fd03 fire procedures

Element No: FD03

Revision No: 1

Revision Date: 6/2003

RISK CONTROL STANDARDS

FIRE DEFENCE of 5

FIRE PROCEDURES

(ACTION IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE)

Approved by :MRG Standards & Strategy Committee

1. Introduction

The absence of a formal plan of action is often the cause of a fire developing into a major loss and every operating location must have an effective fire procedure. In developing the procedure, based on this document, reference must be made to the standards on Fire Defence Organisation (FD01), Fire Teams (FD02) and Emergency Planning (EP01 AND EP04).

2. Responsibility

2.1 Responsibility for formulating and maintaining effective fire procedures rests with the Fire Officer

(FD01) in conjunction with the Emergency Planning Committee (EP01). 2.2 As part of the fire defence organisation, there will be fire team members, or wardens, in each

department or zone responsible for ensuring that the fire procedure is followed and taking control until the arrival of a Fire Team Leader, Fire Officer or Fire Brigade.

2.3 Decisions must not be delayed because the responsible person is not available. The most suitable

person present must take the initiative.

3. Vital Requirements

All fire procedures must incorporate the following essential aspects:- 3.1 raising the alarm 3.2 mobilising the fire teams 3.3 calling the fire brigade 3.4 immediate attack by general employees 3.5 immediate attack by fire teams 3.6 liaison with fire brigade 3.7 evacuation - partial or total 3.8 salvage/recovery 3.9 post-emergency analysis Circumstances must dictate the priority of these aspects and formalised procedures must be flexible enough to

fit the immediate needs of the incident.

4. Raising the Alarm

All premises must have a clearly laid down method whereby any employee discovering a fire can quickly alert:-

• members of the fire defence organisation

• other employees in or about the area This method may be the activation of a manual fire alarm system or a verbal warning.

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Revision No: 1



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4.1 Manual fire alarm systems must be arranged to immediately alert people in the area, members of the

Fire Defence Organisation and Fire Brigade. The standard on Fire Alarm Systems (FD05) gives further details.

4.2 When the alarm is communicated verbally, the person discovering the fire must alert other people

within earshot and either immediately notify the Fire Officer and the Emergency Controller or, if involved in attacking the fire, ask someone else to do so.

4.3 On being notified of the fire, the Fire Officer must immediately check that:- 4.3.1 the Fire Brigade is alerted 4.3.2 the fire teams are mobilised and then:- 4.3.3 notify Emergency Controller and Security Officer 4.3.4 notify management (particularly manager responsible for risk control) 4.3.5 put fire wardens and fire team leaders in other areas on standby.

4.4 In cases where it is immediately necessary to evacuate all or part of the premises, the Fire Officer

should initiate the evacuation procedure, transferring control to the Emergency Controller as soon as practicable. See also Section 8 - "Evacuation" below.

5. Calling the Fire Brigade

5.1 There must be no delay in calling the Fire Brigade. IT IS BETTER TO CALL THE FIRE

BRIGADE IMMEDIATELY THAN TO RISK SERIOUS SPREAD OF FIRE. 5.2 All persons charged with the responsibility of notifying the Fire Brigade must be trained in the

correct procedure. The information required by the Fire Brigade is:-

• name and address of caller

• address of premises involved

• type of fire (vehicle, grass, buildings, etc.)

• any additional information which may be of consequence to the brigade (e.g. lives in danger, people trapped, hazardous materials).

5.3 Instructions must simultaneously be given to specified persons to meet the brigade at the

appropriate entrance and direct them to the fire. 6. Immediate Attack

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Revision No: 1



FIRE DEFENCE of 5

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6.1 On discovery, a fire should immediately be attacked, providing there is no personal danger. When

there are other people in the vicinity, the person discovering the fire should immediately try to contain it, at the same time telling another to report. Having reported, the second person should help put out the fire. Fire team members should take over operations as soon as possible.

6.2 At the same time, action must be taken to clear from the fire area all persons other than those

engaged in fire fighting and to close all doors leading from the scene, taking care to leave an escape route for the fire fighters. Doors to stairs and lifts must be closed to prevent spread of fire and smoke to other areas.

6.3 Other employees can be directed in supporting tasks (e.g. moving goods out of danger) if these can

be done in safety. 6.4 If attempts to put the fire out are endangering the safety of the fire team, or if they are clearly failing

to keep the fire in check, they should be withdrawn on instruction from the Fire Officer/Emergency Controller.

7. Fire Brigade

7.1 When the fire brigade arrives it must be directed to the fire and the Senior Officer must be quickly

briefed by the Emergency Controller/Fire Officer. If required, a copy of the plan of the premises (Plan B - EP01) should be made available and recovered afterwards.

7.2 The Emergency Controller or Fire Officer must consult the Senior Brigade Officer on further

involvement of company personnel before withdrawing them from the scene. 8. Evacuation

Where the need for evacuation is not immediately evident to all occupants (4.4 above) the decision to evacuate

should be the responsibility of the Emergency Controller or the person in charge at the scene of the fire. Evacuation should be started as soon as it becomes apparent that fire or smoke may spread to other areas or floors, or there is a danger that escape routes may be affected. (See Emergency Planning EP01).

9. Staff Training and Awareness

The training needs of all employees in fire procedure are:- 9.1 what to do on discovering a fire 9.2 how to activate the fire alarm 9.3 how to use basic fire fighting equipment 9.4 awareness of the evacuation signal

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9.5 how to evacuate - primary and alternative routes to the assembly area 9.6 emergency shut-down procedures

9.7 securing of vital records, documents, cash - if there is time to do this safely. 10. Notices

Once fire procedures have been formulated, brief notices such as the example given as ANNEX A, but

adapted accordingly, must be displayed in all areas as a constant reminder to staff of the action to be taken in the event of a fire.

Cross References FD01 - Fire Defence Organisation FD02 - Fire Teams FD03 - Fire Alarm, Detection & Evacuation Systems EP01 - Emergency Planning EP04 - Emergency Planning

ANNEXURE A

EXAMPLE OF ZONAL FIRE PROCEDURE NOTICE :

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IN CASE OF FIRE

Zone 6 IF YOU DISCOVER A FIRE 1. Immediately notify your Fire Marshal or his deputy. 2. With the aid of a second person ATTACK the fire with a fire extinguisher or hosereel. DO NOT PLACE

YOURSELF IN DANGER. THE FIRE MARSHAL AND STAFF APPOINTED WILL

1. Ensure that the fire brigade is called. 2. FIRE BRIGADE NO. ……………….. NB : It is imperative that the fire brigade is called as soon as possible. in the absence of the Fire Marshal or deputy, any staff members should make the call.

3. Start the Fire Alarm Procedure. 4. Direct staff and visitors to available exits if necessary. ALL STAFF

If you are told to leave the building – go quickly using the main exit into (Anderson Street). If this route is blocked, go out using the BLUE route into (Market Street). Do not use the lift. When you are out of the building assemble in the open area opposite the main entrance in (Market Street). DO NOT RE-ENTER THE BUILDING FOR ANY REASON. * YOUR FIRE MARSHALS ARE :

Fire Marshall : Mr Len Sparks (Extension 203) Deputy : Mr George Busi Fire Brigade : 998

* TO BE ADAPTED AND MODIFIED TO THE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES

fd03 fire procedures

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