Fire risk prevention measures
Existing layout and construction
In many shops, and increasingly in offices, the design is for open-plan areas allowing customers and employees to move freely throughout the floor. Traditionally, occupants are advised to shut doors when escaping from a fire but in open plan areas there are few doors to shut. In these areas the fire, and especially the smoke, may spread faster than expected.
To assess the risk in your premises you need to evaluate the construction and layout of your premises. This does not mean a structural survey, unless you suspect that the structure is damaged or any structural fire protection is missing or damaged, but rather an informed look around to see if there are any easy paths through which smoke and fire may spread and what you can do to stop it. In general, older buildings will have more void areas, possibly hidden from view, which will allow smoke and fire to spread away from its source.
Whatever your type of building, you may need to consider typical situations that may assist the spread of fire and smoke such as;
Particular hazards in corridors used as escape routes
Items that are a source of fuel, pose an ignition risk, or are combustible and likely to increase the fire loading or spread of fire, should not be located on any corridor or, stairway or circulation space that will be used as an escape route.
Such items include;
However, where more than one escape route is available and depending on the findings of your risk assessment, items such as those below may be acceptable if the minimum exit widths are maintained and the item presents a relatively low fire risk;