FIA Best Practice Guide

[Mar62]

With regards to the recently published Best Practice Guide which has been written "to help persons responsible for fire safety in commercial premises understand their duties", but I dont find any mention of weekly tests? It just mentions it has to "maintained" in accordance with BS 5839, so then an RP has to go elsewhere to see what BS 5839 says? Surely it wouldnt have been difficult to write it in plain and simple terms. Plus no mention of monthly tests etc on emergency lighting. Have had feedback from a few people I showed and they didn't find it very helpful at all really. Maybe I'm missing something?

[CivvyFSO]

"It is a criminal offence not to comply with fire safety duties."

Oh dear.

[CivvyFSO]

"It does NOT apply to:

• Building sites (but it does apply to temporary buildings such as site offices)"

OH DEAR!

[CivvyFSO]

There's more:

"If your organisation employs five or more people and your premises are licensed, or an alterations notice is in force, you must record the significant findings of the assessment."

Maybe the 'and' should be an 'or'?

And, with regards to the alterations notice, it is only if the notice requires it that the findings need to be recorded.

[Mar62]

Is that you agreeing with me Civvy???

[CivvyFSO]

If by "agreeing with me" you mean that we both think that it is pants, yes.

[Mar62]

Ha ha yes definately agree with that.......

[Graham Simons (FIA)]

Dear Martin672 and CivvyFSO,

Many thanks for your comments about our newly published Best Practice Guide to Fire Safety. I’m keen to discuss your comments in further detail; please feel free to call me on 020 3166 5002 or email me at gsimons@fia.uk.com. One simple issue; you are right about the 'and', it should have been a ','. That was an editorial error that slipped in between my copy and the printers, well spotted! We are due to reprint the guide shortly (due to popular demand) and so this is a great time to address any issues you may have.

[CivvyFSO]

I am relatively happy to address them here to be honest.

• The RRFSO does apply to construction sites.
• With respect to alterations notices, it is only when the alterations notice specifically states that the prescribed information needs to be recorded that it is required.
• It is not a criminal offence not to comply with fire safety duties. It is an offence for certain things such as making false records, obstructing an inspector, not complying with certain elements such as enforcement notices, prohibition notices etc. As far as general fire safety duties go then relevant persons have to be put at risk of death or serious injury for there to be an offence.
• As Martin pointed out, wouldn't it have been reasonable to give people estimated timeframes for maintenance to the BS. (Or 'best practice' to put it another way)

Did any sort of proof reading / consultation go on regarding this?

[Mar62]

Have to admit I didn't read it with the same keen eye as Civvy did but feel that the content wasn't as explanatory as it could of been. I feel that a document of this nature where it is being written for RP's (who may know nothing about fire safety) should have their duties spelled out i.e. "weekly tests should be carried out by activating a different call point in rotation each week and the tests should be recorded". Just my view.

[David Rooney]

We are due to reprint the guide shortly (due to popular demand) and so this is a great time to address any issues you may have.

Surely these issues should have been quite readily addressed by a competent person proof reading and verifying all the factual content before the expense and embarrassment of going to print ?

[wee brian]

nobody is perfect. lets help the guy out rather than just giving him stick.
I've only skimmed it and I agree with Civvy so far.

[Tom W]

Well said WB, The Fia are trying to improve the industry, its our trade association and they should be given as much help as pos.

No one is perfect