Fire Risk Assessment Questions PDF

# Fire Risk Assessment: Module 4 - Choosing the right type of detector ## Knowledge Check Questions **Question Four** Aspirating systems are particularly useful in which of the following areas? - Cabinets containing highly sensitive equipment - Where restrictions negate the use of point detectors...

# Fire Risk Assessment: Module 4 - Choosing the right type of detector ## Knowledge Check Questions **Question Four** Aspirating systems are particularly useful in which of the following areas? - Cabinets containing highly sensitive equipment - Where restrictions negate the use of point detectors - Areas where the environment is unsuitable for point detection to be used - **All of the above** **Question Five** To which British Standard are Sprinkler systems principally designed to? - **BS EN 12845** - BS EN 123674 - BS EN 125839 - BS EN 5226 **Question Six** What are the 3 main classes of Sprinkler systems? - Light hazard, medium hazard, high hazard - Watertight hazard, ordinary hazard, high hazard - **Light hazard, ordinary hazard, high hazard** - Light hazard, normal hazard; ordinary hazard **Question Seven** What is the main reason for a sprinkler system to not be used in an area with high value equipment? - Water damage to equipment - **The risk of a delayed response** - The likelihood of the system being sabotaged - The risk of an accidental activation **Question Eight** Which of the following features of an automatic sprinkler system should not be tested by the use of a test valve? - Sprinkler head - Pump - Alarm - **Control valve** **Question Nine** Wet risers are generally found in buildings that exceed what height? - **50 metres** - 60 metres - 70 metres - 80 metres **Question Ten** What features of a safe exit route should an emergency lighting system illuminate? - Fire exits - Fire alarms call points - Changes in level direction - Fire fighting equipment - Corridor intersections - Stairways - **All of the above** ## Custodial Basic Fire Awareness ### Components of a Water Fire Extinguisher | Component | Description | |---|---| | Safety Pin & Tamper Proof Seal | Prevents accidental activation | | Discharge Hose | Connects the extinguisher to the nozzle | | Pressure Gauge | Measures the pressure inside the cylinder. The gauge should be in the green zone to indicate that the extinguisher is ready to use. If the gauge is in the red zone, the extinguisher is either over or under its optimum working pressure. | | Discharge Nozzle | Directs the water stream | | Discharge Lever | Activates the extinguisher | | Carry Handle | Used to transport the extinguisher | | Extinguisher Type | Identifies the type of fire extinguisher | | User Instructions | Provide guidance for the user on how to use the extinguisher | ### Fire Extinguishers A fire shall only be tackled when the following safety measures are applied: - The fire alert is raised to the Control Room via activation of a manual call point. - Fire or smoke do not present a risk to personal safety. - Fire or smoke is not compromising safe exit from the building. - Not to be used to tackle cell or dormitory fires - The fire size is small E.g., No larger than a small office waste bin. Fire extinguishers are not to be used to tackle large or growing fires. - No more than one extinguisher is used. - Correct selection of extinguisher for type of fire; - A water based extinguisher is for use on combustible materials such as: wood, paper, plastics and fabric (also known as Class A fires). These are the common fuel types found in buildings. - You have received adequate training in the use of a fire extinguisher. Completion of this E-Leaming syllabus, coupled with the pictorial user instructions on the body of the extinguisher constitutes adequate training. - For buildings which adopt a 'Partial Evacuation Strategy' additional training will be necessary and provided to prison officers by Health, Safety Fire Teams. ### Types of Evacuation Strategies - **Simultaneous evacuation:** In non-secure premises where occupants can self-evacuate from the building, the evacuation in case of fire will simply be by means of everyone reacting to the warning signal given when a fire is discovered, then making their way by the means of escape, to a place of total safety away from the premises. - **Partial Evacuation:** The concept of a 'Partial Evacuation Strategy' which is a method of evacuation adopted for cell blocks where prisoners can 'self-release' from their cells/ bedrooms to an adjoining space but cannot escape the compartment or building without staff unlocking exits. For buildings which adopt a 'Partial Evacuation Strategy' additional fire extinguisher training will be provided to prison officers by Prison Health, Safety Fire Teams. - **Phased Evacuation:** A system of evacuation in which different parts of the building are evacuated by custodians in a controlled sequence of phases, those parts of the building expected to be at greatest risk being evacuated first in a sequential order. For example; secure cellblocks. # Fire Risk Assessment: Module 1 - Assessment overview and the regulatory reform ## BS 4422 and PAS 79 Definitions of Fire Risk - **BS 4422:** Defines fire risk as "the product of the probability of occurrence of a fire to be expected in a given technical operation or state, and the consequence or extent of damage to be expected on the occurrence of fire." - **PAS 79:** Defines fire risk as "the combination of the likelihood of the occurrence of fire and consequences (number and severity of injuries) likely to be caused by a fire." ## BS 4422, H&S Terms and PAS 79 Definitions of Fire Hazard - **British Standard (BS) 4422:** Defines a fire hazard as "... potential for injury and/or damage from fire." - **Health & Safety (H&S) and BS 18004 terms:** "... a source situation or act with a potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill health or a combination of these." - **In publicly available specification (PAS) 79:** A fire hazard is defined as "... a source, situation or act with potential to result in a fire." Thus the presence of uncontrolled fire hazards affects the likelihood of fire, rather than the consequences of fire ## Generic Risk Assessment Process 1. **Identify the hazards** 2. **Identify people at risk** 3. **Evaluate, remove, reduce, and protect from risks** 4. **Record plan, instruct, inform, and train** 5. **Review** ## Given Factors Given factors are elements that are taken into account when a fire risk assessment is carried out on a building and its occupants. These would be the: - Building height and number of storeys - Construction of the building - Activities and processes carried out in the building - Complexity and processes carried out in the building - Approximate floor area of the building - Nature of the occupants eg: disabled, older etc - Occupant familiarity with the building - Likely state of occupants eg: asleep/alert/under the influence - History of fires in the building - Incidents of arson/vandalism in the surrounding areas. ## The Narrative Step Method of Risk Assessment These rely on the assessor following a number of instructional steps that require observations or actions. - Steps approach - Checklists - Logic diagrams - Algorithmic approach - Benchmarking ## Nine Steps To a Generic Fire Risk Assessment In accordance with PAS 79, there are nine steps to a generic fire risk assessment: 1. **Information gathering** - given factors, previous fires, building construction 2. **Identify hazards** - ignition, fuel and oxygen sources 3. **Assess the likelihood of fire** - from steps 1 & 2 4. **Identify and determine the physical fire protection** - active/passive systems 5. **Determine the level of fire safety management** 6. **Assess the consequences to occupants** - various scenarios 7. **Assess and evaluate the fire risk** - tolerance level i.e. likelihood x consequence = severity 8. **Formulate an action plan** 9. **Review the FRA** - i.e. periodically, after a fire, change of use in a building, change in key personnel. ## Periodic Reviews The frequency of FRAs should take account of the likelihood of significant building alterations and also of the period after major changes in fire precautions are likely to have taken place as a result of measures recommended in the action plan. Frequency of routine reviews are judged by the fire risk assessor and, to some extent, the organisation's own fire safety policy, but significant interim changes should always prompt a review. Reviews should contain: - The name of the reviewer - The date by which the next periodic review should take place. A fire risk assessment is a living document - it cannot remain valid for an unlimited length of time. A fire risk assessment is likely to cease to be valid when: - A material alteration takes place eg: alteration that changes (usually lowering, or has the potential to lower) the standard of fire protection originally provided - A significant change in the 'given factors' (see the next screen) that were taken into account when the fire risk assessment was carried out - A significant change in fire precaution occurs - After any fire event. ## What Are Quantitative and Qualitative Assessments? Risk assessments can be made as either: - **A quantitative assessment:** A number-rating system for both the impact and probability of an event happening. - **A qualitative assessment:** This is a judgement based process that allows an overall picture to be built up, based on a number of considerations. It is reliant on relevant knowledge and experience being held by the fire risk assessor and should only be undertaken by people with the appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, training and/or qualifications. ## Scope and Application of Current Fire Safety Legislation Applicable Within HMP Premises The responsible person must, for example, address the following issues. - Provide suitable and sufficient means of escape in case of a fire