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- info@lccmgroup.co.uk
- 17 York Road, Ilford, IG1 3AD
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the principal statute law regulating health and safety in the workplace. The Act creates duty holders and identifies who owe a duty towards.
The employer is required to prepare a written health and safety policy where the employer has five or more employees, that will include a general statement of policy and the organisation and arrangements for carrying it out. This policy must be revised as necessary and brought to the attention of the employees.
The employer owes a duty to their employees to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work.
The key phrase ‘so far reasonably practicable’ is a key phrase meaning there must be a balance between the level of risk and the cost, measure in time money and effort, of reducing that risk.
Ensure the health and safety of non-employees i.e visitors to the premises and contractors. Employees have a duty to themselves and others and must cooperate with their employer in the workplace.
People who have control of the premises used as workplaces (such as office landlords) have a duty to the people using those premises. Also, designers and manufacturers of articles or substances used at work have a duty to the end users.
The Act also prohibits anyone from misusing safety equipment and prohibits employers from charging employees for things done to achieve legal compliance.
Directors and senior managers must also take their responsibility for failure in health and safety duties and can be charged with offences committed by their organisation.
One of these duties is the requirement to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. Employers must also make arrangements for health and safety management, develop procedures to deal with imminent danger, provide information and training to employees.
The employers’ specific duties to their employees are to provide so far as reasonably practicable:
Portable appliance testing often known as (PAT) is a test conducted by our qualified engineer who uses an electrical testing unit to measure the integrity of each electrical appliance on site.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations requires employers to have measures in place to ensure they comply with health and safety law.
Requires that any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury is maintained in a safe condition. Breach of this Regulation in the event of an incident or electrocution of an employee may lead to death, injury, compensation claim and prosecution by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) or local enforcement agency.
Defines the general principles for the management of health and safety at work in the UK. The act puts a duty of care on employers, the self-employed and employees, to ensure the safety of all persons using the work premises.
Section 6.1 sets out the duties of any person who supplies any article for use at work to “perform such testing and examination as may be necessary to ensure safety”
State that maintenance is required for any equipment which would cause a risk to health and safety if a fault occurred. Also, the Housing Act 2004 requires an inspection of portable appliances if they a provided as part of a rented dwelling.
Fire extinguishers can provide a first line of defence in dealing with a small fire i.e. bin fire, and help prevent a small fire growing in size and intensity to something that larger that could lead to more damage and greater risk of threat to life.
Therefore, it is important that you not only have the correct types of fire extinguishers around your premises, but also that they are located in accordance with legislative standards, generally at main fire exits, fire escape routes, changes of level in a building and next to potential fire risks i.e. electrical risks such as photocopiers. There may be other areas of a building complex which may need additional fire cover such as outside fuel storage areas or within vehicles themselves.
Our team are happy to advise you not only the correct type of fire extinguisher appropriate for the risks on site but also straightforward information as to where they should be located.
All site surveys are conducted in accordance with BS5306 guidelines.
Fire extinguishers must be serviced at least once a year by a qualified and competent person to comply with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and BS5306 guidelines.
For transparency we provide all our clients a record of their fire extinguisher assets detailing the type of fire extinguisher, location, age and anticipated life expectancy (around 15 years).
It is important that fire extinguishers are checked monthly (usually by the responsible person on site or nominated fire marshal) to ensure that they are in date, have the correct pressure (by looking at the pressure gauge on the side of the cylinder) and ensuring the safety tamper seal hasn’t been removed (indicating possible use).
We also offer a unique refilling service of all types of Fire Extinguishers including CO2 fire extinguishers: 2kg Co2 cylinders, 5kg cylinders and wheeled extinguisher systems.
Our fully qualified engineers are happy to conduct a comprehensive site survey for all your Fire Safety Equipment requirements. Our surveys are conducted in accordance with BS5306 guidelines and The Health & Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.
Furthermore, we offer competitive, realistic pricing quite often as competitive as equipment that you can purchase from the internet however, we are able to install all of the equipment we supply and issue certification in accordance with BS5306 guidelines.
Therefore, this give you the peace of mind of knowing that you are fully compliant. All equipment is new, provided with 5 years manufacturer’s warranty and CE Marked.
All Fire Extinguishers in order to be compliant with BS5306 guidelines should be serviced no more than intervals of 12 months.
Our team have a great deal of experience in the servicing of Fire Extinguishers ensuring you remain fully compliant with fire legislation.
Stonewell Consulting Ltd are able to provide a competitive and comprehensive quote for servicing your Fire Extinguishers. Furthermore, our engineers, unlike some companies, are not on commission or a bonus scheme which ensures that if fire safety remedial works are required it is genuine, professional advice.
All our competitive quotations are turned around quickly for all our customers.
At Stonewell Consulting Ltd because of unique engineering facilities and experience we are able to offer bespoke or custom-made fire safety equipment such as portable fire trolleys suitable for construction sites, Fire Brigade equipment such as Personal Attachment lines and ‘Chocks and Blocks’ used by the Fire Service as field rescue equipment.
We can also manufacture steel Dry Riser protection doors whilst remaining compliant with Fire Service Regulations or FFE1 Emergency Key Boxes manufactured for fire keys and Fire Brigade access in an emergency scenario.
Fire extinguishers must undergo a basic service annually, as British Standard BS 5306-3 stipulated. This includes a thorough inspection and maintenance check by a qualified technician. Additionally, the responsible person at the premises should conduct visual inspections at least once a month. Extended services are required every 5 years for water-based, powder, and clean agent extinguishers and every 10 years for CO2 extinguishers.
While specific instructions may vary by extinguisher type, the general procedure is as follows:
PULL the pin to break the tamper seal.
AIM low, pointing the nozzle at the base of the fire.
SQUEEZE the handle to release the extinguishing agent.
SWEEP from side to side at the base of the fire until it’s extinguished.
Use non-conductive extinguishing media such as carbon dioxide (CO2), powder, or other clean agents for electrical fires. These are specifically designed for electrical equipment fires.
The requirement depends on the premises’ size and specific risks identified in the fire risk assessment. BS 5306-8 states that each floor or level up to 400m2 needs at least two water-based (Class A) extinguishers with a combined minimum total fire rating of 26A. Additional extinguishers for other classes of risks, such as electrical equipment and flammable liquids, must be provided as identified by the fire risk assessment.
There are more than four types, but the four most common types of fire extinguishers in the UK are:
Water Extinguishers: Suitable for Class A fires involving combustible materials like wood, paper, and textiles.
Foam Extinguishers: Effective on Class A and B fires involving flammable liquids.
Dry Powder Extinguishers: Versatile, used on Class A, B, and C fires (flammable gases) and electrical fires.
CO2 Extinguishers: Ideal for electrical and flammable liquid fires (Class B).
A correctly designed and installed Fire Alarm System by a qualified and certificated company can provide an effective method of not only detecting a fire but also a method for building personnel to raise the alarm on discovery of a fire.
Your Fire Risk Assessment should state what type of Fire Alarm System you require. Broadly speaking based on the risks within the building, building complexity, processes being undertaken, number of personnel. Interestingly whilst a Fire Alarm company can provide advice on the siting of fire detectors or recommendations in relation to upgrades or improvement the Fire Risk Assessor must decide what type of fire alarm system is required.
This could range from a category M system (Manual) through to L Systems (Life) which are automatic fire detection systems designed to protect life: L1, L2, L3, L4, L5.
Category L5: In a category L5 system certain areas within a building, defined by the fire system specification, are protected by automatic fire detection in order to reduce the risk to life. This category of system may also include manual fire detection.
Category L4: Is designed to offer protection to the escape routes from the building. The system should comprise Category M plus smoke detectors in corridors and stairways.
Category L3: Is intended to offer early enough notification of a fire to allow for evacuation before escape routes become smoke logged. Protection should be as for Category L4 with the addition of smoke or heat detectors in rooms opening onto escape routes.
Category L2: Objective are similar to Category L3, however additional protection is provided for rooms at higher risk. Protection should be as for Category L3 plus smoke detectors in specified rooms at high risk and documented within the specification.
Category L1: Is the highest category for the protection of life. This is intended to give the earliest notification of fire to allow maximum time for evacuation. Automatic and manual fire detection is installed throughout all areas of the building. Smoke detectors should be installed wherever possible to protect rooms in which people can be expected to be present. Protection of voids (such as ceiling voids and riser cupboards) should also be considered in line with the protection category and the Fire Risk Assessment.
Category P2:This system is intended to provide early warning of fire in areas of high hazard, or to protect high risk property. Automatic fire detection should be installed in defined areas of a building
Category P1:The objective of a Category P1 system is to reduce to a minimum the time from the ignition of a fire to the arrival of the fire brigade. In a Category P1 System, fire detectors should be installed throughout a building. In a category P system, unless combined with Category M, it may be adequate for fire alarm signals simply to allow firefighting action to be taken, for example a signal to alert a responsible person to call the fire brigade.
What is the difference between an Addressable and Non-Addressable fire alarm system?
Simply speaking there are two different types of fire alarm system: Addressable and Non-Addressable. Their differences are as follows:
Addressable
A more comprehensive fire alarm system than a non-addressable fire alarm. The fire alarm panel allows you to ‘address’ it. It will tell you on the display whether the system has a fault, and where that fault may be. It will also on activation of the system allow the user to identify which call point or point detector has been activated in the building and its location. Addressable fire alarm systems are most suitable in large buildings or building of more complex design as it allows the building occupier to quickly identify the location of the activation without having to walk the whole building. This type of system will give the user more flexibility as it can be programmed to link with other systems in the building such as BMS shutdowns. It can also be linked to a monitoring station so any activation out of normal working hours can be quickly communicated to the emergency services or the building occupier.
Non-Addressable
As the name states the system cannot be ‘addressed’ i.e. there is no LCD display on the panel that identifies the location of the call point or detector activation. Therefore, the building user is relying on the zonal chart which in accordance with BS5839 guidelines should be mounted next to the fire alarm panel. This type of system is more often installed in smaller premises such as shops, small retail units or buildings of simple layout and design.
The key to reliable, robust fire systems is having the right detector in the correct place. If the system is too sensitive it will generate unwanted alarms and won’t be regarded as giving accurate information, not sensitive enough and it won’t protect the building. Smoke and heat detectors can only detect fires once a certain amount of smoke or heat has reached the sensor. Therefore, it is important that the detector is correctly installed on a flat ceiling with no obstructions. The radius of detection for a smoke sensor is 7.5m and 5.3m for a heat detector. Detectors should be mounted a minimum of 0.5m from a wall. All smoke detectors that we supply conform to EN 54 – 7 and installed in accordance with BS5839 guidelines. We also install detectors in voids less than 800mm deep, unless on the basis of the Fire Risk Assessment it is thought that fire or smoke could spread extensively though the voids before detection, or unless the fire in the void is such to warrant protection.
If a particle of smoke (or dust) enters the chamber, light from the laser is scattered and the detector, using its patented algorithms, checks the nature of the scattered light to determine whether the source is dust or smoke. If a determination of smoke is made, the alarm is signalled.
Beam detection offers unique capabilities and limitations over point detection. They are particularly beneficial in wide open warehouses with big expansion of space. There are two basic types end to end detection which operate on the obscuration of light and end to end detection which has a separate transmitter and receiver unit. Once the beam is broken by rising particles of smoke and fumes the system will go into alarm.
Wireless smoke alarm systems interconnect without the need to be hardwired and help to detect the presence of smoke, heat and carbon dioxide. Early detection of a fire can help to prevent loss of life and minimise damage to domestic and commercial buildings. Wireless smoke alarms are relatively easy to reposition if required. Most require a radio survey in order to measure signal strength between points before installation to ensure they will operate correctly. They are particularly suitable for historical buildings as no cabling is required or retrospective fitting in more challenging building complexes. They can however be more expensive to install then a conventional system and as they operate on batteries often require more ongoing maintenance than a hard-wired system.
As an alternative to traditional beam detection open area smoke imaging detection (OSID) is a viable option. Key advantages to the OSID range of detection is that they are less sensitive to unwanted alarms caused by:
Aspirating Smoke Detection systems draw air samples continuously from a monitored area through a pipework system with pre-engineered holes drilled at predetermined locations along the pipe work run. The air is then sampled and analysed for smoke particles and the alarm will activate if smoke is detected as present. Some aspirating systems can now be remotely monitored through IP connectivity, maximising the benefits of this very early warning capability in reacting to a fire incident.
A flame detector is a type of sensor that can detect and respond to the presence of a flame. Responses to a detected flame depend on the installation, but can include sounding an alarm, deactivating a fuel line, and activating a fire suppression system. It is quite often used in specialised commercial manufacturing processes as an effective method of fire detection.
Before deciding on a Voice Activation alarm system the evacuation requirements of the building must be established:
This assessment will need to form part of the overall fire strategy and emergency action plan of the building such as complex office blocks, sports stadiums, areas where large numbers of people may assemble. Our design team can help in this process for you.
An EVC System is a fixed, monitored and maintained, bidirectional, full duplex voice communication system to help assist the orderly evacuation of disabled or mobility impaired people and assist the fire service in terms of communication during an emergency.
Your fire alarm should be tested on a weekly basis. This is usually conducted by the responsible person on site or a nominated Fire Marshal. Each fire alarm call point should be tested on a weekly basis on rotation and a record of the test should be entered into the company’s fire logbook. This is a requirement of being compliant in accordance with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and BS5839 guidelines.
Our engineers can number your fire alarm call points so that when you conduct your weekly test you can enter the appropriate call point number against your records to demonstrate to any inspecting authority you have tested 100% of your building call points over a period of time.
The weekly testing procedure ensures that fire alarm signals operate correctly (if you are on a monitored system) and appropriate signals are clearly received by the monitoring station.
Most of our customers carry out the weekly test of their fire alarm at the same time to ensure there is no confusion for building users as to whether it is a test or genuine fire alarm activation. This should also form part of your company’s fire emergency strategy/emergency plan.
Our engineers can help demonstrate how to do this if you are unsure or new to the role of weekly testing. Furthermore, they carry a wide stock of fire alarm test keys for the different systems out in the market to ensure you remain compliant with your weekly testing schedule.
In accordance with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and BS5839 guidelines (Fire Alarm Systems) fire alarm should be serviced on an annual basis. It recommends that two inspections take place per annum by a competent and qualified person at a maximum of no more than 6 months apart.
At Stonewell Consulting Ltd all our engineers are BAFE trained and qualified to the highest industry standards. Therefore, when we award you with your inspection certification you can be reassured that your fire alarm system has not only been serviced correctly in accordance with BS5839 guidelines, but also by an experienced, professional, and qualified engineer.
At each inspection our engineer tests the fire alarm panel for functionality, battery loadings and calculations and 50% of the building detection system by using a smoke and heat pole (for heat detectors), to ensure the detection system is operating correctly and in accordance with industry guidelines.
On completion of the onsite testing our engineer will issue a certificate demonstrating your compliance with the standards and recording the performance of your fire alarm system. He will also make a record of any requirements or remedial works such as failed or slow to react detectors. It is recommended that smoke detectors are replaced around every ten years and again our team can discuss a rolling programme of upgrade works to ensure sensible budgeting costs of your life safety systems.
A Fire Sprinkler System can provide an effective method of dealing with a fire by using water to suppress the flames.
People believe that all the sprinkler heads discharge in a building in the event of a fire. The reality is that only the sprinkler head, or heads closest to the fire, is activated.
A Sprinkler System is formed from a network of pipework usually charged full with water which is why it is important to make sure that they are serviced correctly and on a regular basis in accordance with the relevant legislative standards.
At Stonewell Consulting Ltd all our engineers are fully trained, and industry accredited to give you peace of mind that following each service (subject to remedial or correction works), that your premises are fully protected and compliant.
Fed their water from the town’s main (from the mains in the street) whilst other systems may be fed their water supply by a tank and pump arrangement. Sprinkler tanks also need inspecting on a regular basis to ensure conformity and the integrity of the tank hasn’t been breached with leaks or failing joints.
There are several different designs of fire sprinkler system. A wet pipe system is designed to be permanently charged with water whereas a subsidiary alternate system is designed to be capable of being charged with air or water.
There are several different types of sprinklers including:
Whichever Fire Sprinkler system you require our qualified Design Team can offer a fully compliant service in accordance with legislative standards.
There are many ways of categorising domestic and residential accommodation. Domestic and residential sprinkler systems installations should however conform to BS 9251: 2021 and DD252: 2002 standards BS 9251:2021 guidelines cover two occupancy types:
Residential: multiple occupation includes apartments, residential homes, HMO’s, blocks of flats, boarding houses, aged persons homes, nursing homes, residential rehabilitation accommodation, dormitories.
Domestic: individual dwelling houses, individual flats, maisonettes, and transportable homes.
Hospitals, detention centres, schools and hotels are not covered by BS 9251:2021
The types of property covered vary on size and type of resident and therefore are split into risk categories. These categories range from 1-3.
There has also been a significant change in the legislation requiring automatic fire sprinklers to be installed in all new built flats over 11 metres. This will increase the use of domestic and residential sprinklers in this sector and Stonewell Consulting Ltd are happy to discuss your requirements with our qualified Design Team.
The most widely used standard is the LPC Rules for Automatic Sprinkler Installations incorporating BS EN 12845 in the UK.
It is important that you choose a company with the correct accreditations and qualified engineers to service you Fire Sprinkler system.
Sprinkler systems contain either a glass bulb filled with a liquid that expands with heat, or a solder fusible link that will melt when it reaches a certain temperature. When hot air rises as the result of a fire, the glass bulb shatters or the solder melts, thus activating the sprinkler head.
Flow switch testing is an important part of testing a commercial Sprinkler System and proving that the water inside the sprinkler pipework is correctly flowing as well as sending a signal to the fire alarm or monitored panel.
Flow switches are usually found in shopping centres that have Sprinkler systems installed throughout and in accordance with BS EN 12845 guidelines should be tested on a quarterly basis.
At Stonewell Consulting Ltd we can offer you competitive prices in testing your flow switch as we cluster our visits especially at shopping centres located near together. Following each visit our engineer completes on site certification demonstrating to the shopping centre that your system is working correctly and sending a signal back to centre management.
Fire pumps that are used to pump the water through the Sprinkler System in large commercial systems should be started and run on a regular basis to ensure they are working correctly and therefore able to successfully pump water throughout the Sprinkler pipework network should they be called upon.
During an inspection, a professional will assess the overall condition of the fire pump to verify that it remains in good operating condition. This checklist includes:
A fire pump that is powered by a diesel engine requires regular maintenance and its engine, servicing; this includes replacement of the oil, oil filter, air filter, and fuel filter. This engine maintenance is very similar to the service you perform on your car to ensure it has a healthy life span.
Failure to maintain a fire pump will shorten its useful life; the typical lifespan of the equipment is about 20 years, and replacing a fire pump costs a lot of money, as it’s the single-most expensive component of any life safety fire protection system.
