Regulation 16B, Appendix G AD B Fire Safety

[hammer1]

What are your experiences in receiving appropriate information in relation to fire safety from new builds or major alterations in buildings.

The regulation 16B and appendix G of the ADB  fire safety advice us to gather information from the design stage to put together a type of 'health and safety file' folder that includes all relevant information, .i.e. details of fire protection and escape, any design assumptions for use for the management of the building, detailed fire strategy (can be straight forward for simple buildings and be part of the fire safety manual), any performance base approach designs for complex buildings, buildings not constructed to ADB.

Reading BS 9999 they are also advising the the fire safety manual should start to be compiled at the design stage and progress until it is handed over to the 'responsible person' on completion. This document should then be used as a benchmark for the management of fire safety during the life of the building and be the first stop to any risk assessor conducting a FRA.

This all seems the same set up as the health and safety folder in regards to CDM 2007.

However what are your experiences on seeing this type of information, might get something in the health and safety folder, but hardly a stand alone document. The building inspectors should satisfy themselves this is in place prior to signing off buildings for completion.

What would you expect to see?? From my experiences being involved in the CDM side, hardly much information to transferred to the occupier on completion, what is handed over is normally not in order.

Obviously the HSE monitor and check where CDM is concerned, but who are the enforcing authorities to assess the above is being done??

Would like your views chaps

[kurnal]

Yes its becoming a significant part of the business and if we are involved early enough is a good means of recording those compromises, checks and balances that contribute to the final fire strategy for the building. It records why decisions were made. It is then used to inform the fire risk assessment and the fire emergency plan once the building is occupied. Like all things we have our own way of doing things, I start off with a commentary on compliance with the Functional Requirements and how they will be met, then move on into sections covieng how the building will be managed and used.

[Jim Creak]

Absolutely, this is the keystone document if the RRO is to deliver excellence in fire safety......The Vision and Objectives of Property, Life and Business protection should be outlined by the designer of the building.. maybe singularly in respect to speculative construction or in conjunction with the clients wishes for his operation. Once we start to put the Strategy down at this early stage....we will all be better prepared to specify the necessary arrangements to deliver the vision and objectives for any client.

The other main reason for the Fire Safety Manual is so that any compensatory features or Fire Engineering Solutions can be fully understood in context with any necessary Fire Safety Management requirements..This knowledge is vital and dynamic throughout the life time of the building regardless of personnel changes. It is also vital to keep testing the basic model and theory behind the first acceptance of deviation... Things change.. remember Omissions and Errors Excepted etc etc