Essential Fire Safety Checks For The Season
As the year draws to a close, businesses are often busy wrapping up projects, preparing for holiday closures, and hosting seasonal events. With so much activity, it’s easy to overlook crucial safety tasks. However, this is precisely when fire safety checks are most important.
An unattended building, festive decorations, and increased use of electrical equipment all contribute to a heightened risk of fire, making fire a significant risk to businesses during this period.
Proactively checking your fire safety measures is not just good practice; it’s a legal requirement that protects your staff, your property, and your business’s future. Fire safety checks help reduce the likelihood of fire incidents. A thorough end-of-year audit ensures everything is in working order by assessing your current fire safety measures, giving you peace of mind during the festive season.
At Nomico Fire & Security, we understand the value of fire safety at all times of the year, and recognise the unique issues this season can bring. Using our experience and professional understanding, we are sharing this guide to the key fire safety checks needed during the festive period.
This guide will walk you through the key fire safety checks, your legal obligations, and best practices to keep your premises safe, including how these practices help prevent fire-related incidents.
Why End-of-Year Fire Safety Checks Matter
The end of the year brings unique fire risks that require special attention. Understanding these risks is the first step toward effective prevention. During the winter and holiday seasons, many businesses introduce temporary hazards. Festive lights, portable heaters, and extra kitchen appliances for office parties all increase the load on your electrical systems.
Without proper fire safety checks, faulty wiring or overloaded sockets can easily lead to a fire. Furthermore, decorations like Christmas trees and paper chains can act as fuel, helping a small fire spread rapidly.
Another significant factor is that many commercial buildings are left vacant for extended periods over the holidays. An empty building means a fire can go undetected for longer, causing far more damage before emergency services are alerted. This makes fully operational fire detection and alarm systems absolutely critical, so always ensure these systems can be used safely.
Finally, ensuring your fire safety systems are compliant reduces the risk of liability issues and may positively impact your insurance premiums.
Your Legal Requirements for Fire Safety Checks
In the UK, fire safety in commercial premises is governed by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This legislation places the responsibility for fire safety squarely on the shoulders of a designated ‘Responsible Person’.
This is typically the employer, building owner, or facility manager. When delegating fire safety duties or booking checks on behalf of others, it is essential to obtain consent from the relevant individuals.
The Order mandates that the Responsible Person must ensure all fire safety facilities, equipment, and devices are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order, and in good repair. This is not a suggestion; it’s a legal duty. Failure to comply can result in severe consequences, including unlimited fines, enforcement notices that can disrupt business operations, or even imprisonment in serious cases.
Should a fire occur, a lack of proper maintenance records can lead to significant legal and financial liability. To learn more about the current regulations, which have been updated recently, and your role within this, see our post How the Building Safety Act 2022 Impacts Fire Safety Regulations.
Keeping detailed records is a core part of compliance. You must maintain an up-to-date log of all fire safety checks, tests, services, and staff training, ensuring that all data is handled in accordance with data protection and privacy requirements. These documents should include the details of each check and are essential for any audits or inspections by fire authorities.
Proper documentation is crucial; make sure to complete and retain the necessary forms for each fire safety check, recording the details of each check for legal compliance. To meet your legal obligations, you may be required to sign relevant compliance documents as part of the process.
Key End-of-Year Fire Safety Checks
To ensure your premises are fully prepared for the upcoming season, we recommend following a systematic approach to your end-of-year fire safety checks. Use a fire safety tool to guide your checks, and make sure to arrange your checks in advance of the holiday period. It is important to complete all checks and carry them out thoroughly.
Here are the key areas to focus on:
Fire Alarm Systems
Your fire alarm and smoke alarms are your first line of defence. Conduct a full test to ensure all alarms, including L5 fire alarms, bells and sounders, are working correctly, and make sure to test them safely.
Check that the control panel is operational and free from any faults. Now is the ideal time to schedule any required professional servicing to address underlying issues before your building closes for the holidays.
To ensure you are performing fire alarm tests properly, see our post How To Test Commercial Fire Alarms And Detectors.
Emergency Lighting
In the event of a power failure or fire, emergency lighting is crucial for guiding people to safety and ensuring they can evacuate safely.
Walk through all escape routes and verify that every emergency light illuminates correctly. Ensure they are fully charged and provide adequate coverage for corridors, stairwells, and exits.
To learn more about emergency lighting and what is needed at this time, see our post Emergency Lighting Testing: Your Complete Guide to UK Compliance.
Fire Doors and Exits
Fire doors are designed to contain fire and smoke, giving occupants more time to escape. Check that each fire door closes properly onto its frame and isn’t wedged open. All exit routes must be completely clear of obstructions like storage boxes, furniture, or festive decorations.
Fire Signage
Clear and visible signage is vital for directing people during an evacuation. Inspect all fire safety signs, including exit signs and fire extinguisher location markers, to ensure they are compliant, legible, and correctly positioned.
Fire Risk Assessment Review
Your Fire Risk Assessment is a living document. The end of the year is a perfect time to review and update it. Consider any changes to the building layout, occupancy levels, or new hazards introduced for the season.
A thorough review ensures your safety strategy remains relevant and effective. See our guide How to Conduct a Fire Safety Assessment for more details on this process.
Training and Awareness
Technology is only effective if people know how to use it. Confirm that all staff, including any temporary holiday workers, are aware of the fire procedures and evacuation plans.
A quick refresher session, along with providing support to staff during training, can make a life-or-death difference.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During Fire Safety Checks
Even with the best intentions, simple oversights can compromise your fire safety. It is crucial to avoid these mistakes to ensure your fire safety checks are effective and compliant.
Here are some common mistakes to avoid:
- Ignoring Minor Faults: A small fault on a fire alarm panel or a flickering emergency light may seem minor, but it can indicate a more significant problem. Address all issues promptly.
- Obstructing Escape Routes: It’s tempting to use corridors for temporary storage during busy periods, but this is extremely dangerous. Keep all fire exits and escape routes completely clear at all times.
- Failing to Update Risk Assessments: If you’ve rearranged office space, brought in new equipment, or changed how a room is used, your fire risk assessment must be updated to reflect these changes.
- Neglecting Documentation: Forgetting to log a weekly alarm test or a maintenance visit can be just as serious as not doing the check at all. Meticulous record-keeping is essential for fire safety compliance.
Conclusion
The end of the year is a time for reflection and preparation. By prioritising your fire safety checks, you can protect your people, preserve your property, and ensure your business starts the new year on a secure and compliant footing. Don’t leave safety to chance; take proactive steps to stay safe in the year ahead.
If you need professional assistance, Nomico Fire & Security is here to help. Our experts can conduct a comprehensive fire safety audit to ensure you meet all legal requirements.
Contact Us Today
Contact us today to schedule an inspection and enjoy true peace of mind this holiday season.
FAQs
What are the most important checks for end-of-year fire safety?
The most critical checks include testing your fire alarm system, inspecting all emergency lighting, ensuring fire doors are functional and exits are clear, and reviewing your Fire Risk Assessment for any seasonal changes. These checks cover detection, evacuation, and prevention.
Who is responsible for fire safety in a business?
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the ‘Responsible Person’ is accountable. This is usually the employer, the owner of the premises, or anyone with control over the building, such as a facility manager. Their duty is to ensure all necessary fire safety measures are in place and maintained.
How often should fire systems be tested or serviced?
Fire alarm systems should be tested weekly, which typically takes just a few minutes, with a full service by a professional at least every six months. Emergency lighting should be tested monthly, with a full duration test annually that generally takes about one to three hours. Fire extinguishers also require an annual service by a competent person.
