WHAT IS A FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT?

A fire risk assessment is a process involving the systematic evaluation of the factors that determine the hazard from fire, the likelihood that there will be a fire and the consequences if one were to occur.

There are both qualitative and quantitative methods of risk assessment that can be used. Semi quantitative points schemes can also employed.

WHAT SKILLS ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT A FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT?
The person carrying out the fire risk assessment should be competent to do this.

A competent person may be regarded as a person with sufficient training and experience, knowledge or other qualities, to enable him or her to carry out a defined task properly.

WHO WE ARE?
Steehold Company Limted have been given linsense by the Ghana National Fire Service. Being a member of Fire Detection Installers Association, NFPA and Bureau Veritas, we have also been awarded a certificate as a company for fire risk assessment. This again provides you with assurances that our staff are competent and that our procedures and processes have been rigorously examined and assessed by a 3rd party certification body.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

A fire risk assessment involves a physical inspection of the building to determine the adequacy of the existing fire precautions and the need for any additional measures. However, of equal importance to the physical inspection is a review of fire safety management in the organisation and consideration of the human factors – how people will respond to an emergency and whether they will take appropriate action.

There are practical limits to the extent of the survey and evaluation of the fire precautions. For example, in undertaking a fire risk assessment, we would not carry out detailed engineering evaluation or testing of fire protection systems, emergency escape lighting, etc. However, we would inspect such systems visually. Where appropriate, we would identify the need for any further engineering evaluation, which we would be able to carry out if required.

Similarly, the survey of the construction of the building would extend to readily accessible areas of the building only. We would not undertake destructive exposure. While we would inspect above false ceilings, where possible, this would be on a sampling basis only. Again, if we considered that more thorough examination of such areas was necessary, we would highlight this to you.

In the case of a fire risk assessment aimed at satisfying the requirements of legislation, the objective of the risk assessment will primarily be the safety of the occupants of the building. While some of the recommendations we may make could also be beneficial to property protection, we would not be specifically addressing this objective or the objective of avoiding business interruption from fire. However, we do have the expertise to address these objectives, if required.

WHAT DOES IT COVER?

The scope of the survey involved in a fire risk assessment would include the following particular aspects of fire safety:

• Fire loss experience
• Fire hazards
• Fire prevention
• Storage and handling of flammable liquids and gases
• Housekeeping
• Means of escape
• Flammability of linings
• Emergency escape lighting
• Fire safety signs and notices
• Fire detection and fire alarm systems
• Fire extinguishing systems and appliances
• Smoke control systems
• Facilities for use by the fire and rescue service
• Arrangements for management of fire safety
• Fire procedures.
• Training and drills
• Testing and maintenance
• Records