Fire Risk Assessments For Warehouse, Industrial Units & Storage.
Do I need a fire risk assessment for my facility?
Yes, it is a legal requirement to have a fire risk assessment for your property in England. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, owners and operators of business properties are legally responsible for ensuring the safety of their visitors from the risk of fire.
This includes carrying out a fire risk assessment and implementing appropriate fire safety measures, such as installing smoke alarms and providing clear evacuation routes. Failure to comply with fire safety regulations can result in fines, legal action, and even imprisonment in serious cases.
Therefore, it is crucial to have a fire risk assessment carried out by a qualified specialist to ensure that your property is fully compliant with all relevant safety regulations.
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Offering comprehensive fire risk assessment services for various premises.
Warehouses:
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Conventional Warehouses: General storage spaces for various goods.
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Climate-Controlled Warehouses: Maintains specific temperature and humidity levels for sensitive products.
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Distribution Centers: Focused on rapid distribution of goods to retail locations or customers.
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Cold Storage Warehouses: Specialized for storing perishable goods at low temperatures.
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Automated Warehouses: Equipped with robotics and automated systems for efficient storage and retrieval.
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Industrial Units:
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Manufacturing Facilities: Spaces designed for the production of goods, often equipped with machinery.
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Assembly Plants: Areas where components are assembled into final products.
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Research and Development Facilities: Spaces for product testing and innovation.
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Flex Space Units: Versatile spaces that can be adapted for various industrial uses.
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Heavy Industrial Units: Designed for industries that require heavy machinery and large-scale operations.
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Storage Facilities:
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Self-Storage Units: Individual units rented by customers for personal or business storage.
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Mini Storage: Smaller storage units for less bulky possessions.
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Mobile Storage: Portable containers delivered to a location for temporary storage.
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Bulk Storage: Designed for storing large quantities of materials, like raw goods or inventory.
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Document Storage: Specialized facilities for the secure storage of documents and records.
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General fire risks associated with warehouses, industrial units, and storage facilities.
Here are the general fire risks associated with warehouses, industrial units, and storage facilities:
- Flammable materials: Storage of flammable goods, chemicals, or packaging materials increases fire risk.
- Improper storage: Poorly organized storage can block exits and firefighting equipment, hindering evacuation and response.
- Electrical equipment: Overloaded circuits or faulty wiring can lead to electrical fires.
- Lack of sprinkler systems: Absence or malfunction of fire suppression systems can exacerbate fire spread.
- Human error: Negligent behavior, such as improper use of equipment or failure to follow safety protocols.
- Machinery and equipment: Combustion engines and hot machinery can ignite nearby flammable materials.
- Chemical reactions: Improper handling or storage of hazardous materials may result in explosive reactions.
- Poor maintenance: Lack of regular maintenance can lead to equipment failure and potential ignition sources.
- Dust accumulation: In certain industries, dust can create an explosive environment if not properly controlled.
- Inadequate training: Workers not trained in fire safety and emergency procedures may increase risks.
- Overcrowding: Excessive storage can obstruct fire exits and create barriers for evacuation.
- Inadequate fire breaks: Insufficient spacing between stored items can facilitate the rapid spread of fire.
- Old or faulty infrastructure: Aging buildings may have compromised fire safety features, increasing vulnerability.
- Unauthorized items: Improperly stored hazardous materials can pose significant fire risks.
- Inadequate fire detection: Lack of smoke detectors or alarm systems can delay fire response and evacuation.
Addressing these fire risks typically involves implementing proper safety protocols, regular maintenance and inspections, employee training, and installing appropriate fire safety systems.
Here are the projects we have supported...
Emergency Plan
As an employer, owner or occupier of commercial premises there is a lawful obligation to make a detailed fire emergency plan.
A simple emergency plan should include the following:
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A suitable fire detection system.
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A process for identifying false alarms.
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A clear understanding of who calls 999.
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All escape routes must be unobstructed, planned out and clearly marked.
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Emergency doors that open easily and emergency lighting if required.
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Employee training so they know escape routes and a safe meeting point.
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Always consider people who can’t escape quickly in a fire like wheelchair users.
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Find guidance for people with disabilities here: Fire Safety Risk Assessment: Means of Escape for Disabled People.
The Fire risk assessment process
1.Quotation
2. Site Visit
3.Report Created
4.Handover
What are your Legal Obligations?
The main fire safety law, restaurants must comply with, is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO). Under the FSO, your premises must reach the required standard and all employees are provided with adequate fire safety training.
Adequate fire safety training varies from business to business but generally includes:
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General fire awareness induction.
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Periodic refresher or extra training where the risk level increases as a result of business changes.
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Training to support employees meeting their fire safety duties.
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Skill-building such as, FRAs or using fire extinguishers.
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If you are responsible for the commercial premises, carrying out an Fire risk assessment and creating an emergency plan are both legal requirements.
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This short guide is intended to assist ‘persons’ with duties under fire safety legislation in England
to comply with the legislation.
Its purpose is to explain the duties in simple, non-legal language.
As such, it is not a guide to completing a fire risk assessment
