Can I detect Fire?

• Do you have enough devices, in the right places, to detect a fire.  

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• Are they linked to a central system to identify where the fire is.  Might sound obvious but if you have recently repurposed a room, is there a device in there?  Do the devices work?  When were they last serviced?

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Can I alert everyone?

If you have a fire alarm system can it alert everyone in the building?  By this we mean all types of users and not just the location of the detectors.  You need to consider the visually impaired and hard of hearing.  You may need strobe detectors.

Can I exit everyone?

Once the alarm has gone off where do people go to exit the building?  Is there a clear route with signage and emergency lighting (with a battery back up) to show people where the exists are.

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Can I slow the spread of fire? – Compartmentalisation 

• Are your doors to the exit routes hinged to flow outward?  Do they have push bar/s (we call it panic furniture) that allows people to push locked doors open.

• Are your doors fire retardant doors?  Minimum deterrent should be 30 mins.

• Do your doors have intumescent fire strips installed to limit the spread of smoke and heat from a room.

• Are your fire doors low enough to the floor to prevent smoke and heat from seeping underneath.

• Are the fore extinguishers sufficiently pressurised to work.  Have they been serviced?

• Do you have door closers to automatically close when people pass through the door way?  This is a way of compartmentalising fire.  In other words limiting it to a room or space by closing off the spread.

• Do you have detectors in false ceilings? Regulations state that if your ceiling void above your suspended ceiling is 80cm or more then its another room and requires a detector.

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Am I managing fire risk?

• Do you have Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans

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• Is the subject of fire safety owned by someone on your leadership team?

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• Is a competent person actively checking escape routes on a regular basis to ensure the are not blocking an escape route?

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• Is someone testing your fire alarm call points regularly?

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• Do you have trained fire marshals who know room occupancy limits, safe exit procedures and fire marshalling basics.

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What are my responsibilities for fire safety? We have put together a simple five point article that tests your church against the requirements.