Media Building Fire Safety Management Plan - Literature review Example

Media building fire safety mаnаgеmеnt рlаn Name Institution Course Date Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Fire safety policy statement 3 Fire safety management structure 3 Evacuation strategies 4 Emergency response 4 Fire alarm and detection 4 Sprinkler system 5 Fire prevention and arson awareness 5 Routine procedures for staff 6 Selection and control of materials 6 Maintenance and testing of fire safety systems 6 Decoration, alterations and extensions 7 Staff training and fire drills 7 Fire risk assessments 8 Record keeping 8 Audit and updating of this manual 9 References 10 Introduction Fire occurrences are one of the most tragic accidents that can ever happen to an individual or an organization. It is therefore the responsibility of each individual or organization to make sure that there is a clear guide on how to prevent and stop fire occurrence (Beard, 2005). This gives the University of Central Lancashire every legal responsibility to make sure that it has an appropriate fire safety plan according to all the rules and regulation about fire as stated in the RR (FS) O 2005 act. The university has also to follow and make sure that they are in line with the rules and regulations of fire prevention and safety as stated by the Department of Communities and Local Government (Office, 2006). The university is thus to ensure the safety of every employee, student and every person that enters the university premises. There is also a requirement that the university should ensure that all students and employees are trained in dealing with fire in case it strikes. Fire safety policy statement It is the policy of the University of Central Lancashire to ensure that all staff, students, visitors and members of the public are protected from the risk of fire (Egan, 1978). The university will also carry out fire assessments and identify, implement and maintain appropriate fire control measures. All university buildings will also be assessed to ensure that they comply with the statutory requirements (HM Government, 2007). All staff, students, contractors and visitors will also be equipped with sufficient and appropriate fire awareness instruction and training. Fire safety management structure Fire safety and management section will have a team that will be looking into the issues regarding fire safety. The team will be organized in a structure that will help them to accomplish all the objectives of the fire safety and management department (British Standards, 2004). The team will have a manager that will be overseeing all the activities of the team. The team will also have fire marshals and wardens who will be dealing with all fire safety activities. Evacuation strategies During a fire outbreak, individuals should run to the nearest fire exit from the building. They should also not concentrate on using the same exit if they are many people (Beard, 2005). This scenario can cause them to be late for evacuation, which can cause loss of life. During the evacuation, the fire marshals should sound the fire alarm (Jacobs, 2000). They should then look out for the disabled individuals and help them out as soon as possible. The fire marshals should also open other exit routes that always locked. Emergency response Fire instances in the university are monitored by the fire safety and management department. In the event of fire or a fire alarm, the fire wardens will evacuate the building in the prescribed manner. The nearest fire brigade services will be informed of the emergency after which evacuation from the building will be done in accordance with the set rules and procedures. Individuals will then gather at the fire assembly for statistics to be taken. Any individual with the knowledge of fire fighting can attempt to put out the fire using the available fire extinguisher. Fire alarm and detection Fire alarms will be located in open areas where anybody can easily see them. However, they need to be placed at heights that will not allow children to play with them as they can cause panic when accidentally pressed. When the fire alarm is heard, the fire wardens will evacuate the building and try to detect the exact place the fire began and notify individuals of the section affected with the fire. There will be automatic sensors that will enable detect fire automatically if the temperatures of the place go beyond a certain temperature range. The sensors will also be detecting any smoke and light beams in the building. Sprinklers will also be located at the top of the building. In case they start pouring water, it will be an indicator of a fire at the top of the building and will require attention. Sprinkler system The building will be fitted with a sprinkler system that will be turning on automatically in the event of a fire. The sprinklers will help deal with the fire from the top of the building at heights that are difficult for fire fighters to reach. The sprinkler system also helps in situations where a fire may begin at the top of the building without anybody’s knowledge. The sprinklers will automatically start operating when the temperatures reach at a certain temperature according to the settings set. Fire prevention and arson awareness As a means of preventing fire occurrences, there should be rules that regulate the individuals that deal with lighting and fire related materials. There should be rules to prohibit smoking in any of the premises compound or building (Beard, 2005). All the types of fire extinguishers should be easily accessible so that any small fire can be put out immediately to avoid risks of having a more serious fire erupting. The building should be fitted with firewalls and fire doors to prevent fire from spreading fast (Carter et al., 2007). There should be the presence of fire and smoke curtains in the building. This will help reduce the possibility of the fire spreading at a faster rate in the building. The building should also be fitted with cavity fire barriers, in tumescent sealing system, fire rated dampers and ductworks (BSI British Standards, 2008). All this will help reduce the chances of the fire spreading at a faster speed in the building. Individuals who attempt arson will be punished according to the rules in the fire prevention act. Individuals should also look out for anybody with the motive of doing arson and report such individuals. Routine procedures for staff In the event of a fire outbreak, it should staff routine for staff members to evacuate the building and gather at the fire assembly point to count the number of individuals and ensure that all people are present (Cote & Association, 2003). Staff should be trained to know all the shortest escape routes to be used as the exit. Staff should also help strangers to evacuate through the shortest paths possible. Visitors on arrival should be issued with manuals having information about the easiest escape routes. Selection and control of materials Combustible materials shall not be kept at places they can easily catch fire. Such materials will be kept away in a secure room. Materials will be controlled such that they will not be found along exits and escape routes (Wakamatsu & Science, 1989). Fire fighting materials will be kept in open places where they can be easily accessible with many people. This ensures easy and quick fire fighting before the fire can spread to a bigger area. Maintenance and testing of fire safety systems Fire safety systems and equipment should always be kept in good condition. The team of fire marshals shall be inspecting all the equipment to ensure that they are up to date and can be used at any time without problems. Fire extinguishers should be refilled in case they are used in any case. The fire extinguishers should also be inspected on a regular basis according to the rules and regulations of fire brigades. Alarm system and the sprinklers should also be inspected regularly to ensure that they are in good working condition. Decoration, alterations and extensions The team of fire marshals should be inspecting the building to eliminate any irrelevant decorations such as hanging clothing and stings on the walls. Such things increase the risk of the building catching fire. Decorations should altogether be avoided. This is because they increase the surface area over which fire can burn. Alterations to the position of items in the building should be avoided (Beard, 2005). Positions such as those for fire extinguishers and the positions of exit routes should be maintained. Positions of keys to doors and routes that do not open on a regular basis should be kept constant and should not be altered (BSI British Standards, 2008). Alteration of such things cause confusion during evacuation and can be the cause of someone being trapped inside the building. Extensions of such things like curtains and hanging clothing should be avoided inside the building. Such things can easily be the cause of a fire in case a flame is exposed to them. Staff training and fire drills All staff should be trained to be in a position to act on their own in the event of a fire outbreak. Staff should be trained on how to use all types of fire extinguishers found in the building (Division, 2006). Staff should also be trained on the procedures to be followed when evacuating the building in the event of a fire. Seminars should be organized for staff to teach them on the various ways of dealing with all types of fires (Friedman,1998). Fire marshals should also provide manuals on how to deal with fire. Fire drills should be done at least once per year. This will keep staff members up to date with the latest changes in the sector on how to deal with different kinds of fires. Fire risk assessments Fire risk will be analysed by the chief fire marshal every year to note the possible points that can result into a fire. Such points are to be dealt with to reduce the level of risk of getting a fire started. The fire marshals will also be evaluating the total cost that can be incurred if a fire starts and consumes the buildings (Beard, 2005). You should also asses the people you see to be most at risk if a fire breaks out. Special consideration should be given to the disabled people. They should be put into departments that are near exit places (Purcell, 2004). Assessments will also be conducted by the insurance company to see the risk if a fire starts. The risk will then be rated using the risk score calculator. Record keeping After a risk assessment, there is need to record all the hazards and areas you have noted to be potential risks in causing a fire. One should also record the steps and actions taken to reduce on the likelihood of the risk happening (Cote & Bugbee, 1988). The fire marshals should also record weekly tests of fire alarms, call pints, fire doors and emergency lighting. All the inspection, risk assessment and maintenance of electrical supplies should be recorded (BSI British Standards, 2008). Any storage of hazardous substances should also be recorded. The plans of the University about the building should also be recorded. This will help the management team to be aware of the possible areas that can start a fire and hence look for solutions to such issues. Audit and updating of this manual After the assessment and recording of the collected facts, this manual will be analysed by the manager in the department of fire safety and management he will recommend the best strategies that will be adopted to reduce on the level of the risk. After all the recommendations have been passed, the manager will need to update the manual. The manual will then be updated every time there is an assessment of the risk status of the building. Employees will then be updated on any changes in the procedures for evacuation and the use of fire fighting tools. References Beard, A. (2005). The handbook of tunnel fire safety. London : Telford. British Standards. (2004). The Application of Fire Safety Engineering Principles to Fire Safety Design of Buildings. PD 7974-6 BSI British Standards. (2008). Code of Practice for Fire Safety in the Design, Management and use of Buildings. BS 9999: 2008 Carter, H. R., Rausch, E., Kiamie, A., & Association., N. F. (2007). Management in the fire service. Quincy: National Fire Protection Association. Cote, A. E., & Association., N. F. (2003). Operation of fire protection systems. Quincy, Mass: National Fire Protection Association. Cote, A. E., & Bugbee, P. (1988). Principles of fire protection. Quincy: National Fire Protection Association. Division., G. B. (2006). Firecode - fire safety in the NHS. London : Stationery Office. Egan, M. D. (1978). Concepts in building firesafety. New York : Wiley. Friedman, R. (1998). Principles of fire protection chemistry and physics. Quincy, Mass: National Fire Protection Association. HM Government. (2007). Approved Document B – Volume 2 – Buildings other than Dwelling houses. The Building Regulation2010 Jacobs, B. (2000). Fire safety in the operation of nuclear power plants. Vienna: IAEA. Office, G. B. (2006). The Building Regulations 2000: fire safety. London: TSO. Purcell, P. (2004). Disaster prep 101 : the ultimate guide to emergency readiness. Atlanta: InfoQuest. Wakamatsu, T., & Science, I. A. (1989). Fire safety science. New York : Hemisphere Pub. Corp. Read More