Fire Fighting Equipment Provision and Training
The University provides fire-fighting equipment, in the form of portable fire extinguishers, in all of it's buildings. In addition, certain buildings are fitted with fixed hose reels. Legislation requires that such equipment is maintained in good working order and is only used by people who are competent (i.e. trained and experienced). The University's Fire Safety Policy details the University's commitment to ensure that these requirements are met.
This guidance note discusses provision of fire-fighting equipment in University buildings in the context of fire risk assessment and the means by which the University intend to meet the requirement for users to be deemed competent.
Provision of Extinguishers:
Historically, fire extinguishers have been provided according to a formula derived from British Standards. With the advent of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (FSO), a more rational approach is to provide fire extinguishers based on the findings of a risk assessment. This enables numbers of extinguishers to be provided at areas where there is a significant risk of fire and, conversely, the removal of extinguishers where fire risks are deemed as being trivial. This approach also allows the University to re-appraise who is trained in the use of extinguishers, the type of fire extinguishers that are provided and the location of those fire extinguishers.
Fire Extinguisher Training
Having carried out generic assessments (see Appendix 1) it is proposed that the following groups of people will have to be routinely trained in the use of fire extinguishers:
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Security and Rescue Team Staff
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Night porters (off campus residences and Stanmer Court)
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Kitchen staff (duty managers)
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EFM fitters and electricians
In addition to these standard groups, where local fire risk assessments identify a need for fire extinguishers to be provided then those assessments should also identify who would be called upon to use those extinguishers. NB. Undergraduate students should never be nominated to use fire extinguishers. Post graduate students may only be nominated following consultation with the HSO.
Training in the use of extinguishers will be facilitated by the HSO. The HSO will fund all "routine" fire extinguisher competent persons. Where training is required for operational requirements then these costs will be borne by the originating School, Division or Unit.
Use of Extinguishers by Other Staff:
In future, it is intended that no other staff, other than those identified by this assessment, or by local fire risk assessments, should use fire extinguishers regardless of whether they have previously received training in their use.
In addition, it is proposed that students misusing/abusing fire fighting equipment be subject to defined disciplinary action, perhaps in the form of a fixed penalty if caught in the act, and that they be required to meet the full costs of replacing/repairing the damaged equipment.
Fire Risk Assessments - Fire Extinguisher Provision Strategy [PDF 34.17KB]