FIRE RISK ASSESSMENTS

FIRE SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR BUILDING OCCUPANTS

The following Checklist has been designed to be used by non-specialists to check the fire safety of their buildings.

The questions have been worded such that a 'Yes' answer is the ideal outcome.

General precautions which are applicable to all areas of all buildings.

Check Item Yes No N/A Comme Guidance Notes

nts

1 Are all fire escape routes Items which pose a potential fire hazard and those which could
clear of potential fire cause an obstruction must not be located in corridors or
hazards and staircases used as a means of escape. Flammable or combustible
obstructions? materials, e.g. paper packaging, foam filled furniture, provide the
fuel for a fire which could jeopardize an otherwise protected
route out of the building. Notice boards should not contain an
excessive amount of paper, e.g. overlapping or multi-sheet
notices. Storage of materials in corridors, staircases, etc. seriously
impedes rapid evacuation from buildings, particularly for
disabled people. Temporarily stored items, including items in
transit, e.g. furniture and waste bins, must not be located in
corridors or staircases which serve as the sole means of escape
from a building or part of a building.

2 Are all final exit doors Some buildings still have final exit doors that can only be opened
from the building in an emergency by retrieving a key from a glass-fronted box

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 capable of being easily
and immediately opened
without use of a key from
the inside whenever the
building is occupied?
3 Have tripping hazards
along fire escape routes
been eliminated?
4 Do all fire doors close on
their own securely into
the door frame?
5 Where a vision panel is
fitted in the door can you
see clearly through the
full area of the panel?
6 Have you taken steps to
identify wheelchair users
(and others with
restricted mobility) and
persons with a learning
or sight impairment who
may need assistance
during a fire emergency?
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adjacent to the door. This is acceptable within the terms of the
building's Fire Certificate but such 'key boxes' will be phased out
in due course.
Note particularly worn or 'curling' carpets, loose or missing
nosings on stairs.
Fire doors can be recognized by a small notice on each side with
the wording "Fire Door - Keep Shut" or similar. Pay particular
attention to fire doors to staircases as these are used as refuges
for wheelchair users during a fire
Vision panels are fitted to give early visual warning of a fire on
the other side of the door. There is a tendency to obscure them
with posters, leaflets, curtains, etc.
You will need to speak to each person individually and explain
what he/she needs to do when the fire alarm sounds. Persons with
impaired vision should be "walked" along the escape routes
including, particularly, the routes which are not in general use.
See Appendix 2 of Manual of Safety Section 29 for further
guidance on the use of lifts.
7 Are fire
extinguishers/hose reels
in position and ready for
use?
The correct location of fire fighting equipment can be checked if
necessary with the Safety Office. All such equipment is serviced
bi-annually and a servicing sticker on the appliance should show
a date within the previous 6-month period. Fire blankets do not
have stickers. All fire extinguishers should be mounted on
brackets.

8 Are fire evacuation Notices are generally positioned at final exit doors adjacent to
notices in position with break-glass alarm points. In larger buildings there may be a
up to date information notice at each staircase landing. In residential buildings, there are
additional notices in each study/bedroom.

9 Are smoking The University policy on Smoking at Work is contained in the

prohibitions enforced Manual of Safety, Section 7.
where appropriate?

10 If smoking is permitted, Discarded smoking materials are often the cause of fires
are persons encouraged
to dispose of smoking
materials in a safe
manner and are suitable
receptacles provided in
communal areas where
smoking is permitted?

11 Are flammable/ A slow build-up of heat has been known to cause fires. Plastic
combustible materials chairs have been known to catch fire in this way.
kept away from
radiators and other
heating appliances?

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 12 Does random sampling Faulty or poorly-maintained electrical appliances have been
of test labels indicate that known to cause fires. The frequency of safety electrical testing
portable electrical can be found in the Manual of Safety, Section 6. Testing is
appliances are within the organized by Estates
correct interval for safety
testing?

13 Have steps been taken to In the evenings and at weekends, many doors which provide an
identify persons who exit from buildings during normal working hours, are locked for
may work alone in the security reasons. Lone workers must be made aware of any
building? changes to the opening mechanisms on the doors on the escape
routes outside normal working hours. All means of escape
required during normal hours must be available whenever a
person works in the building outside normal hours. See Manual
of Safety, Section 23.

Additional precautions that are applicable to laboratories, workshops, service areas, etc.

Check Item Yes No N/A Comments Guidance Notes

14 Is the amount of Up to 50 liters of flammable liquid in total can be stored in

flammable liquid stored each workroom. Quantities greater than this should be kept in
in the work place kept to a properly designated storage area.
a minimum?

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15 Are flammable liquids When not in use flammable liquids must be kept in closed,
being stored correctly? properly labeled containers in a fire-resisting bin or cupboard
designed to contain leaks.

16 Are spillage kits, or other

appropriate means of
containing and clearing
up spillages of flammable
liquids, readily available?

17 If freezers/refrigerators Sparking thermostats inside appliances have been known to

are in use, are the cause explosions when flammable vapor has ignited.
thermostats spark-
proofed or located outside
the appliance?

18 Are flammable liquids Vapor from flammable liquids can travel long distances
kept well away from across floors or surfaces and be ignited.
"hot" activities such as
welding, brazing, flame
cutting, use of blow lamps
and grinding machines?

19 Are spare compressed Compressed gas/LPG cylinders can overheat and explode in
gas/ LPG cylinders kept fires. Only during changeover periods are additional cylinders
in properly designated permitted in workplaces.
storage areas?

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20 Are such cylinders If the contents of cylinders ignite, the means of escape may be
positioned away from jeopardized, particularly if the workplace has only one exit.
exits?

21 Where equipment, or Static sparks have been known to ignite flammable liquid
parts of equipment, are vapors.
likely to produce static
sparks, is adequate
earthing provided?