16 STEPS TO FIRE SAFETY - Sidey

1 16 steps to fire safety Promoting best practice on timber Frame construction sites, July 200816 STEPS TO fire SAFETY2 ContentsPreface page 3 Introduction page 4 UKTFA guidance on fire SAFETY on timber frame construction sites page 6 1 Compliance with CDM 2007 2 The fire SAFETY Co-ordinator 3 The Site fire SAFETY Plan 4 Checks, inspections and tests throughout construction 5 Communication and liaison 6 Promoting a fire safe working environment 7 fire detection and warning 8 Protecting emergency escape routes: the 35 metre rule 9 Building in fire protection along the way 10 Site security against arson 11 Protecting temporary buildings and accommodation 12 Safe storage of materials (including flammable liquids and LPG) 13 Designing out hot works 14 Keeping a tidy site 15 Dealing with plant and equipment 16 A no smoking site Glossary and Definitions page 12 Risk Assessment Flowchart page 1316 STEPS TO fire SAFETY3 PrefaceThis document is the output from a jointly funded initiative by the UK timber Frame Association (UKTFA) and wood for good, to promote best practice for the SAFETY of site workers, the public and the mitigation of loss from construction site fire guidance relates to timber frame sites under construction , but will also have benefits for all other types of sites and methods of work has benefitted from wide stakeholder consultation.

2 We would like to thank all those who participated in the working group. Particular thanks to the London fire Brigade and Health & SAFETY Executive. We also wish to acknowledge the expert input from our specialist advisers, Dave Berry ( fire & Risk Management Support Services Ltd), Ian Loughnane, Andrew Allison and International fire Consultants Ltd (IFC).We also thank The fire Protection Association (FPA) and construction Confederation for their co-operation in the dissemination of this guidance and their permission to reference their excellent publication, the Joint Code of Practice on the Protection from fire of construction Sites and Buildings Undergoing Renovation (see Important Notice below).Important NoticeThis document is to be read as a guidance document, and as such its contents may not be applicable for all construction sites. Adopted practice should be developed on the basis of a site specific risk guidance should be read in conjunction with: Joint Code of Practice on the Protection from fire of construction Sites and Buildings Undergoing Renovation , published by the construction Confederation and The fire Protection Association (Sixth Edition, ISBN 1-902790-33-2).

3 HSG 168 fire SAFETY in construction published by the Health and SAFETY Executive ISBN of the Joint Code of Practice and useful sister publication, construction Site fire Prevention Checklist (Second edition, ISBN 1-902790-32-4), are available for purchase from the FPA ( ) and from construction Industry Press ( ).Copies of HSG 168 are available for purchase or free download at: The guidance contained in these documents will also inform a revised Health & SAFETY Code of Practice for all UKTFA member companies, to be published copyright holders of this guidance, UKTFA and wood for good, have made extensive efforts to check the accuracy of the information and advice contained in this document at the date of publication, but this guidance document is not yet fully comprehensive and further editions may be produced. The authors do not warrant the accuracy of any information or advice contained in this document and shall not be liable for any loss, damage or expense whatsoever suffered by any person who relies on or uses this information or advice.

4 construction Sites and Buildings Undergoing Renovation (see Important Notice).16 STEPS TO fire SAFETY4 IntroductionThe HSE estimates that there are around 11 construction fires every day. Arson and vandalism are serious problems on building sites. Losses suffered by the construction industry have been estimated at around 400 million a year - over 1 million every day. The Government s annual UK fire statistics show that two thirds of fires in construction industry premises are started deliberately. Motives range from revenge, fraud, and crime concealment to simple unfortunately all buildings under construction are vulnerable to damage from fire and other hazards, and no construction method or material is immune: Brick and stone flake and disintegrate. Exposed timber frame structures can burn and generate a lot of radiant heat. Concrete can be subject to explosive spalling. Steel can buckle in severe is important to understand this context, no matter how big, small, simple or complex a building project.

5 Even small building sites can have oil tanks, flammable paints, combustible polystyrene, LPG cylinders and other materials lying around. Even simple, rurally-based sites can be targeted by opportunistic in multi-storey timber frame buildings during construction have hit the headlines primarily because of the severity of the fire and rapid collapse of the unprotected frame. timber frames will burn faster and more completely when the panels are incomplete - ie. not yet protected by the usual internal fire resistant plasterboard and external , despite these high profile fires on timber frame construction sites over the last couple of years, incidents of this sort are thankfully still relatively rare given the number of timber frame sites under construction at any time. The good news for developers is also that timber frame buildings are very fast and easy to complete, and to get to a stage where full fire protection is in is also important to remember that each mainstream method of construction in the UK, including timber frame construction , has its specific strengths and example, as a society we cannot afford to ignore the significant environmental sustainability benefits that come from timber frame construction , or its cost efficiencies, because of a risk in one area.

6 That risk can be reduced through good design, through taking simple precautions, ensuring good site security and by adopting safe working key is reducing the possibility of a fire event happening down to as near zero as possible - and that demands strict site management and site security. No product developments, treatments or other innovations in construction will compensate for deficiencies in these areas. This is the bedrock upon which everything else in this guidance document is if the guidance provided here is followed, and if all the usual health and SAFETY rules are being followed, there is no greater risk of fire for timber frame than for any other method of STEPS TO fire SAFETY5 About UsThis publication is guidance for all UKTFA members involved in the design, manufacture and erection of timber frame buildings. It will inform a revised Health & SAFETY Code of Practice for all UKTFA members. It also represents our strongest recommendations and advice for all clients, with whom the ultimate responsibility for fire SAFETY usually HSE will be using this guidance to inform their inspections of all timber frame construction steering group that helped to develop this document has reviewed a great deal of existing guidance and information, including a detailed review of all the recent timber frame site fires that have happened to see what could be learned, and has researched a wide range of in conjunction with the Joint Code of Practice mentioned on page 3, it describes a series of simple precautions and safe working practices which, if adopted, will ensure that adequate detection and prevention measures are incorporated during the design and planning stages, and that work on a site is undertaken to the highest standard of fire the rest of the publications produced by the UKTFA and wood for good.

7 This guidance is also designed to inform architects, checking authorities and other stakeholders of what to look out for and assist the development community reduce risk during the procurement document includes a new risk assessment model which helps clients determine what fire SAFETY measures are most appropriate for different sites, taking into account the size of the development, its location and other timber frame buildingsThis guidance relates solely to sites under construction , where there will be exposed materials, methods of working and security factors that may increase the risk of Building Regulations and other fire SAFETY regulations are among the most stringent in the world. Completed timber frame buildings constructed to the requirements of these Building Regulations (and related standards) are entirely safe and well-protected against further information go to: STEPS TO fire SAFETY6 UKTFA guidance on the fire SAFETY of timber frame construction sitesStep 1 - Compliance with CDM 2007On every construction project, the Employer must ensure that all members of the appointed team comply with the CDM 2007 construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM 2007) came into force in Great Britain on 6 April 2007.

8 CDM 2007 places legal duties on virtually everyone involved in construction work, and applies to all construction projects where people are at work. Those with legal duties are commonly known as dutyholders (see glossary).Part of compliance includes producing a risk assessment for the site, its design and construction , and covering the use of any particular building material. This also involves assessing the fire risk and potential for damage, to ensure these are kept to a minimum during ways of working should be sought if the work activities of the main contractor or follow-on trades are such that there is a clear risk to the unprotected timber information on the construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007, go to: (Please note: the information available on the HSE website supersedes the guidelines in the Joint Code of Practice , section 6, as the CDM Regulations were recently updated). step 2 - The fire SAFETY Co-ordinatorIt is best practice for all construction sites to have an appointed fire SAFETY Co-ordinator.

9 On large projects there should also be a fire Marshal(s) and Deputy fire Marshal(s).Under the CDM Regulations, on every construction project there must be one dutyholder who is responsible for creating and regularly updating the Site fire SAFETY Plan, in close liaison with the planning supervisor. We recommend that this person is also the fire SAFETY role will also include liaison with the local emergency services and other duties outlined 3 - The Site fire SAFETY PlanThe Site fire SAFETY Plan is the written plan that sets out everything that will be done on that particular project to minimise the risk of fire and to protect the people working on the the Plan is created, it must be updated at regular intervals as construction proceeds and whenever significant design changes construction of the site, the principal contractor or fire SAFETY Co-ordinator must ensure that all the procedures, precautionary measures and SAFETY standards as laid down in the Site fire SAFETY Plan are clearly understood and complied with by everyone working on that understand what must be in the Site fire SAFETY Plan, please refer to the Joint Code of Practice (see section 6).

10 16 STEPS TO fire SAFETY7 step 4 - Checks, inspections and tests throughout constructionDuring the construction of the project, the principal contractor or fire SAFETY Co-ordinator is responsible for a series of checks, inspections and tests throughout the construction of the checks may be weekly, daily or at the end of shifts. Where 24 hour security is provided, fire checks should be done throughout the night, during holiday periods and weekends as these are the times when sites are most vulnerable to records must also be maintained on things like training, fire drills and other procedures. For detailed guidance on this, please refer to the Joint Code of Practice (sections 6 and 9). step 5 - Communication and liaisonEffective communication and regular liaison with other parties such as the emergency services and security personnel is extremely important in helping to assess and manage the potential risks during indicated within the Joint Code of Practice (see section 7), the principal contractor or fire SAFETY Co-ordinator on any construction site should liaise with the local fire service at an early stage and invite them to undertake site inspections and familiarisation large timber framed projects, this must also include specific discussion with the fire service to verify and maintain the source and capacity of water for firefighting.