Fire Risk Assessment

St Mary's Community Centre

This fire risk assessment is considered to be suitable and sufficient to meet the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

For St Mary’s Community Centre, responsibility for all aspects of fire safety will be held by the Centre Management Team.

The Centre Management Team is responsible for any subsequent changes to the premises, subsequent faults in equipment, or deterioration in the premises and testing requirements and the responsibility for the ongoing management of the premises.

All sections should be strictly adhered to in order for this document to remain valid.

The Centre Management Team shall ensure that this risk assessment is constantly maintained, reviewed at least annually and amended as necessary.

Document History and Review Record

The document shall be reviewed at least annually and the details recorded below

Introduction

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order came into force in October 2006. It firmly places the responsibility on the ‘Responsible Person’ and outlines all the measures that must be taken to ensure the safety of all people you are directly or indirectly responsible for.

The above order amends or replaces 118 pieces of legislation, the most significant being the repeal of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 (Fire Certificates), and the revocation of the Fire Precautions (workplace) Regulations 1997.

What is required?

Under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, anyone who has control of premises or who has a degree of control over certain areas or systems may be designated a ‘responsible person’ (eg. an employer, a managing agent, an owner, an occupier or any other person who has some control over all or part of relevant premises).

This responsibility will be held by the Centre Management Team, with the Chairperson acting as signatory when required, and it will:

• Maintain the Fire Risk Assessment, identifying the risks and hazards.

• Maintain the Fire Log book.

• Have in place a Fire Safety Strategy.

• Report on who is considered to be especially at risk.

• Put in place plans and actions to eliminate or reduce the risk from fire as far as is reasonably practical, and provide general fire precautions to deal with any residual risk.

• Take additional measures to ensure fire safety where flammable or explosive materials are used or stored.

• Review the Fire Risk Assessment at least annually.

Centre Management Team

The list of team members is held by the management team of St Mary’s Church.

Building Construction & Use

The building is a ground floor construction with concrete and stone walls with an asphalt/rubber roof. The building underwent a full refurbishment in 2018, and was extended to accommodate new toilets, kitchen and office. This work was carried out in line with Building Regulations in place at the time.

The building is widely used by the church and local community for various activities and celebrations.

Fire Strategy

Automatic smoke detection is provided throughout.

Adequate exit routes in the event of an emergency are provided.

Emergency lighting is in place.

Alternative means of escape is available from all areas for those who are able bodied, apart from the storage cellar. For wheel chair users, particularly those using battery powered chairs that are difficult to lift, the only means of escape is via the main front door.

Sufficient fire-fighting equipment is in place.

Combustibles and ignition sources are kept to a minimum in all areas.

A Fire Safety Strategy is in place.

Regular fire safety checks are undertaken.

Identification of Fire Hazards for St Mary's Community Centre

Identification of Persons at Risk for St Mary's Community Centre

1.0         Management of Fire Safety

1.1         As previously stated, the Centre Management Team is accountable for the safety of everyone who uses the building. Such accountability includes the requirements to communicate, inform, control, train and provide documentary evidence of compliance to the Community Centre’s own procedures, and, where necessary, to any enforcing authority.

1.2        The Centre Management Team’s ability to instruct, train and develop will determine the success or otherwise of good fire safety management. Volunteers/staff will be encouraged to contribute to the creation of a safe environment.

1.3        The Centre Management Team will undertake its responsibilities diligently and regularly carry out fire safety inspections of the property. Adequate procedures will be adopted to ensure that any vulnerable persons or those with mobility issues are aware of the evacuation procedures. If any additional requirements are needed these will be recorded and implemented.

 1.4        All volunteers/staff will be made aware of their fire safety duties.

 1.5        Fire Safety will be a permanent item on Centre Management Team meetings.

 1.6        Users/hirers of the premises must carry out their own fire risk assessment, taking into account their expected audience and capacity.

2.0         Electrical Ignition Risks

2.1         All portable electrical appliances will be maintained in a safe condition. If any piece of electrical equipment fails a Portable Appliance Test, the item shall be repaired or replaced with new.

2.2        Regular examinations shall be carried out to ensure there is no damage to any electrical equipment and cables.  Should any problems be found, a competent electrical engineer shall attend to resolve the problem.

3.0         Other Ignition risks

3.1        Waste Management

Internal waste storage is of an acceptable standard, and removed from the premises regularly. The combustible waste never exceeds the storage capacity. Externally, the bins are positioned away from the building.

3.2        Smoking Policy

There is a no smoking policy inside the premises, including e cigarettes. Smoking may take place outside.

3.3         Furniture and furnishings

All furniture and furnishings inside the premises conform to the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire Safety) Regulations. Frequent inspections should be carried out by the responsible person(s) to ensure there is no evidence of scorch marks or cigarette burns.

3.4        Naked Flames

Naked flames are used on some occasions for family celebrations and church related activities.  When this is to happen, users should be made aware that such flames should not be left unattended. There is a gas cooker in the kitchen.

3.5        Gas Safety

There will be an annual safety check on all gas appliances.

4.0        Risks of Arson

4.1        Management regularly inspects the building, and ensures that all risks and targets are kept to a minimum.

5.0        Fire Safety Training

5.1        Existing and newly appointed volunteers/staff will be advised of fire safety for the building. They are to be made aware of the premises and all escape routes and given a basic understanding of fire-fighting equipment. However, volunteers/staff should only be expected to tackle a fire with an extinguisher if they are trained or feel competent.

5.2        Fire drills - Due to the nature of the building and the way it is used, the Centre Management Team has agreed that it would be impractical for the Centre Management Team to organize and carry out fire drills for the various user groups. Instead, we recommend that groups carry out their own fire evacuation drill annually, with the support of the Centre Management Team if requested.

5.3        Fire Safety Checks – The Centre Management Team will ensure that appropriate training is provided to individuals who undertake these regular checks.

6.0        Documentation

6.1        Fire safety records of all documents are to be kept up to date and available for inspection by the Fire Authority. These include monthly checks of the fire alarm, emergency lighting, and fire-fighting equipment.

7.0        Doors and Means of escape

7.1        All fire doors are 30 minutes fire resistant and are self-closing.

7.2        Alternative means of escape is available from all areas for those who are able bodied, apart from the storage cellar. For wheel chair users, particularly those using battery powered chairs that are difficult to lift, the only means of escape is via the main front door. The stairway to the cellar shall be kept unobstructed at all times.

7.3        All emergency exit doors can be opened without the use of a key ie. by a push bar.

8.0        Signs and Notices

8.1        All signs are to be in accordance with the current issue of the British Standard and incorporate a graphic symbol. 

8.2        Signs used to indicate an Emergency Escape (ie. door exits and escape routes) shall contain a pictogram of a figure moving through a doorway, supplemented by a directional arrow, as necessary, to form the sign.

8.3        Signs bearing the words ‘Fire Door Keep Shut’ in white lettering at least 5mm in height and of proportionate width on a blue background, shall be provided on both sides of all such doors 1.5m above floor level and be visible when the door is in the open position.

8.4        Signs bearing the words ‘Keep Locked Shut’ in white lettering at least 5mm in height and of proportionate width on a blue background, shall be provided on store room doors.

8.5        Signs bearing the words ‘Fire Exit Keep Clear’ shall be provided on the external face of all final exit doors.

8.6        Fire action notices complete with appropriate details shall be provided by the fire call points.

8.7        A sign bearing the words ‘Push Bar to Open’ shall be provided on all final exit doors with this opening device.

9.0        Emergency Lighting

9.1        An emergency lighting system is provided throughout the premises and the external means of escape. The emergency lights are checked and tested on a monthly basis by volunteers, and twice annually by a specialist company.

10.0        Fire Alarm

10.1        The premises are fitted with a L1 fire alarm system. Individual fire call points are tested in rotation on a monthly basis by volunteers and a record kept of the results.

10.2        The fire detection system is certified, checked, maintained and inspected by a competent engineer twice a year.

11.0        Fire Fighting Equipment

11.1        There is sufficient fire-fighting equipment provided throughout the premises. It is checked on a monthly basis and checked twice annually by a specialist company.  Details of the equipment is kept in the Fire Safety Log Book.

12.0        Fire Appliance Access

12.1        Access for all fire appliances is satisfactory from the front of the premises.

13.0        Water Supplies

13.1        Water supplies are sufficient for the premises. Fire hydrants are provided within 90m of entry point to the building and not more than 90m apart, along Selby Road and also Colton Road.

14.0        Fire Assembly Point

14.1        The fire assembly point is located at the base of the Church Tower.

15.0        Occupancy Figures

15.1        Safe capacity is calculated at 300 persons.

16.0    Review of the Fire Risk Assessment

Constant awareness of how the building is being used is needed in order to assess the validity of this fire risk assessment, and how effectively the risk is being controlled.

If there is any reason to suspect that the fire risk assessment is no longer valid, or there has been significant changes to the premises that have affected the fire precautions, a review will be needed and the document amended as required.

Reasons for a review:

• Changes to the type of activities being undertaken in the building

• Introduction of new equipment

• Alterations to the building, including the internal layout

• Substantial changes of use or increase in the storage of hazardous substances

• The failure of fire precautions eg. fire detection systems, alarms etc.

• Problems reported by volunteers/staff

• Significant increase in the number of people in attendance

• The presence of people with mobility issues

The potential risk of any significant change will be considered before it is introduced.