiling. After taking into consideration, the floor map of the community centre it is evaluated that B3 of the building regulation 2000 is very essential. The following provisions will have to follow. Fire Detection System For the community centre to be safe from fire, it is necessary that is, follows the building regulations and installs appropriate fire detection systems. . KIND OF AUTOMATIC DETECTOR NUMBER LOCATION Fire detector 9 Kitchen, store, entrance lounge, lobby, stage room, youth room, chapel, open space right under the balcony. Automatic sprinklers 6 Store, entrance lounge, stage room , balcony , open space right under the balcony Smoke Detector 5 Hall, store, open space right under the balcony, oil storage, boiler room Automatic Fire Fighting Systems As per the floor plan of the community centre, it can be seen that only person shouting fire as an alarm. A manual device like a gong is not a suitable choice, as it cannot inform the people in the building when it is used from only one corner of the community centre, the community centre will have to have an electrical fire warning system so that the risk of death and injury can be reduced.3 The following is the kind of fire detection system, which the community centre requires: • Manual call points should be utilized near the exit doors of the community centre. • Sirens or bells used for detection in the community centre should be electronic. How ever the community centre will just need a few interconnected manual call points along with sounders. There should be smoke alarm in the circulation space within 7.5m of the door to every habitable room.4 If the community centre has spaces from where a fire might spread without being detected such as a store rooms, then it might be essential to improve the community centre’s fire-warning system to fit in a automatic fire detection. In a number of circumstances, this may be a series of smoke alarms that are carefully interconnected through risk assessment of the community centre and this method has been found to be the best way of fire detection. If the system does not detect the fire, in order to avoid the risk of injuries and death, the management should make sure that the people in the community centre are warned and escape safely. The community centre should keep back up of the detection systems as well like gongs, whistles or air horns, however it is important that the staff is given proper training, this maybe suitable till the automatic detection system are not repaired5. The fire warning sound levels should be kept at the maximum level so that everyone in the centre can escape easily, background noise should be considered while setting the level of sound, every sound system in the community centre must be muted as soon as the fire alarm rings. In areas inside the community centre where background noise cannot be controlled the audible warning must also have visual alarms6. The following circumstances requires the community centre to have such a detection system, these are as follows: The store and boiler room and are isolated and cannot receive the warning of the fire when after it has spread thus they require smoke detectors, automatic fire detectors and sprinklers The community centre’s automatic fire detection system should: • be designed in such a way that when a fire is ignited the emergency evacuation procedure can be followed; • It should be able to give an automatic indication throughout the community centre that a fire has; • The systems should be maintained as well as tested by experts or by the company who have expertise in this field. Automatic sprinklers will also be put in places where there is little population like the stores. Provision of Fire Fighting Number of extinguishers should be provided on every floor as any one of floors especially the ground floor is of significant risk of fire and, on the contrary, this approach will let the community centre help. In finding out which employee is trained to utilize the extinguishers. B3. Internal Fire Spread (structure) (1) The community centre will have to be build in such manner at after a fire it maintains it’s stability. Compartments NUMBER OF COMPARTMENTS LOCATION 1 Lounge entrance Compartments will be made in the between the entrance and lounge by means of shaft to avoid spread of fire. (a) sub-division of the building with fire-resisting construction; (b) Installation of suitable automatic fire suppression systems. (4) The building shall be designed and constructed so that the unseen spread of fire and smoke within concealed spaces in its structure and fabric is inhibited7 Stability Of Structure UK Building Regulations” The building shall be designed and constructed such that, in the event of a fire, its stability will be maintained for a reasonable period” 8 In order to maintain stability of the structure the external wall has to be about 20 m. Fire resistance; the maximum dimensions provided above have been set in order to limit the distance. 9 it has unprotected rafters and centre tiles are used which help to prevent the spread of fire. As given in the house plans external walls are also according to the building regulation 2000 as it has used metal frame and cavities up to 275 mm and inner apart for them concrete bricks are used. Ventilation is also provided as per regulations. And the inner leaf is at least 100mm thick whereas the regulation requires at least 75mm thick. As for the internal walls are also made of concrete bricks which is also as per the regulations. The windows have glazing thus they are according to the regulations as well , the fact that the house plan has roof lights it too is according to the regulation. As for the floor of the community centre the use of concrete is according to the building regulation however the use of fabric for reinforcement is wrong. B4. External Fire Spread To avoid the risks of death and injury in the community centre due to external fire spared the following points should be considered: The external walls of the community centre will have to effectively stop the fire from spreading over the walls and nearby buildings as well, for this it is necessary that the height, use and location of the community centre is considered. The roof of the community should be able to efficiently stop the fire from spreading over the roof and from one building to another, for this also, it is necessary that the height, use and location of the community centre is considered10. B5 Access and Facilities for the Fire Service The community centre should have access and facilities for the fire service for this it should consider: According to document B, B5 (1) The building will have to be built in such manner that fire fighter have easy access (2) Measures will be taken allow fire appliances to get access to the community centre.11 Part 2 Fire Safety Plan for the Community Centre Due to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (FSO), the community centre should be designed with a rational approach and the management should do a risk assessment, the risk assessment gave a clear idea of what the safety plan should be like. People at risk The anywhere community centre has 331 members; every member is at risk when a fire takes place. How ever the people who area at the most risks should be trained. The infants in the infant room are at the greatest as they are too small to understand the and risk of a fire hazard. The people using the kitchen is also at great risk as most of the combustible material is present there, slight carelessness could lead to huge fire. Apart from this people who are hired to take the inventory of the store and check the boiler room are also at great risk Identifying hazards Identifying the hazards is the most important part of the risk assessment plan. At the community centre the hazards are present in the kitchen and boiler room as they both have combustible material apart from this even the youth room may have hazards many young people like to smoke so it could be possible that when the room is empty it is used by the youth for smoking purposes. Protection from hazards In order to protect the members and staff from the hazards , fire detectors will be placed in the Kitchen, store, entrance lounge, lobby, stage room, youth room, chapel, open space right under the balcony. Fire extinguisher will be place right outside every room in the community centre. A compartment will be made dividing the lounge so that the spread of fire can be prevented. Automatic sprinklers will be fitted in Store, entrance lounge, stage room, balcony, open space right under the balcony. Smoke Detector will be put up in Hall, store, open space right under the balcony, oil storage, boiler room. Fire Safety Training In order to protect their staff from the risk of death and injury at times of fire the community centre fire safety strategy and procedures will have to train their staff and regular member as well The staff and members will be tried to use the fire extinguishers apart from this they w ill also be trained about hoe to exit from the emergency entrance. The new members and staff will be given a tour of the community centre specifically pointing out where the emergency exits, and manual call points are. All members and staff will be trained on how help the disabled get out when a fire occurs Review The risk assessment should identify the risks and people at risk and also give ways of preventing the hazard. In this case the staff and members of the community centre are the ones at risk, they should be properly trained and measures should be taken to detect any fire that take place the minute it is ignited. Important Recommendations: Fire safety plan for each community center building shall contain the following information: After the risk assessment is carried out, the floor plans will be sketched and exact locations for the manual call points and fire detectors will be marked. Fire drills will be planned apart from this the risk assessment report will be given to management of the management. Conclusion For any building to be passed by the planning authority, it is very necessary that it follow the building regulations of 2000. Apart from this, a risk assessment is an important part of any new project, because without it the project may be full of blunders and people’s life may be at stake. Bibliography Andrew Furness, Martin Muckett; Introduction to Fire Safety Management: The Handbook for Students on NEBOSH and Other Fire Safety Courses Other Fire Safety Courses Butterworth-Heinemann, (2007) p357 retrieved from books.google.com.pk/books?isbn=0750680687 on 4th February 2009 Colin Todd ; A Comprehensive Guide to Fire Safety , BSI British Standards Institution; 3rd edition 2008 p 35 Communities And Local Government; Approved Document B (Fire safety) – Volume 2 - Buildings other than dwelling houses (2006 Edition) 2006 NBS Publishing Daniel E. Della-Giustina; The Fire Safety Management Handbook, Second Edition 2003 p 12 ASSE publications Great Britain. Home Office ; Fire Safety: An Employer's Guide (HSE books) 2000 p 10Stationery Office Books Ian Coombes & Patrick Cox; NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management Study Book 2007 p 17 RMS Publishing Pete Muir ; The New Fire Safety Legislation 2006 A Practical Guide, 2007 p 23 RICS Books Appendix (table c1floor space factors) Type Of Accommodation Floor Space Factor m²/person Standing spectator areas, bar areas (within 2m of serving point) similar refreshment areas 0.3 Amusement arcade, assembly hall (including a general purpose place of assembly), bingo hall, club, crush hall, dance floor or hall, venue for pop concert and similar events and bar areas without fixed seating 0.5 Concourse, queuing area or shopping mall 0.7 Committee room, common room, conference room, dining room, licensed betting office (public area), lounge or bar (other than in _ above), meeting room, reading room, restaurant, staff room or waiting room 6.0 . Exhibition hall or studio (film, radio, television, recording) 0.5 Skating rink 2.0 Shop sales area 2.0 Art gallery, dormitory, factory production area, museum or workshop 5.0 office 6.0 Shop sales area 7.0 Kitchen or library 7.0 Bedroom or study-bedroom 8.0 Bed-sitting room, billiards or snooker room or hall 10.0 Storage and warehousing 30.0 Car park Two person per car parking space Notes: 1. As an alternative to using the values in the table, the floor space factor may be determined by reference to actual data taken from similar premises. Where appropriate, the data should reflect the average occupant density at a peak trading time of year. 2. Where accommodation is not directly covered by the descriptions given, a reasonable value based on a similar use may be selected. 3. Where any part of the building is to be used for more than one type of accommodation, the most onerous factor(s) should be applied. Where the building contains different types of accommodation, the occupancy of each different area should be calculated using the relevant space factor. 4. Refer to section 4 of BS 5588-_0:_99_ Code of practice for shopping complexes for detailed guidance on the calculation of occupancy in common public areas in shopping complexes. 5. For detailed guidance on appropriate floor space factors for concourses in sports grounds refer to “Concourses” 6. Alternatively the occupant capacity may be taken as the number of fixed seats provided, if the occupants will normally be seated. 7. Shops excluding those under item _0, but including - supermarkets and department stores (main sales areas), shops for personal services such as hairdressing and shops for the delivery or collection of goods for cleaning, repair or other treatment or for members of the public themselves carrying out such cleaning, repair or other treatment. 8. Shops (excluding those in covered shopping complexes but including department stores) trading predominantly in furniture, floor coverings, cycles, prams, large domestic appliances or other bulky goods, or trading on a wholesale self-selection basis (cash and carry). Floor plan of anywhere community center Read More