Fire retardency of curtains and bedding in care homes

[Paul2886]

Am I thinking on the same lines as you folks out there.
Do we really need fire retardent curtains and bedding within the residents rooms if we can: lower the risk of fire within the room to a very acceptable level, ensure automatic detection is within the room, the room is a non-smoking room, the room is fitted with a FD30s door held open, if required, by an approved device and coupled with good staff fire training.
I always advocate that escape routes and other common areas have furnishings and fittings that meet the current standards of fire retardency but not necessarily the residents rooms owing to the on-going washing and laundry procedures to maintain the fire retardency.

[wee brian]

No.  Preventing fires should be top of the list.

[Paul2886]

No.  Preventing fires should be top of the list.

Is that 'no' we don't need it or 'no' you don't agree. If no, you don't agree then just to say the risk of a fire has been reduced considerably by removing all heat sources like bedside lamps with naked bulbs, trailing extension leads and ensuring the room is non smoking

[kurnal]

I agree with you Paul.  But never had to argue the case yet.

[wee brian]

Am I thinking on the same lines as you folks out there.

no

[Paul2886]

Am I thinking on the same lines as you folks out there.

no

Blanket statements like that are not in my opinion fire risk assessments but taking the easy route of applying the book. Almost the same as just ticking boxes. Do you then ask to see evidence of correct laundry procedures of the curtains and bedding in residents rooms when undertaking a fire risk assessment.

[kurnal]

In a well managed home with correct fire separation and management as you describe Paul, for a resident who does not smoke I cannot see how fire retardant sheets and bedding contribute to the fire safety of relevant persons. Yes as an additional risk control measure if  someone is likely to smoke in their room then it is essential.

Half the people who get excited about this sort of trivia on their enforcement inspections havn't the gumption to check more important things like whether the fire alarm is correctly configured and installed , whether the escape lighting works on sub circuit failure, whether cavity barries and compartmentation are in place within voids and most important of all whether the emergency plan has a prayer of a chance to work in an emergency.

Grandma's duvet cover is an easy hit for them.

[Paul2886]

Kurnal,
Absolutely agree with your every word regarding this matter and sure that most fire risk assessors of experience would as well.

[wee brian]

I hear what you are saying but. Lots of them do smoke. Preventing fires should be our first port of call.

[terry martin]

I'm with Kurnal on this. specific control measure for the smoker maybe. but for everyone is a bit OTT. again as Kurnal says their are far more risk critical things to worry about.

and better safety measures the RP could be spending his hard earned cash on

[Paul2886]

I hear what you are saying but. Lots of them do smoke. Preventing fires should be our first port of call.

Isn't that what we were saying that it is risk assessed and not about ticking a box cos thats what the 'book' says. Now here's a good case for insisting on fire retardent bedding and curtains:

The resident smokes within the room
There is no smoke detection within the room
The room is not fitted with a fire door
Extension leads are trailed across the floor
No free standing convector heaters

Even before asking for fire resistant bedding etc I would prefer to remedy the above points

Simple eh, nothing scientific about things

[wee brian]

Trouble is that you can't stop them smoking.

How do you sort the FR bedding from the other stuff?

Would you provide AFD rather than prevent the fire in the first place?

[kurnal]

My experience is that smokers are a tiny minority nowadays- of several homes I look after only one has a resident who is allowed to smoke in their room. Others have their fags and lighter held in the office.

[wee brian]

Sounds like Matron is doing her stuff.

My concern is that (according to this report) a significant number of fatalities in this type of premises occur where smokers set fire to themselves or their bedding/chair etc.

http://www.bre.co.uk/filelibrary/consultations/partB/Sprinkler_Effectiveness_in_Care_Homes.pdf

Taking their fags away from them would be better but I'm not sure its always viable.

[Mike Buckley]

The problem with taking the fags away is the smokers will find ways to get round their problem (no fags) and create another problem (fags and matches hidden and secret smoking dens).

Even though the new law makes it more difficult to smoke I just have to look at the penguins huddled round the smoking shelter in the middle of January to see how hard it is for some people to stop.

Quote from a smoker " Giving up smoking is easy, I've done it hundreds of times"