How to Assess Fire Protection Measures for the Annual Statement
Posted on: 5 August 2020
The annual fire safety statement is designed to ensure that building owners have put into place appropriate measures for the protection of their tenants and the public. In general, this statement is lodged by a qualified and accredited specialist. The professional will conduct an inspection of the fire equipment and the building and create a report which will then be submitted to the relevant authorities. If your property is scheduled to undergo this form of evaluation, it is prudent to check on potential violations and make changes. Here are some basic tips for assessing your equipment and the general building.
Think About Changes
You should think about any changes that you might have made in your building. Remodelling or making renovations can change diverse aspects of the commercial or residential space. Consequently, the original fire plan might not be ideal. For instance, you must ensure that the fire extinguishers are still optimally placed in your building. If the interior changes have concealed the equipment or made it more difficult to access, you will need to reconsider the placement. It is also important to think about the fire exits and ensure that there are no obstructions.
Inspect the Equipment
It is important to check on the different fire protection equipment in your building. Your goal should be to ensure that you have the right tools to handle the existing risks. Moreover, these tools must be in a good state for use. For instance, when checking the fire extinguishers, you should determine if they are suitable for the potential fires. If there is a high risk of an electrical fire, it would not be prudent to have units intended for only putting out wood or paper fires. You should also check on the expiry date and anomalies which might indicate significant risk for failure. It is advisable to engage a fire protection specialist to check on other more complex equipment such as automatic fire detection systems, warning and suppression systems, emergency lighting systems and air handling systems.
Evaluate the Doors
Fire doors are critical components in protection because they isolate and compartmentalise fire, allowing for safe evacuation and more effective suppression. Unfortunately, these features are often overlooked, meaning that damage could be ignored. Therefore, when conducting your assessment, you should ensure that the door is in a good state. It should not have signs of damage, and there should be no difficulties when closing it. Other critical features to inspect include fire windows, shutters, exits, smoke doors and general paths for emergency exits.
To learn more, contact a resource that offers annual fire safety statements.
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