Review 'regularly'

[Mushy]

Hi all

 I know it states in Article 9 the FRA must be reviewed regularly to keep it up to date and particularly if there has been a 'significant change'

I've heard it banded about that this should be done annually...is this the general consensus of opinion?

lets say that it hasn't been reviewed for say 18 months-2 years because there has been no significant change...what would the Fire Authority have to say on inspection?...maybe civvy can answer that

Would a simple dated note stating 'no significant change' attached to the original document suffice?

cheers

[wee brian]

A review could just be the RP reading through it and checking that there are no material changes. He makes a record of that and bob's your uncle.

[nearlythere]

Hi all

 I know it states in Article 9 the FRA must be reviewed regularly to keep it up to date and particularly if there has been a 'significant change'

I've heard it banded about that this should be done annually...is this the general consensus of opinion?

lets say that it hasn't been reviewed for say 18 months-2 years because there has been no significant change...what would the Fire Authority have to say on inspection?...maybe civvy can answer that

Would a simple dated note stating 'no significant change' attached to the original document suffice?

cheers

Technically a fire risk assessment is a dynamic process and should always be monitored and kept under review to see if it needs reviewed.
The Northern Ireland Regulations, for example, require that a review of the fire risk assessment is carried out regularily so as to keep it up to date, and if there is reason to suspect that it is no longer vaild or there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates including when:-
              the relevant pemises,
              special,  techincal and organisational measures, or
              organisation of the work
undergoes significant change.

Maybe other UK areas have similar regs?

[Tom W]

Ive always thought that the risk assessment should be thoroughly reviewed once every year (not neccesarily by a consultant) just to ensure suitability. However a number of details should be refreshed, adding things like your fire drills, new maintenance for various bits of kit means you are keeping your risk assessment fresh.

I know of many companies who put a certificate with an expiry date with their risk assessments so their client thinks that after 12 months the RA is redundant thus employing their services again. SALES PLOY

[nearlythere]

Ive always thought that the risk assessment should be thoroughly reviewed once every year (not neccesarily by a consultant) just to ensure suitability. However a number of details should be refreshed, adding things like your fire drills, new maintenance for various bits of kit means you are keeping your risk assessment fresh.

I know of many companies who put a certificate with an expiry date with their risk assessments so their client thinks that after 12 months the RA is redundant thus employing their services again. SALES PLOY

Consultants would naturally recommend that a professional review should be carried out annually. I do but there is good reason. If you have ever seen the results of an online FRA, which relies on the observations and knowledge of non competant persons, and compare it to the subject building you will know why.

[Tom W]

Ive always thought that the risk assessment should be thoroughly reviewed once every year (not neccesarily by a consultant) just to ensure suitability. However a number of details should be refreshed, adding things like your fire drills, new maintenance for various bits of kit means you are keeping your risk assessment fresh.

I know of many companies who put a certificate with an expiry date with their risk assessments so their client thinks that after 12 months the RA is redundant thus employing their services again. SALES PLOY

Consultants would naturally recommend that a professional review should be carried out annually. I do but there is good reason. If you have ever seen the results of an online FRA, which relies on the observations and knowledge of non competant persons, and compare it to the subject building you will know why.

Can i ask what timescale you put on? I agree online ones aren't worth the keyboards they are typed on but if you have carried out the FRA the previous year it doesn't sit with your argument.

I have nothing against it being offered but its the way its done and i think producing some kind of certificate is a bit misleading. Saying your FRA is valid for 364 days only is strange.

Im not saying you are doing this im just saying i know of it being done.

(don't get me started on online ones! haha)

[nearlythere]

Ive always thought that the risk assessment should be thoroughly reviewed once every year (not neccesarily by a consultant) just to ensure suitability. However a number of details should be refreshed, adding things like your fire drills, new maintenance for various bits of kit means you are keeping your risk assessment fresh.

I know of many companies who put a certificate with an expiry date with their risk assessments so their client thinks that after 12 months the RA is redundant thus employing their services again. SALES PLOY

Consultants would naturally recommend that a professional review should be carried out annually. I do but there is good reason. If you have ever seen the results of an online FRA, which relies on the observations and knowledge of non competant persons, and compare it to the subject building you will know why.

Can i ask what timescale you put on? I agree online ones aren't worth the keyboards they are typed on but if you have carried out the FRA the previous year it doesn't sit with your argument.

I have nothing against it being offered but its the way its done and i think producing some kind of certificate is a bit misleading. Saying your FRA is valid for 364 days only is strange.

Im not saying you are doing this im just saying i know of it being done.

(don't get me started on online ones! haha)

In that there is no statutory requirement to service fire extinguishers annually neither is there a requirement for an annual "service" of the FRA, only that it is reviewed regularily, whatever that is, so as to keep it up to date. It does however make good sense to do both but if a RP is able to do either then fine.
A FRA is only as relevant and valid as it is up to date which could be for one day or one decade after completion. Responsibility for the duty to review lies solely with the RP not the Risk Assessor. If the RP wants me to review the FRA every month thats fine with me but it will not happen.
I think a yearly professional review is quite in order but this does not remove the RPs responsibility to review dynamically.
I think most assessors who issue annual certificates, which is different to recommending an annual review, are only chasing business as they lack the reputation for providing good quality work.

[Phoenix]

I think that an annual review might be a good average and, possibly, a fall back position.  But, I believe that part of the advice that the fire risk assessor should give to the RP should be guidance on the review period.  And that period can vary greatly depending upon the nature of the premises.  

For example, I have come across factories that have been converted into dozens of artists' studios and workshops and these places can experience very significant changes of relevant circumstances every week.  

On the other hand I know of some premises (say, small shop premises or blocks of flats) that vary little over a period of a decade or more.  

It would be nonsense to recommend the same review period for all premises.  It should always be pointed out to the RP that if they believe that relevant changes have been made then the FRA should be reviewed but as for the periodic review this should be recommended to occur at appropriate intervals.

The question therefore arises, how does the assessor make a judgement on the appropriate interval?  


Stu