Fire risk prevention measures

Restricting the spread of fire and smoke

To reduce the risk to people if there is a fire, you need to consider how to control or restrict the spread of fire and smoke. The majority of people who die in fires are overcome by the smoke and gases.

It is important to ensure that, in the event of fire, the rate of fire growth is restricted in its early stages. It should also be noted that most measures which restrict the rate of fire growth in its early stages will also serve to restrict the fire spread in its later stages.

Display materials and decorations

Displays are often located in corridors, entrance foyers and shop floors, and generally compromise materials such as paper, cardboard and plastic which provide a means for the rapid spread of fire. You should assess how these materials could contribute to the development of a fire in the area where they are located.

To reduce the risk of fire spread, you should consider the following;

• Avoid the use of displays in corridors and foyers.
• Minimize the size and number of display areas to discrete, separated areas.
• Treating displays with proprietary flame retardant sprays.
• The use of display boxes
• Keep displays away from curtains, light fittings and heaters.
• keep displays away from ceiling voids which may lack fire barriers.
• Ensure that there are no ignition sources in the the vicinity.

Staff information should be confined to appropriately located display boards in areas away from escape routes. Display boards may be used on escape routes as long as they are no bigger than 1m2 or have been enclosed in a sealed display case.

Catering facilities

Wherever possible any extensive catering facilities, particularly those with deep fat fryers, should be located in a separate building, or alternatively, separated from the remainder of the building by fire doors and fire resisting construction and provided with adequate ventilation.

Where flues pass through any part of the structure, the structure should be protected by fire resisting construction. Where fire shutters are used these should be capable of operating both manually and by fusible link. Where a fire detection and warning system is installed, the fire shutter should also be designed to close on activation of the system via a controlled geared mechanism.