Fire safety is essential in every business, whether large or small. This is especially important for residential care settings such as nursing homes. Implementing fire safety measures ensures that injuries to staff and residents and property damage are minimised or prevented. The duty of fire safety rests with the employer, the registered provider, and the person in charge (PIC). Under current regulations, fire risk assessments are required for all designated centres.
The Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act of 2005 and the Health Act of 2007 say fire risk assessments must be done. The failure to address or take into consideration fire hazards is inherently dangerous. So, if fire risk assessments aren’t done or are done by someone who isn’t qualified to do them, there is a chance of terrible things happening, like loss of life and damage to business property.
Due to our decades-long experience in the fire, health, and safety sectors, we have assisted small, medium, and large enterprises and organisations in formulating fire risk assessments, including those for hospitality, transportation, entertainment, manufacturing, and healthcare premises. PAS 79-2020 Fire Risk Assessment meets the requirements set out in HIQA’s January 2021 “Fire Safety Handbook: A Guide for Providers and Staff of Designated Centres,” where it states, “The report should describe the actions taken by the provider and managers to manage identified risks.” The report should also record the measures implemented to eliminate or control the identified risks. The risk assessment should be carried out to a recognised standard, such as PAS 79, which your competent fire safety professional can advise you on.”
Over 90% of workplace fires are estimated to be caused by human error. More research shows that up to 80% of the businesses affected by fire never return to how they were before. The devastating consequences of fire cannot be overlooked: people, lives, structures, 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 with a systematic evaluation of threats and vulnerabilities to determine whether a risk of harm to staff or the general public exists. It is also essential to think about the rules for evacuating residents safely and putting them in a place where they can get care, like a nursing home.
In addition to performing fire risk assessments, Phoenix STS will recommend additional measures necessary to ensure compliance with fire safety legislation, the requirements set out under the Health Act 2007, and the 2013 Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People Regulations (HIQA).
We can also help you set up your fire register, train your fire managers and staff, do fire drills, and make emergency response and evacuation plans. In addition, Phoenix STS carries professional indemnity insurance to provide fire safety consulting services.
How we complete Fire Risk Assessments
When our assessor arrives on-site, they will first go through the process, outlining the procedure for the assessment. Fire compliance documentation must be available to demonstrate fire compliance regulations are being met; this process takes one to two hours. We would typically request that the facilities manager, maintenance person, and fire safety manager (person in charge) be present for this assessment element. We then move to inspect the building; upon completion, 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.
You will be presented with a report upon completing the fire safety assessment. 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 requirements set out by the regulator HIQA and the Mental Health Commission, guidance, and best practices.
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
- Lightning protection system
- Management of smoking
- Security against arson
- The use of portable heaters
- Heating and ventilation installations
- The management of cooking
- The management of housekeeping
- The management of hazards introduced by outside contractors
- The management of dangerous substances
- The management of means of escape
- The management of fire safety signs and notices
- The measures to limit fire and development
- The management of the emergency lighting
- The management of the fire detection and alarm system
- The management of portable fire extinguishers, hose reels, and fire blankets
- Other relevant automatic fire extinguishing systems
- The management of portable fire extinguishers, hose reels, and fire blankets
- Employee fire safety training and fire drills
- The management of portable fire extinguishers, hose reels, and fire blankets
- Access and facilities for the fire service
- Management of fire safety (procedures and arrangements)
Fire Risk Assessment Questionnaire
Here is a list of questions to help us finish the fire risk assessment. It is standard for management not to answer all the questions listed below; provide what information is available, and we will help you find the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions (FQA)
What is PAS 79-1:2020 about?
PAS 79-1:2020 is a publicly available specification published by the British Standards Institution (BSI) that guides conducting fire risk assessments in buildings and other structures.
The PAS 79-1:2020 standard replaces the previous PAS 79:2012 and provides updated guidance on fire risk assessments in line with current fire safety legislation and best practices. The standard sets out a structured approach to conducting fire risk assessments, including identifying potential fire hazards, evaluating the likelihood and consequences of a fire, and identifying appropriate control measures to reduce the fire risk.
PAS 79-1:2020 also guides evaluating the effectiveness of existing fire safety measures and documenting the results of a fire risk assessment. The standard is intended to be used by fire risk assessors, building owners and managers, and anyone responsible for fire safety in a building or structure.
Overall, PAS 79-1:2020 provides a framework for conducting thorough and effective fire risk assessments, which are essential for ensuring the safety of occupants and minimizing the risk of fire-related damage to property and assets.
Who is PAS 79-1:2020 for?
PAS 79-1:2020 is primarily intended for fire risk assessors, building owners, managers, and anyone responsible for fire safety in a building or structure.
The standard guides how to conduct fire risk assessments by current fire safety legislation and best practices. This includes identifying potential fire hazards, evaluating the likelihood and consequences of a fire, and identifying appropriate control measures to reduce the fire risk.
In addition to fire risk assessors and building owners/managers, PAS 79-1:2020 may also be of interest to:
- Architects and designers involved in designing new buildings or refurbishing existing buildings must ensure that fire safety considerations are considered in the design process.
- Fire safety professionals, including fire safety engineers and officers, may be involved in developing and implementing fire safety strategies and plans.
- Regulatory authorities and government bodies oversee and enforce fire safety legislation and regulations.
- Insurance companies and risk assessors may use the standard to evaluate the fire risk associated with a building or structure.
Overall, PAS 79-1:2020 is intended for anyone who has a role in ensuring fire safety in buildings and structures.
Why should you use PAS 79-1:2020?
There are several reasons why you should use PAS 79-1:2020 to conduct fire risk assessments in buildings and structures:
- Compliance: PAS 79-1:2020 guides how to conduct fire risk assessments in accordance with current fire safety legislation and best practices. By following the standard, you can ensure that your fire risk assessments comply with relevant regulations and standards.
- Consistency: The standard provides a structured approach to conducting fire risk assessments, which can help ensure that the assessments are consistent and thorough. This can be particularly important when multiple assessors are involved or when assessing multiple buildings.
- Effectiveness: By using PAS 79-1:2020 to guide your fire risk assessments, you can be confident that you are identifying potential fire hazards and evaluating the likelihood and consequences of a fire systematically and effectively. This can help you to identify appropriate control measures to reduce the risk of fire and to ensure the safety of occupants.
- Documentation: The standard guides how to document the results of a fire risk assessment, which can help maintain records and demonstrate compliance with regulations and standards.
- Credibility: By using a recognized standard such as PAS 79-1:2020, you can enhance the credibility of your fire risk assessments and demonstrate to stakeholders that you are taking fire safety seriously.
Overall, using PAS 79-1:2020 can help you to conduct more effective, consistent, and compliant fire risk assessments, which can help to reduce the risk of fire and ensure the safety of occupants in buildings and structures.
What’s new about PAS 79-1:2020?
PAS 79-1:2020 represents a significant update to the previous standard version (PAS 79:2012), with several fundamental changes and updates. Some of the critical changes in PAS 79-1:2020 include the following:
- Scope: The scope of the standard has been revised to include all types of buildings and structures, including those outside of the UK.
- Terminology: The standard introduces new terminology to align with current fire safety legislation and terminology used in other fire safety standards.
- Risk assessment process: The risk assessment process has been updated to reflect the latest fire safety practices, including identifying all potential fire hazards, a more detailed evaluation of the likelihood and consequences of fire, and the identification of control measures to reduce risk.
- Control measures: The standard provides more detailed guidance on selecting and implementing control measures to reduce fire risk, including using automatic fire suppression systems.
- Documentation: The standard provides more detailed guidance on the documentation of fire risk assessments, including the information that should be included in the fire risk assessment report.
- Competence: The standard includes new guidance on the competence of fire risk assessors, including the need for appropriate training and experience.
Overall, PAS 79-1:2020 provides updated guidance on fire risk assessments that reflects current fire safety practices and legislation. In addition, the standard takes a more detailed and systematic approach to fire risk assessments, which can help to ensure that the assessments are more effective and reliable.
What is a fire risk assessment?
A fire risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying and evaluating the potential fire hazards and risks associated with a building or structure and identifying appropriate control measures to reduce the fire risk and ensure the safety of occupants.
The fire risk assessment process typically involves the following steps:
- Potential fire hazards include identifying ignition, fuel, and oxygen sources that could lead to a fire.
- Evaluation of the likelihood and consequences of a fire: This involves assessing the likelihood of a fire occurring, as well as the potential consequences of a fire, such as damage to property, injury or loss of life.
- Identification of control measures: Based on the risk assessment findings, appropriate control measures are identified to reduce the risk of fire and ensure the safety of occupants. These may include installing fire detection and alarm systems, providing fire extinguishers, and implementing fire safety policies and procedures.
- Documentation: The findings of the risk assessment are documented in a report, which outlines the potential fire hazards and risks associated with the building or structure, as well as the control measures that have been identified.
Fire risk assessments are essential for ensuring the safety of occupants and minimizing the risk of fire-related damage to property and assets. They are typically carried out by qualified fire risk assessors, who have the necessary training and expertise to identify potential fire hazards and risks and to recommend appropriate control measures to reduce risk.
How often should a fire risk assessment be carried out?
The frequency of fire risk assessments will depend on several factors, including the size and complexity of the building or structure, the nature of the activities carried out in the building, and any changes that may have occurred since the previous assessment.
In general, fire risk assessments should be reviewed regularly to ensure that they remain current and that any changes to the building or its use are considered. The frequency of reviews will depend on the specific circumstances, but fire risk assessments should be reviewed at least annually as a general guideline.
In addition to regular reviews, fire risk assessments should also be updated whenever significant changes to the building or its use, such as installing new equipment or introducing new processes or activities. Changes to fire safety legislation or regulations may also require a review of the fire risk assessment.
It’s important to note that the building owner or manager ensures that fire risk assessments are updated and reviewed regularly. Failure to carry out regular fire risk assessments could result in a breach of fire safety regulations. It may also increase the risk of fire-related damage or injury to occupants.
