Month: March 2019

This month we invited Willis Employment Services Limited, part of Willis Insurance and Risk Management, to write a Guest Blog for us on the subject of Fire Safety Programmes.

Leanne Cahill of Willis, outlines the importance from a risk management perspective, of having an adequate Fire Safety Programme within a business.

Q: Leanne, what are the implications of a business not having an adequate Fire Safety programme?

If you are an employer or own premises, it’s important that you are proactive in ensuring that proper fire safety precautions are in place. Without a sufficient fire safety programme, you are exposing your organisation to huge losses and legal actions.

Q: How can a business owner create an effective Fire Safety Programme?

There are two key measures you can take to establish an effective fire safety programme: (1) ensure you have the necessary equipment for putting out fires and, (2) establishing a fire prevention programme.

• Portable fire extinguishers allow suitably trained people to tackle a fire in its early stages. When deciding on the types of extinguishers to provide, consider the materials you use and store in your workplace. Fire extinguishers should be kept in obvious positions on escape routes and close to high-risk activities such as welding. Fire blankets should be kept near the fire hazard they will be used on. Store blankets in a position which is easy and safe to get to if there is a fire.
• It is also critical to have a fire prevention programme in place. To establish a plan, consider the following three steps:

Step 1: Evaluate the Building

First, examine the structure of your premises.

• Your plan will depend on whether the building has a sprinkler system. If it does not, your evacuation will need to be faster and more efficient, so your plan should take that into consideration.
• Evaluate the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) to determine if the vent system will disperse smoke. Additionally, determine if the HVAC has an automatic shut-off in place for the air handlers should the fire alarm sound.
• Inspect the lift to determine if it has fire-resistant gaskets, if pressurisation has been used to prevent smoke from entering the lift shaft and if the vertical utility shafts have adequate sealing.
• Evaluate whether the building has enough smoke detectors and determine if it has an automatic fire service notification system in place.
• Determine if the building has smoke barriers that will trap the fire in a certain area until the fire service can put it out.
• Inspect the fire doors. The main categories of fire doors are FD30 and FD60 which offer 30 and 60 minutes fire protection. Also, door latches installed outside of the door prevent the door from opening even under the pressure of fire.

Step 2: Create Evacuation Procedures

You should provide employees with specific instructions if they discover a fire or hear a fire alarm. This information should be clearly posted for staff members and should also be part of your employee handbook. The procedural information should include the following:

• Appropriate actions when discovering a fire
• Explanations for how to activate the alarm
• Guidelines for how to exit the building while assisting vulnerable groups
• Instructions for how to greet fire service staff

Step 3: Staff Training and Drills

For staff members to understand the proper procedures and have the ability to perform them quickly, you must conduct thorough staff training and periodic fire drills.

On a frequent basis, fire wardens should conduct fire drills with staff. While doing so, you can determine how well the employees are prepared in the event of an actual fire. From there, you can conduct additional training in areas that need improving.

How important are these measures from an insurance perspective?

A solid fire prevention plan eliminates your risk of penalties from the government, lowers your risk of negligence legal actions, protects your building and your business, and keeps your employees and visitors safe. With the appropriate technology and procedures in place, your business can be prepared in the event of a fire and avoid a potentially catastrophic situation.

For further information and support on creating a Fire Safety Programme for your business contact Leanne Cahill on 028 9032 9042 or email leannec@willisemploymentservices.co.uk.

For more information on the range of Life Safety systems offered by Diamond, click here.

Name: Connor White

Position: Apprentice Engineer

How long have you been in your role?

I am studying City and Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Knowledge of Electronic Security and Emergency Systems under the Apprenticeships NI scheme, in Belfast Metropolitan College. I started this course in September 2018, and from then I have been going to work at Diamond systems 3 days of the week and to the college 2 days.

Describe a typical day?

During my 3 days per week at work I feel as if the information that you gather while on the job is second to none.  It gives you a feeling of independence going out to work and learning new skills every day. The college is very much the same as we do theory one day and practical the next. This helps me acquire skills that I can take with me to my place of work, for example in tech we have learnt how to install a full intruder alarm panel, and then add all the devices to it, so this gives us a introductory experience of installation.

 How would you describe the culture within Diamond?

Since I started working at Diamond I can say that everyone has welcomed me with open arms.  Everyone in the company is keen on helping me learn and expand my skills for the future.

 What do you like most about your role? 

When I am at work and am out with an engineer, we have set jobs to complete during the day. These jobs can vary between CCTV, Intruder, Fire and Access Control and this is what I really like about the job – you are never stuck doing just one thing, and there are always opportunities to learn something new.

 

Fire detection and alarm systems, like any form of technology, don’t last forever.  When your fire alarm system exceeds ten years old, it may be time to consider upgrading.

Why Ten Years?

The lifetime of the optical parts inside a smoke detector is defined as the time expected for it to drop to below 70% of its initial light output. Although it will still operate, the detector will cease to operate within its designed specification.

Other electronic components are known to slowly change specification over time. This can affect the sensitivity of the smoke sensor over a long period of time. An increase in sensitivity might cause false alarms. Decreased sensitivity could significantly affect the time required to detect a fire and impact the time available for evacuation or other fire response measures.

All devices should be replaced in accordance with applicable legislation in the country where they are installed. If not required to be replaced earlier, we recommend that any devices over ten years old should be replaced as part of your buildings’ standard maintenance and upgrade processes.

The Upgrade Process

The process is less daunting than you might think, and partnering with a specialist such as Diamond will ensure a smooth transition to a modern fire detection and alarm system.

Older fire alarm systems often no longer meet current safety requirements. Nuisance alarms may occur more often as the system ages, resulting in downtime and an interruption to business processes. In certain sectors, including hospitality, false alarms have an impact on the reputation of your brand, and may even result in a financial loss. Additionally, older systems require increasingly intensive maintenance, and it could be more economical to consider an upgrade to newer technology rather than putting more money into an old system. All these aspects affect your safety needs, and those of the occupants within your premises, which is why a fire alarm system requires timely modernisation.

Diamond Systems, in partnership with the world’s leading fire detection and alarm manufacturers, will guide you through the upgrade process and offer you a range of brands, depending on your budget and exact requirements. You may not need a complete system replacement, as some of our brands will utilise the existing cabling within the premises, saving you money on the overall upgrade.

Phased Modernisation to New Technology

You can also choose to upgrade you fire alarm system in stages, by way of a phased modernisation. A phased approach offers the advantage of bringing modernisation in line with your requirements and budget.  Upgrading to the latest technology ensures that your fire safety is kept up to date.

In conjunction with Siemens Financial, Diamond Systems are pleased to offer leasing options over 3 or 5 years, to help spread the cost of upgrading. You may also wish to include a fully comprehensive contract in the leasing package, helping you to accurately forecast expenditure over time.

Features of Modern Fire Detection & Alarm Systems

Diamond offer a range of intelligent Fire Detection and Alarm Systems, with most modern fire alarms now offering the following features:

• Longer life cycle: 20- 25 years compared to the traditional 10 year life cycle
• Smart detection – fast, reliable detection with immunity to deceptive phenomena e.g. steam, dust, aerosols
• Remote access – for both the user and the maintenance specialist
• Degrade mode – communication of an alarm even in the event of a processor failure
• Radio fire detection – useful for temporary installations or historic buildings
• Easy and intuitive to operate
• True Open Protocol systems
• Cloud connectivity – providing greater visibility on multiple buildings from any location. The resulting higher responsiveness increases safety and enhances operational efficiency

To discuss the life safety requirements for your business, or to arrange a demonstration of the latest fire detection and alarm systems on the market, contact us on 02890 207 207, or email sales@diamondsystems.co.uk.