Fire safety is essential in every business, whether large or small. The implementation of fire safety measures ensures that injuries to workers and property damage are kept to a minimum or prevented entirely in the case of a fire. Fire safety is the responsibility of the employer. Fire Risk Assessments are required under current regulations for all commercial buildings and must be completed by the owners and occupiers of such buildings. Therefore, fire risk assessments must be carried out under the Fire Services Act of 1981 and the Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act 2005, respectively. The failure to address or take into consideration fire hazards is inherently dangerous. There is a risk of catastrophic consequences, including losing a life and significant damage to business property where fire risk assessments are not completed or are completed by a person who is not competent to do so.
Before we complete a PAS 79-2020 Fire Risk Assessment, we need to do some preparatory work. This mainly involves gathering information before conducting an on-site assessment of the premises. Phoenix STS has qualified and experienced fire safety consultants to help you with your fire risk assessment. Our fire safety consultant will visit your workplace and review your fire safety documentation and organisational arrangements.
We will complete a Fire Risk Assessment considering the occupancy type, activities in the building, building layout, equipment, and processes, including arrangements for at-risk occupants should a fire occur. Phoenix STS is Ireland’s leading fire risk assessment provider with a countrywide service. Due to our decades-long experience in the fire, health, and safety sector, we have assisted small, medium, and big enterprises and organisations in formulating fire risk assessments, including hospitality, transportation, entertainment, manufacturing, and healthcare premises, PAS 79-2020 Fire Risk Assessment meets all requirements.
It is estimated that over 90% of workplace fires in Ireland are caused by human error. Further investigation indicates that, of the many enterprises affected by a fire, up to 80% of them do not return to normal operations. The devastating consequences of fire cannot be overlooked: people, structures, lives, and livelihoods may all be lost. The Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act, 2005, includes employers’ need to have fire safety risk assessments that identify fire hazards and a systematic evaluation of threats and vulnerabilities to determine whether a risk of harm to workers or the general public exists.
In addition to performing fire risk assessments, Phoenix STS will provide recommendations on additional measures necessary to ensure compliance with fire safety legislation. We can also help you develop your emergency response and evacuation plans, train your fire managers and marshals/fire wardens, complete fire drills, and set up your fire register. Phoenix STS carries professional indemnity insurance to provide fire safety consultancy services.
The information included in our Fire Safety Risk Assessment report will help managers guide their actions. It will also make the client feel more confident in making their own decisions. The assessment clearly and quickly identifies areas of compliance and non-compliance. It gives solutions to these problem areas when required to fulfil best practices and current regulations.
Steps to Fire Risk Assessments
- The first step of a fire risk assessment is identifying fire hazards in your workplace.
- Identify the people at risk.
- Review of electrical sources of ignition
- Review of the lightning protection system
- Review of the management of smoking
- Review security against arson.
- Review the use of portable heaters and heating and ventilation installations.
- Review the management of cooking.
- Review the management of housekeeping.
- Review the management of hazards introduced by outside contractors.
- Review the management of dangerous substances.
- Review the management of means of escape.
- Review the management of fire safety signs and notices.
- Review the measures to limit fire and development.
- Review the management of the emergency lighting.
- Review the management of the fire detection and alarm system.
- Review the management of portable fire extinguishers, hose reels, and fire blankets.
- Review other relevant automatic fire extinguishing systems.
- Review the management of portable fire extinguishers, hose reels, and fire blankets.
- Review employee fire safety training and fire drills.
- Review the management of portable fire extinguishers, hose reels, and fire blankets.
- Review access and facilities for the fire service.
- Review management of fire safety (procedures and arrangements)
On completion of the fire safety assessments, you will be presented with a report. This report will highlight non-compliance with building regulations or fire safety legislation. Also, highlight where fire safety training is required to ensure compliance, including a prioritised action plan for implementation to ensure compliance with fire safety legislation (and in the case of healthcare premises, requirements set by the regulator HIQA & Mental Health Commission), guidance, and best practice.
How do we complete the Fire Risk Assessment?
- When our assessor arrives on-site, they will first go through the process, outlining the procedure for the assessment.
- Fire compliance documentation is available to demonstrate fire compliance regulations are being met; this process typically takes one to two hours.
- We would typically request the facilities manager, fire safety manager, and/or the lead fire warden be present for this element.
- We then move to inspect the building; upon completion of the inspection, we meet with the relevant management team and summarise the findings.
- Although this inspection is ordinarily visual and non-intrusive, the outcome may lead to a more in-depth analysis of fire risks identified during this process.
- Our report will generally be available within 72 hours of the inspection date, excluding bank holidays and weekends.
Fire Risk Assessment (PAS 79-2000) Questionnaire
Please see below a list of questions that will assist us in completing the fire risk assessment. It is pretty standard for management not to answer all of the questions listed below; provide what information is available to you, and we will help you find the rest.
