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Clive Raybould
Member - 3 posts
I can only agree with Alans comments. Delays in any call being passed to a Fire Control can pose inherent dangers if there is a fire in process. As an ex fire officer like Alan, I understand the concerns and issues surrounding false alarms, but we need to be careful that we do not go too far along the route of not answering calls.
It is imperative therefore that all businesses look critically at their systems for management of their fire alarm system (This is a requirement anyway of the Fire Safety Order). As indicated by Alan, the out of hours links and response needs to be analysed. THought should also be given to your response during working hours.
More Brigades are implementing 'Call Challenge Systems', where there will be a nil response by the Fire Service until the building occupants confirm there is a fire!
As part of your fire management, you need to seriously consider the development and training of a 'Fire Response Team', who can search buildings and quickly verify if there is a fire or not.
Any delay in a call being placed to the Fire Service, which means that they are faced with a serious fire, has a greater chance of 'Defensive Fire-fighting Tactics' being used and severe (if not total) business losses occurring.
Clive Raybould
Fire Consultant
Fire Safety Training Consultancy Ltd
01283 711600
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Clive Raybould
Member - 3 posts
Hi Fiona
Assume from the tone of your question that you have been given both tasks! If this is the case, I would discuss the concerns you have raised with your fire manager. I would agree with Alan's suggestion, that the obvious answer is to have two separate people one for each role, or have a deputy appointed. I would suggest that you need a deputy anyway to cover you for leave etc. Again if you have no other sensible options but to have one person undertaking both tasks, they would need to make that dynamic risk assessment should both situations arise. As an ex enforcer, I think that I would be looking more at the management as a failure than at the fire marshal should legal proceedings be considered.
Hope this helps.
Clive Raybould
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Clive Raybould
Member - 3 posts
Clive Raybould - Fire Safety Consultant - Advisor to Workplace Law
Stainless steel fire extinguishers are not red, therefore they cannot claim to be manufactured in accordance with BS EN3. BS EN 3-7:2004, Part 16.1 requires 95% of the body to be red).
By law, extinguishers must have the CE Mark (Pressure Equipment Directive). BS EN3 is, technically, a recommendation, so you could choose to ignore it.
Manufacturers/sellers claim that the chrome extinguishers are made to the same standards as a BSEN3 extinguisher, so it should not matter.
Chrome extinguishers may be challenged by some enforcers. It is a matter of choice as everything is your choice!
My personal advice is to have red extinguishers and ensure that they are visible. Chrome extinguishers that can blend in, do not make sense to me personally. If you do choose to use the chrome extinguishers, then you may need to review the signage to ensure that the extinguisher will be seen in an emergency.
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