Fire Safety in Church

[Brian Downes]

Ecclesiastical Insurance Company produce some useful but basic advice notes, they also have a web site. More designed for occupiers rather than fire safety proffessionals.
Most problems can be solved by a risk assessment approach and a little lateral thinking. If all else fails pray for divine inspiration!

[captfizz]

eh?
i think i've got a headache!

[David Fox]

The first thing is to contact the local Fire Safety Officer for advice and guidance.  Strictly speaking, churches are in a rather peculiar position and I believe that some of the regulations that apply to other buildings may not apply.  However those on duty in a church owe a duty of care to visitors.

This is a problem that affects our local Cathedral.  Over the last few years a comprehensive Fire Plan has been prepared which includes Evacuation Procedures for the different groups of volunteers who work there.

[Adam Jackson]

Out of interest, e-mailing York Minster (a quick Google should give you their address) may help. They're big, have exactly the kind of publicly- accessible tower you are talking about and given their recent past should be pretty hot on all things fire related, including risk assessments. Can't hurt to send an e-mail in their direction.

[Big A]

I would have thought the risk to life was obvious? I am sorry i have not made it a simple request for info but if you had say 15 members of the public at the top of a tower with only one escape route and a fire started the ground floor, how would you get the people out ? My question is to professionals that have carried out assessments what have they done, restricted use, carried out upgrading and other contol measures etc.
 
Do you know of a church where 15 members of the public assemble in a tower at times when there is no-one else in the building to give warning in case of fire? I was a chorister in my early years and have been organist at several different churches since. As organists are every bit as proud of their anoraks as fire safety enthusiasts, you will no doubt appreciate that I have visited hundreds of churches. I can't think of any (apart from some of the major cathedrals/minsters ) where this would even be possible.
Much more of a problem are the evangelical/charismatic Christian groups and some mosques which regularly cram large numbers of people into premises with hopelessly inadequate MOE. We had a report recently of a mosque that regularly attracted 250 people that only had one door - and that wasn't a final exit.

[Allen Higginson]

Slightly on/off topic here - does this explain why the tea light candles have been removed in recent years and been replaced by electric ones (which you light by pressing a button once you've done your bit)?
Most of the recently built churches (say within the last 20/30 years have some sort of em. lighting and a M cat. fire system.

[Graeme]

Slightly on/off topic here -
ofand a M cat. fire system.

Messiah category?

[Allen Higginson]

Nope - Moses category.The water he was holding back is released and extinguishes the fire.

[Big A]

Slightly on/off topic here - does this explain why the tea light candles have been removed in recent years and been replaced by electric ones (which you light by pressing a button once you've done your bit)?
Most of the recently built churches (say within the last 20/30 years have some sort of em. lighting and a M cat. fire system.

Not really off topic. The '15 people in the tower with only one way out' scenario is exactly that described by 'Guest'.

[Stu2]

We've had a request to put a full height curtain across the full width of our church, about 3 feet from the back wall (where the stage is) to allow for hidden access to the stage during a Christmas event.

This will cover the fire escape door - is this something that we can do, if so, what mitigation factors should we consider (named stewards to pull back the curtain etc?)

The room holds about 100 people.

Any useful info (apart from "use google") gratefully received

thanks
Stu

PS I've found some good online guides from the methodists etc, but this is a rather specific query.

[Ken Taylor]

FR curtain? Exit still evident by BS or EU signage?
The one person to pull one rope to open a closed material exit has previously been OK for licensed events in tents - but even they are often required to have doors these days.

[Sarajayne]

Dear Guest I have conducted several FRA's in places of worship, (North West) if you would like further details please e mail info@tfsltd.net