Simon Blades asks an important question concerning fire alarms and emergency lighting. It is about an American company operating in the UK, which says that it does not need a fire alarm system in its new factory. His question has been answered by the ECA (Theme – Fire, Safety & Security):
Question: I'm currently working on a factory refurbishment project. There are two main buildings on site, both around 35000 sq feet. One building has just been purchased by the company and the other is there existing factory. The existing factory has a very old fire alarm wired in PVC twin and earth cable with three or four call points and sounders positioned in random locations. It also has a slow release switch wired in which is used as the tea break siren!
The new factory unit is a complete, but bare shell. I have never seen any drawings for the electrical install but have been asked to carry out various jobs on both buildings. I have advised the client that they will need to install a fire alarm and emergency lighting in both buildings but they seem to be ignoring the fact.
The company has been taken over by a large American organisation and this job is being 'project managed' by the Americans.
So far I have been told the following quotes:
- "It's a steel building and we build steel machines, what can burn?"
- "We will issue everyone on site (250 - 300 people) with a torch in case there is a power failure."
- "The buildings are insured by our American insurance company and they don't require a fire alarm or emergency lighting."
I just wondered where I stand with regards to issuing the final installation certificate. What do you suggest I write in the comments box, if anything, for example?
US lighting too:
Also, off subject, I have installed 166, six-lamp T8 flow fittings in this factory. The client imported them from America. They are not CE marked and are pre-flexed with 0.82mm flex (black - live, green - earth and orange - neutral). I have sleeved the flex up and put colour change labels everywhere. They have no covers / diffusers on the flow tubes.
Should I have refused to fit these fittings, or can I just point out that there are failures on the test certificate.
I am at the point of walking off this job, which is worth a lot of revenue to our company so any encouragement would be much appreciated!
Answer: The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) came into effect in October 2006 and replaced over 70 pieces of fire safety law. The FSO 2005 applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including the common parts of blocks of flats and houses in multiple occupation - HMOs Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The responsible person must carry out a fire safety risk assessment and implement and maintain a fire management plan.
The FSO replaced much other legislation, dating from 1947 onwards. It streamlines this old legislation and places responsibility for fire safety matters firmly with those who are best placed to tackle it - employers, building owners and employees. It affects all non-domestic premises in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It applies to you if you are an employer, responsible for business premises, self-employed with business premises or a contractor with some control over premises. It also applies to charities and voluntary organisations.
The FSO places a duty on a 'Responsible Person' to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment, then act on the findings in order to minimise the risk to people by fire.
The need for a fire alarm and emergency lighting will be contained in a fire risk assessment. Some premises might only need a very basic fire alarm system. Failure to have an adequate fire risk assessment done on the premises might lead to prosecution and a fine or prison term.
It is not the contractor's responsibility to carry out the fire risk assessment. You should ask if one has been carried out and, if not, advise that one be carried out.
You should only issue certificates for any work that you have done and place any limitations that you feel are appropriate for the work you have done. As this company has not asked for a fire alarm I would not mention it in any certificates. You should point out that the existing does not conform with current regulations.
Voltimum Managing Editor James Hunt says: You should also contact the Industry Committee for Emergency Lighting (ICEL) at www.icel.co.uk.
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