Passive Fire/Compartmentation Surveys
Fire compartmentation is a system of fire-resistant walls and floors that divides a building into smaller sections or compartments. The goal of fire compartmentation is to slow down and contain the spread of fire and smoke. This is achieved through the implementation and proper maintenance of fire resisting floors and walls. Fire compartmentation is a form of passive fire protection, meaning the function works without the need for people and machines, unlike fire alarms or a fire extinguisher.
A passive fire survey aims to identify any breaches within these compartments to enable remediation works to be completed. Once your building has been evidenced as being fully fire stopped, any works there after will then just need to be managed to ensure any penetrations are fire stopped accordingly.
Fire Risk Assessment:
What the Law Requires in the UK
A Fire Risk Assessment is defined as: 'a considered examination with regards to fire hazards in the workplace which could cause harm to people. Once this is established you can then assess if you have taken suitable precautions or if more precautions are necessary to prevent harm.
The principle of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO) and the Risk Assessment approach is goal based and flexible to employers fire safety needs. It is the employer that generates risk in the workplace, therefore to ensure the safety of employees, the employer must adhere to the following steps:
1. Identify the fire hazards in the workplace
- sources of ignition, fuel and oxygen.
2. Identify the people at risk
- people in and around the premises.
- people who are especially at risk.
3. Evaluate, remove or reduce the hazards and protect people from risk
- evaluate risks of fire starting.
- evaluate risks to people.
- remove or reduce fire hazards.
- remove or reduce risks to people.
- protect people by providing fire precautions.
4. Record, plan, inform, instruct and train employees
- record the significant findings of the risk assessment and the actions taken.
- co-operate with other responsible persons in shared premises.
- prepare emergency plans.
- inform and instruct relevant people.
- provide training for employees.
5. Review the Fire Risk Assessment regularly and make changes where necessary
WHERE DOES THE RRFSO APPLY?
The RRFSO applies to virtually all premises and covers most types of buildings, structures and open spaces where people are employed or people gather together, such as:
- Offices and shops.
- Factories and warehouses.
- Premises that provide sleeping accommodation.
- Hotels and hostels.
- Residential care premises.
- Educational premises, universities, colleges and schools.
- Places of public assembly.
- Theatres, cinemas and similar premises.
- Open air events and venues.
- Healthcare premises.
- Transport premises and facilities.
- Animal premises and stables.
- Community halls and premises.
- Places of worship.
- Shared areas of premises that several households live in.
- Public houses, restaurants, cafes and clubs.
- Sports arenas.
- Tents and marquees.
The Management of Health & Safety & Compliance audits.
An HSG65 health and safety audit refers to an audit based on the HSG65 framework, which comes from the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publication titled:
“HSG65: Managing for Health and Safety”
This guidance provides a structured approach for managing health and safety effectively in organizations. It’s widely respected and used across industries in the UK and beyond.
HSG65 promotes a Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle to manage health and safety. This model helps organizations continuously improve their safety performance.
What's involved in an HSG65 Audit?
An HSG65 audit evaluates how well an organization is applying the PDCA model to manage health and safety. It looks at:
Plan
Do you have a clear health and safety policy?
Are risks assessed and properly managed?
Are responsibilities clearly defined?
Do
Are people properly trained?
Are control measures implemented?
Are procedures followed?
Check
Are you monitoring performance (inspections, near-miss reporting)?
Are incidents investigated?
Act
Are lessons learned and shared?
Is there a review and improvement process?
What Does the Audit Deliver?
A report on your current health and safety performance
Identification of non-compliance or gaps
Recommendations for improvement
An action plan to help you meet legal obligations and best practices
Benefits of an HSG65 Audit
Helps ensure legal compliance (e.g., under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974)
Identifies areas of risk
Supports continuous improvement
Demonstrates commitment to health and safety