Fire Risk Prevention Measures

Information About Arson

Recent studies indicate that, across all premises types, over 2,100 deliberately set fire, resulting in two deaths and 55 injuries, occur every week. In shops it is estimated that 44% of all fires are deliberately set. All premises can be targeted either deliberately or just because they offer easy access.

Be aware of other small, deliberately set fires in the locality, which can indicate an increased risk to your premises. Be suspicious of any small "accidental" fires on the premises and investigate them fully and record your findings.

Fires started deliberately can be particularly dangerous because they generally develop much faster and may be intentionally started in escape routes. Of all the risk-reduction measures, the most benefit may come from efforts to reduce the threat from arson.

Measures to reduce arson may include the following;

• Ensure the outside of the premises is well lit and, if practical, secure the perimeter of the premises.
• Thoroughly secure all entry points to the premises, including windows and roof, but make sure that this does not compromise people`s ability to use the escape routes.
• Ensure you regularly remove all combustible rubbish.
• Do not place rubbish skips adjacent to the building and secure waste bins in a compound separated from the building.
• Do not park vehicles or store goods or materials in he open next to windows or doors opening into buildings.
• Encourage staff to report people acting suspiciously.
• Remove automatic entry rights from staff who have been dismissed.
• Ensure that your security alarm/fire detection system is monitored and acted on.
• Secure flammable liquids so that intruders cannot use them.
• Secure all storage areas and unused areas of the building that do not form part of an escape route against unauthorised access.
• Ensure access to keys to those areas are restricted.
• Fit secure metal letterboxes on the inside of letter flaps to contain any burning materials that may be pushed through.

Help for people with special needs. Of all the people who may be especially at risk you will need to pay particular attention to people who may have special needs, including those with disability. The disability rights commission estimates that 11 million people in this country have some form of disability, which may mean they find it more difficult to leave a building if there is a fire.

Under the disability Discrimination act, if disabled people could realistically expect to use your premises, then you must anticipate any reasonable adjustments that would make it easier for that right to be exercised. The disability Discrimination act includes the concept of "reasonable adjustments" and this can be carried over into fire safety law. It can mean different things in different circumstances.