The Strode Park Foundation Fire Risk Assessment for Footprints Passed by Executive Health and Safety Committee Authors Paul Clayson AIOSH and Julia Creaser AIOSH July 015 Page 1 of 3 016
Executive Summary The main areas of concern that have become apparent as a result of this fire risk assessment and that are in need of prompt attention are: - 1. Archive material needs to be removed from loft space. Fire extinguishers required 3. Fire blankets required 4. Smoke seals around doors need replacing 5. Viewing panel required in door at top of landing 6. Front door requires turn lock and to be connected to nurse call system, when it is installed 7. PEEP s to be written for each child with regard to the new fire training taking place in May 8. Door frame needs filling 9. Extra fire signage required for noted areas 10. Fire instruction notice required for fire exit in bedroom corridor 11. Procedure required to ensure dryer lint trap is cleaned out regularly and documented 1. Training required for all staff when new evacuation procedure is put in place on May 015 13. PEEP s required for all residents this will come into place with new procedures 14. To be reviewed when fire evacuation procedures change in May 015 (review in July) Page of 3 016
Contents 1. Background... 4. Fire Risk Assessment... 5.1 Premises Overview... 5. Fire Hazards & Ignition Sources... 6..1 Summary of Significant Findings... 8.3 People at Risk... 8.4 Control Measures... 10.4.1 Detection and Warning... 10.4. Fire Fighting... 1.4.3 Escape Routes and Evacuation Arrangements... 1.4.4 Housekeeping... 14.4.5 Emergency Lighting... 15.4.6 Signs and Notices... 16.5 Maintenance and Other Risks... 17.6 Information Instruction and Training... 18.7 Records... 19.8 Review... 19 3. Action plan... 1 Appendix... Page 3 of 3 016
1. Background On the 0th March 015, Julia Creaser and Paul Clayson undertook a full fire safety risk assessment at Footprints residential home. The establishment provides living, sleeping and eating facilities for up to 6 young people and respite children. The premises are owned, managed and staffed by Strode Park Foundation. The purpose of this assessment was to identify any significant fire hazards within the premises and highlight any areas for immediate or long-term improvement. An action plan with timescales is attached to assist in the prioritisation of any such actions (also see priority ratings below). This assessment replicates the requirements made in the appropriate Regulatory Reform manual, Fire Risk Assessment, residential care premises issued by HM Government. The observations and any recommendations made are only pertinent to the conditions found at the time of the assessment or review. Regular inspections and risk assessment reviews are required to ensure that appropriate standards are maintained. Wherever a recommendation has been made within this risk assessment, a priority rating has been assigned which translates as: - Priority Ratings 0 No action required 1 Urgent Complete within 1 week of assessment date Complete within 1 month of assessment date 3 Complete within 3 months of assessment date 4 Complete within 6 months of assessment date 5 Complete within 1 months of assessment date RRO Care Home Online Version 1, July 009. Page 4 of 3 016
. Fire Risk Assessment.1 Premises Overview Name & address of premises Note. Does the site have a completion certificate from the local authority Building Inspector (new buildings) Type of premises Owned by Managed by Footprints Stodmarsh Road Canterbury Kent. CT3 4AP Residential and respite care services for children and young adults with disabilities Strode Park Foundation Laura Pearce Designated person Premises used out of normal office hours? Type of structure Number of lift shafts 0 Use of premises Total number of people A breakdown of the total number of people employed at the premises and residents living at premises Occupancy profile Maximum number of persons in the most highly occupied compartment or area of the premises at a given time John Cotterill Accommodation for 6 children/young adults with private bedrooms, hoists and electric beds with shared dining and lounge areas. There are bedrooms upstairs as well as lounge areas for staff and residents and a meeting room. There are various buildings in the garden area including two respite rooms, garden sheds, maintenance sheds and a hot tub room. Use No Offices Sleeping accommodation Living / lounge areas Internal smoking areas Industrial kitchens Kitchenettes Manufacturing processes Workshops Hot work e.g. welding Flammable substance storage Other: 31 employees 6 residents Total 37 Monday - Friday Saturday - Sunday 0000-0400 13 0000-0400 13 0400-0800 0400-0800 0800-000 4 0800-000 4 000-400 13 000-400 13 Page 5 of 3 016
. Fire Hazards & Ignition Sources GROUND FLOOR All bedrooms Main kitchen Laundry Manager s office Seniors office Medical room Dining room Lounges Bathrooms WCs Corridors Linen cupboard Sensory room Quiet room Other rooms Room / area Fuel source(s) Ignition source(s) Clothing Bed linen Furnishings Curtains Clients personal electrical equipment Wiring Electric heater Cooking oil Gas Foods Kitchen appliances Wiring Washing machine/ dryer Wiring Linen/clothing Electrical equipment Paper Furnishings Wall hangings (e.g. curtains, leaflet holders, pictures). Clothing TV, computers, and other electrical equipment Flammable products in cleaners cupboards, medical or rooms Wiring Linen Faulty electrical equipment or wiring Unauthorised smoking Arson Electric heater Faulty hobs, cookers or fryers Faulty electrical equipment or wiring Unauthorised smoking Faulty electrical equipment Faulty wiring Self combusting laundry Blocked vent on dryer or lint screen Smoking materials Faulty electrical equipment or wiring Unauthorised smoking Arson Self combusting linen Page 6 of 3 016
Internal electrical distribution cupboard and main exterior electrical incomer and distribution board Exterior garden sheds External residents shed Boiler Room (Internal) Garden area External store rooms Bin Areas including any skips present FIRST FLOOR Miscellaneous combustibles (wood, paper, rubbish etc.). Decorating materials Gas, oil, electricity White spirit and/or discarded cooking oil Gas, electricity Garden refuse including leaf accumulations Garden sheds and contents Substances given off by faults in battery rooms Wiring Faulty electrical equipment or wiring Faulty boiler Arson Fireworks (seasonal) Smoking Sparking from tool or object striking hard surface (if gas present) Overload of electrical sockets Room / area Fuel source(s) Ignition source(s) Clothing Faulty electrical Bed linen equipment or wiring Furnishings Unauthorised Curtains smoking Clients personal electrical Arson equipment Electric heater Wiring Electric heater All bedrooms permanent, respite and staff sleep over Meeting Room Bathroom Linen Cupboard Residents lounge Staff room Store room WC Other Areas Clothing Computers, other electrical equipment Bed linen Furnishings Curtains Staff personal electrical equipment Wiring Faulty electrical equipment or wiring Unauthorised smoking Arson Room / area Fuel source(s) Ignition source(s) Pitched roof voids Wooden beams and joists Items stored in roof voids without authorisation, e.g. paper, cardboard Wiring Electrical equipment Wiring fault Unauthorised smoking Page 7 of 3 016
Substantial quantities of oxidising materials, oxygen cylinders or any other hazardous material found at the site? Room / area Fuel source(s) Ignition source(s) Bedroom Oxygen cylinder Faulty wiring Faulty electrical equipment Arson..1 Summary of Significant Findings Main ignition sources Based on use of premises and occupancy profile High risk area(s) Based on use of premises, occupancy profile and findings during assessment Smoking materials (accidental fire started by staff) Boilers and heaters Electrical appliances and wiring (if faulty) Cooking processes, e.g. hobs and cookers (if cooking equipment faulty) Arson Oxygen cylinder Sleeping accommodation Kitchen Boiler room Main electrical incomer Laundry Ref Recommendation(s) Priority - None 0.3 People at Risk The following people have been identified as regular users of the premises and as such are likely to be at risk in the event of a fire occurring. Type of people No Comments Employees Agency staff Agency staff work alongside SPF staff Visitors / guests Cleaning staff All visitors and guests sign in and are escorted in building Page 8 of 3 016
Contractors Anyone with hearing impairment All contractors sign in so staff are aware of the area they are working in Anyone with visual impairment Service user - young people Service users higher risk considerations. Are users with poor mobility accommodated on the ground floor? Service user - learning difficulty Service user - physical disability Others, e.g. external health professionals One service user has an oxygen cylinder There are two bedrooms on the first floor. At present one is for a permanent child who is able to mobilise. Appropriate numbers of staff for emergency evacuation if required All residents have hoists and emergency exits in their rooms All other people sign in and out of the building. Trespassers The house has perimeter fencing Ref Recommendations Priority - None 0 Page 9 of 3 016
.4 Control Measures.4.1 Detection and Warning All premises must have fire detection and warning systems fitted and there are few if any exceptions to this. The system should incorporate fire detection devices, a control panel, audible and / or visual alarms and manually operated break-glass boxes as a means of ensuring the early detection of fire and safe and prompt escape of a site s inhabitants. The majority of detectors at care homes should be smoke type, the principle being that these give the quickest detection and alarm activation time in the event of any fire starting. Heat detectors should be used in areas where smoke detectors would result in false alarms. An L1, detection system throughout premises should be used at care homes to give the quickest possible alert of a fire condition. The following system exists within this particular premises: - System model Concept FS01 Control panel location(s) By front door on wall System maintained by System Category, e.g. L1 Note. For reference BS5839-1 stipulation s state that in an L1 system all areas need to be covered save for the following: - Is this acceptable for the risks present? KT Fire L1 Type(s) of automatic fire detection Type(s) of automatic fire warning Type(s) of automatic fire fighting Does kitchen have appropriate fire detection and damper systems within their extract systems and are extract fans interlocked with the main detection system and turn off in the event of a fire alert? Smoke Heat Flame Audible siren/bells Visual strobe / flashing light Vibrating pad Pager (allows for delayed alarm) Water sprinkler CO suppression Foam suppression No specialist extraction due to being domestic appliance. Are any fire alarm zones within the site greater than 000m and if so, does the site have an addressable fire panel? Are there any large voids in pitched roofs or are Page 10 of 3 016 No There are large voids and there
there flat roof ceiling voids over 800mm and if so has detection been fitted within them? is no detection fitted. Area full of archive material. Does the alarm system have a back-up battery? Is there an audible alarm in the boiler room? Can the alarm be heard clearly in all parts of the site? All manual call points within 45m distance? Date of last weekly system (bell) test? Has it been done within the last 7 days? Is a different call point used (in rotation) for the test? Date of last service (must be within last six months as per BS5839-1) Records up to date No 11th February 015 Ref Recommendations Priority 1 Archive material needs to be removed from loft space Page 11 of 3 016
.4. Fire Fighting This can be used if, for example, an exit is blocked due to fire and escape needs to be made via it, or if a fire starts that is small enough to be tackled and put out by trained staff as long as it is safe for them to do so and before it can get larger. The following equipment exists within these particular premises: Types of equipment Water Carbon dioxide Fire blankets Location(s) Portable Fire Fighting Equipment maintained by: - Date of last service (annual as per BS5306-3: 003) Records up to date See Appendix 1 Plan of Footprints KT Fire Ltd 11th February 015 Ref Recommendations Priority Fire extinguishers required: Foam and water extinguisher by seniors office Foam extinguisher in kitchen 1 Water and CO by emergency exit by kitchen 3 Fire blanket required: By seniors office Jemini Suite Exit by kitchen Exit in bedroom corridor Entrance to bedroom corridor By fire panel Upstairs landing Upstairs kitchenette area Upstairs fire exit door (meeting room) 1.4.3 Escape Routes and Evacuation Arrangements Page 1 of 3 016
Main access to building Front door Alternative means of escape Fire Exits: First floor from meeting room Ground floor end of bedroom corridor Exit by kitchen Entrance/exit to Jemini suite Travel distances acceptable? Is compartmentation acceptable for the layout and size of the premises? Is structural integrity of compartmentation acceptable, e.g. are there any holes/breaches in compartment walls, any missing sections?. Is the protection of escape routes acceptable, e.g. doors, windows, door co-ordinators, magnetic locks, selfclosers, smoke seals? No Smoke seals around doors need attention: Utility room door Rm 1Bedroom door Rm 6 Bedroom door Bedroom Jemini Suite (left as you go into building) Hook bedroom door Door between kitchenette and meeting room upstairs Viewing panel required for door at top of landing leading to residents lounge etc. Front door is at present a fire escape route but is often locked with the key either in the door of hanging at the side of the door. This is not appropriate. Wall and ceiling coverings of escape routes acceptable, e.g. Class 0? Are all escape routes free from obstructions? Evacuation Arrangements and Procedures in Case of Fire Number of daytime staff on duty? 017 780796 Number of night time staff on duty? Page 13 of 3 016
On Call Rota on view Is there a written fire evacuation procedure that covers daytime and night time fire evacuation procedures and is it reviewed and if necessary updated at regular intervals Is the current staffing level considered adequate enough to ensure the safe and prompt evacuation of service users to a place of safety within a reasonable time Are there any employees or service users who need assistance to evacuate from the building? e.g. wheelchair users If yes, does each one have a written Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan? Is there a signing in / out system for visitors and contractors? Are contractors and other visitors, e.g. Social Care or Health Visitors, briefed on fire evacuation procedures when they arrive at the site? Are visitors chaperoned throughout their visit? Are external routes to the assembly point acceptable and do they lead to a place of safety? Fire assembly point location(s) acceptable, e.g. sufficiently far enough away and in a safe place to prevent harm to persons from smoke, radiated heat, fire or any traffic in the area? No Fire assembly point in patio area by hot tub Ref Recommendations Priority 4 Smoke seals around doors need replacing on six doors 1 5 Viewing panel required in door at top of landing 6 7 Front door requires turn lock and to be connected to nurse call system when it is installed PEEP s to be written for each child with regard to the new fire training (May 1st) 8 Door frame needs filling 1.4.4 Housekeeping Page 14 of 3 016
Good housekeeping is an essential part of effective fire safety management and ensures that unwanted fire load does not build up at a site and that emergency escape routes and exits are kept clear at all times. The following table describes the standard of housekeeping found at this site: Are housekeeping standards acceptable? Ref Recommendations Priority - None 0.4.5 Emergency Lighting All means of escape must be adequately lit to ensure the safe escape of persons from a place of danger to a place of safety during a fire or other emergency, especially where there is no natural light available such as in internal rooms or corridors or during the hours of darkness. Emergency lighting Each exit door (within m) Emergency lighting appropriate Escape routes Intersections of corridors Outside each final exit and on external escape routes Emergency escape signs All escape routes have external emergency lighting Emergency lighting appropriate Page 15 of 3 016 appropriate All escape routes have external emergency lighting Emergency lighting appropriate Stairways so each flight receives adequate light Changes in floor level N/A Windowless rooms and toilet accommodation exceeding 8m Fire fighting equipment Fire alarm call points Boiler room Equipment that would need to be shut down in an emergency i.e. first aid point Lighting near all fire fighting equipment At all exits with appropriate lighting Boiler room indoors upstairs Loft space above Jemini suite Loft space above SM s room Emergency lighting appropriate Lifts Stair lift only N/A Halls or other areas greater than 60m All hallways have appropriate emergency lighting All emergency lit signage appropriate Lighting near all fire fighting equipment At all exits with appropriate lighting Light in corridor outside boiler room cupboard Emergency lighting appropriate All hallways have appropriate emergency
lighting The following emergency lighting configuration exists within these particular premises: - Maintained and Non-maintained Type of system e.g. maintained, nonmaintained, generator, mixed. Location(s) Equipment maintained by Are emergency lighting units located at all higher risk areas? Date of last service (must be within last 6 months)? Records up to date? See Appendix KT Fire 11th February 015 Ref Recommendations Priority - None 0.4.6 Signs and Notices Do all of the fire safety signs and notices comply with the Health and Safety (Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and other applicable guidance documents e.g. BS 5499, the FPA Guide to Fire Safety Signs? Are there adequate fire exit signs? Are site specific fire action notices displayed? Are there adequate fire action notices (site specific and general)? Signage needs to be placed outside seniors office to show direction of travel in case of emergency. Directional signage is not appropriate above front door emergency exit Signage required in down stairs lounge area and dining area regarding direction of emergency exit Signage required between upstairs kitchenette area and meeting room. No fire instruction notice at emergency exit by children s bedrooms. No No No Page 16 of 3 016
Ref Recommendations Priority 9 Extra fire signage required for areas noted 1 10 Fire instruction notice required for fire exit in bedroom corridor 1.5 Maintenance and Other Risks Are there any acetylene or gas cylinders at the site (e.g. LPG type)? Are there any oxygen or other types of medical gas cylinders at the site? Is there a permit to work system in use at the site and are staff aware of how it works? Has appropriate equipment been PAT tested? Does the site have lightening protection and has this been tested? Note. This system is subject to annual testing and inspection as detailed and laid down in BS6651. Has the electrical system been tested in the last 5 years? Does the site have gas-fuelled systems and are they maintained? Has the kitchen s cooker extraction vent for fat fryer etc been deep cleaned in the last 3, 6 or 1 months? Are the dryers in the laundry room/s lint traps cleaned/vacuumed weekly? Are ashtrays emptied into metal-lipped bins at the end of the day? Are there any garden sheds or other structures located close to the main buildings? If so, is there a chance that due to their proximity to the site, a fire within them may spread into the main building via windows (radiation), via overhanging roofs (flat or pitched) or by No One oxygen cylinder in one child s bedroom testing carried out annually No No Non applicable as domestic oven No procedure Not applicable as non smoking home hot tub shed located close to building. Page 17 of 3 016
any other means (e.g. burning brands)? Ref Recommendations Priority 11 Procedure required to ensure dryer lint trap cleaned out regularly and documented.6 Information Instructions and Training Is there an established fire emergency plan as per Section 7. of the RRO? Is the plan written down and available? If yes, is it appropriate? Is there appropriate cooperation and coordination re fire emergency and evacuation procedures, with any other undertaking that may be on the site, e.g. day centres, special needs, mobility for the elderly organisations? Are employees familiar with the evacuation plan? Are evacuation drills conducted and have they so far meet with the standards outlined and required in Section.4.3 of this document? Records up to date? Have all staff been given suitable information, instruction and training to satisfy the requirements for service users evacuation contained in Section.4.3 of this document? Have fire wardens been nominated? Not applicable Is there an adequate number? Have the nominated fire wardens been given enhanced training (e.g. able to supervise other, all staff as per above) to satisfy the requirements for service users evacuation contained in Section.4.3 of this document? Page 18 of 3 016
Have all employees been given a basic level of fire safety awareness training in other fire safety matters such as use of extinguishers, raising the alarm, identification of fire hazards, procedure for reporting hazards etc.? Ref Recommendations Priority 1 Training required for all staff when new evacuation procedure is put in place on May 015.7 Records Type of record No Comments Fire register Personal emergency egress plans (PEEP) Monthly fire safety inspections Employee fire safety induction Employee training records Are fire records kept for at least three years for insurance purposes? Ref Recommendations Priority 13 PEEPS required for all residents this will come into place with new procedures.8 Review This risk assessment should be reviewed: Following any structural or material changes to the premises; Following a change in the nature of work practices or processes; Following changes in staff levels or disposition; Following a sizeable change in the type of clients being accommodated at this site, e.g. the site moves from a moderate number of immobile and mentally adept clients to a large number of wheelchair and/or dementia sufferers. Following a near miss or actual fire; In any case it is recommended at intervals not exceeding 1 months. Page 19 of 3 016
Ref Recommendations Priority 7 To be reviewed when fire evacuation procedures change in May 015 (review in July) Page 0 of 3 016
3. Action plan Priority Ratings 0 No action required 1 Urgent Complete within 1 week of assessment date Complete within 1 month of assessment date 3 Complete within 3 months of assessment date 4 Complete within 6 months of assessment date 5 Complete within 1 months of assessment date Recommendation Reference No. Recommendation Priority To be Actioned by Archive material needs to be removed LP 1 from loft space Fire extinguishers required KT Fire / PC 1 3 Fire blankets required 1 KT Fire / PC 4 Smoke seals around doors need PC 1 replacing 5 Viewing panel required in door at top of KT Fire / PC landing Front door requires turn lock and to be PC 6 connected to nurse call system, when it is installed PEEP s to be written for each child with LP 7 regard to the new fire training taking place in May 8 Door frame needs filling 1 PC 9 Extra fire signage required for noted areas 10 Fire instruction notice required for fire exit in bedroom corridor Procedure required to ensure dryer lint 11 trap is cleaned out regularly and documented Training required for all staff when new 1 evacuation procedure is put in place on May 015 To be reviewed when fire evacuation 13 procedures change in May 015 (review in July) END OF REPORT 1 1 PC PC LP VW JTC Date Completed Page 1 of 3 016
Appendix KEY Intrumescent strip required at top of door Smoke Alarm Heat detector Fire Exit Water Extinguisher CO Extinguisher Foam Extinguisher Fire Blanket Alarm Bell Break Glass Emergency Light Oxygen Cylinder Fire blanket required Door not appropriate for linen cupboard requires fire door EB Signage Viewing required panel required from KT in Fire door Fire blanket required Fire blanket required Signage required Intrumescent strip required for door Page of 3 016
Signage required in area for emergency exits Intrumescent strip required in places around door Door frame needs filling Light bulb out in airing cupboard Wires hanging from ceiling light Fire blanket required No fire fighting equipment foam extinguisher required Fire blanket required Intrumescent strip required in places around door Fire blanket required Directional sign needs replacing pointing in wrong direction Intrumescent strip required in places around door Fire extinguishers required Fire blanket required KEY Smoke Alarm Heat detector Fire Exit Water Extinguisher CO Extinguisher Foam Extinguisher Fire Blanket Alarm Bell Break Glass Emergency Light Oxygen Cylinder Query whether this is a fire exit as always locked No fire instruction notice Signage required in room for emergency exits Fire blanket required Intrumescent strip required in places around door Page 3 of 3 016 Fire blanket required