Building/type use assesments

[letspretend]

Hi, I work as a consultant on various water projects. I am putting together a programme for fire hydant inspections based on a priority/risk assessed approach. My question is how are properties evaluated as high/medium/low risk. I have lists of properties that I have divided up, schools, daycare, shopping malls etc. Is there some guidance document available to identify high/medium/low risk properties so our inspection/maintenance regimes are aligned?

Any help or guidance is gratefully received.

Regards

[kurnal]

Have you seen this document?

http://admin.evolvingmedia.co.uk/users/files/0National_guidance_document.pdf

Section 6 and Appendix 5 may be what you are looking for

[letspretend]

Thanks for that, yes I have, however I was looking for a more specific example. I.E Schools inspection annually, Fuel Depots monthly, Mid size hospitals quarterly. That sort of thing. Does such a list exist?

Apreciate your help.

Regards

[kurnal]

As far as I am aware, the information you seek does exist to some extent in guidance documents,  but I dont think there is any National holistic guidance that relates risk factors directly to occupancy types and maintenance  other than as detailed above.

EG  the HTM series makes references to maintenance procedures but only for hospitals, I think there is there is something in BS5306 for the maintenace of private hydrant systems - I can't remember how setailed it is,
The brigades use risk profiling to determine their attendances to special risks as part of their IRMP and their risk rating procedures are in the public domain. But the link you are seeking does not exist as far as I know- I hope you can prove me wrong though.

[nearlythere]

If you look in your Fire & Rescue Service's web sit for the Integrated Risk Management Plan you should find a risk catagorisation map. This might be too general for your needs but worth a look.

[Mike Buckley]

OK it was some time ago, but we used to carry out two types of inspection on the hydrants one was a flush where shipped a standpipe and then turned the hydrant on. The result of this depended on the location of the hydrant, it could result in clear water or a slug of mud. The other was a visual inspection where we opened the pit and visually checked to see if we could still ship the standpipe.

In general the results tended to show that the hydrants on sites such as hospitals were clear whilst those on busy roads got filled up.

However how things are under the new regime I do not know.

[johno67]

letspretend

Fire safety inspection programmes are now based on the details contained within Fire Service Circular 1/2004 FPA Circular 29. This document details different types of premises and occupancy based on risk. I think it may answer your original question . I have a PDF copy if you want it e-mailed.

[letspretend]

Thanks all for your comments, I have been supplied with some really good info, just one last query, how often would a brigade inspect very high risk/high/low risk proeprties or is there a regional approach?

Regards

[CivvyFSO]

The frequency of inspection is linked to the following data gathered during an audit:

The audit compliance score if an audit has been done
History of fires
Unwanted fire signals
Known fire setting in the area
Building features that may assist fire spread
Fire loading
Access for fire fighting
Water supplies
Maximum number of people in the premises
Size of the building
Vulnerability of occupants
Monitored automatic fire alarm
Area of building
Positive pressure smoke control
Sprinkler system

All of these give a relative risk level, that is then compared to the use of the building, i.e. Hospital. Then something somewhere does some maths, possibly taking into account the area that the building is situated in also, and comes up with an inspection frequency.

The very high risk buildings will get inspected yearly. For low risk the longest inspection period I have seen is 35 years. (100% life safety sprinklered small shop unit, very good compliance level etc)

In line with the Regulators Complaince Code we should all be following this type of approach.

[kurnal]

Civvy thats a useful posting and I am sure it will be of interest to letspretend- but I think his query is specifically in relation to the inspection and testing of fire hydrants and how brigades relate this to the risk?

[CivvyFSO]

Ah, I thought the original posting was referring to this, but I thought that last one was specific to premises and not hydrants. This 'relative risk level' will highlight the risks to the operational crews also, so they should be targetting the risk areas as priority, the actual frequency of these inspections I can't help with. If our "Senior Hydrant Inspecting Technician" (He calls himself this because he likes the acronym) shows up I will ask the question if it doesn't get answered here.

[letspretend]

Thanks again, here in Queensland there is a focus on bush fires and the like, however I cant find any evidence of Hazard ratings. I have been asked to produce hydrant inspection priorties. What I cant put my finger on is a risk matrix or something absolute. Though I am far further down the road than I was last week, I still am uncertain in using building codes as they are vague. Again your help and advise is valued.

Regards