A Snapshot of Client Queries
We’ve picked a few of the most interesting questions we’ve dealt with since our last issue, which may be useful if you ever find yourself in a similar situation at your school.
QUESTION: “UK British Standard BS5306 stipulates that water, foam and powder fire extinguishers undergo discharge tests every five years and CO2 fire extinguishers every 10 years. CO2 extinguishers undergo hydraulic tests. Are you aware of any such legislative claim, or is this an industry interpretation to sell extinguishers?”
After an exhaustive search by our fire safety expert, Handsam could find no mandatory stipulation to replace fire extinguishers, regardless of their condition, after a stated length of time. The closest any credible source gets to an answer is on the BAFE site. They state: The UK servicing standard BS 5306-3 puts the responsibility on the user (i.e. the company) to use a competent person to perform the annual inspections, install, commission (skilled checks made to the extinguisher on-site), service and test discharge fire extinguishers. They should also replace extinguishers that are no longer usable with serviceable extinguishers. This can be interpreted as: “if they are not useable, replace them.” The Fire Risk Assessment Network says: Since the legislation isn’t prescriptive in many areas, fire safety risk assessments are vital and apply to all businesses regardless of how small they are. The responsible persons must ensure that staff know where extinguishers are located and know how to use them. They also must ensure everyone knows the evacuation procedures and to hold fire drills. How Often Should Fire Extinguishers Be Serviced? According to RRO regulations, extinguishers must be serviced at least once a year by a certified fire extinguisher engineer with BAFE qualifications. […] Once the engineer is done servicing your extinguishers, they will provide you with a report and let you know if extinguishers need to be replaced for you to stay compliant with RRO regulations. There is no mention of a mandatory replacement date here, just a requirement that the appliances should be tested by a suitably competent person. Regarding discharge, it is correct that BS5306 recommends that fire extinguishers are tested by discharge every five years (water, foam and powder) and refilled or replaced, and every ten years (CO2). CO2 bottles are hydraulically tested at the ten-year point, or the extinguisher is replaced. Every guidance Handsam examined also confirmed this. The recommendation is not legislative but are industry recognised standards that are adopted by most organisations within the sector. BAFE and the Environment Agency advise against the discharge of water-based fire extinguishers onto open land or down drains to prevent hazards to the environment. It is for this reason that it is recommended that extinguishers are replaced at the test point rather than test discharge. Returned extinguishers are then disposed of in an environmentally responsible way.
QUESTION: “Is the fire load of the DT materials something we should be keeping track of and if so, how regularly should we be updating it?”
To calculate the fire load of a building, this equation can be used: Fire load = (Mass * Calories) / Area. There is an explanation of this methodology on the HSE website: What does Fire Load mean? And how do you calculate it? In practice, the calculation of fire load would usually be part of the building fire safety strategy. The building designer or fire safety engineer would design the building to accurately reflect the anticipated use, fire loading and management of the building. Fire load should be limited by means of management controls on the quantities of combustible material that are present or where the fire load is limited by an effective automatic suppression system. If the systems provided for fire safety, e.g. sprinkler systems and storage systems, are specified for a defined level of risk, this can determine the management requirements in the building. Handsam would advise that you should limit the accumulation of fire load (storage and display of combustible material) in any part of the premises to as low as is reasonably practicable to reduce the likelihood of a fire starting and/or spreading from one area to another. This should be reviewed annually.
Note: combustible materials are any material that has the capacity to burn such as wood, paper, plastic etc.
QUESTION: “Our school is reviewing its current toilet provisions and is considering unisex toilet facilities. Are there any building control regulations that cover this?”
In spite of this being the subject of much recent media speculation, the current guidance on standards for school premises is still the March 2015 DfE Advice on standards for school premises. It states: ISS Regulation 23A — (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that— a) suitable toilet and washing facilities are provided for the sole use of pupils; b) separate toilet facilities for boys and girls aged 8 years or over are provided except where the toilet facility is provided in a room that can be secured from the inside and that is intended for use by one pupil at a time; and c) suitable changing accommodation and showers are provided for pupils aged 11 years or over at the start of the school year who receive physical education. (2) Where separate facilities are provided under sub-paragraph (1) (a) for pupils who are disabled, they may also be used by other pupils, staff, supply staff, volunteers and visitors, whether or not they are disabled. SPRs Regulation 4 — (1) Subject to paragraph (3), suitable toilet and washing facilities must be provided for the sole use of pupils. (2) Separate toilet facilities for boys and girls aged 8 years or over must be provided except where the toilet facility is provided in a room that can be secured from the inside and that is intended for use by one pupil at a time. (3) Where separate facilities are provided under paragraph (1) for pupils who are disabled, they may also be used by other pupils, teachers and others employed at the school, and visitors, whether or not they are disabled. (4) Suitable changing accommodation and showers must be provided for pupils aged 11 years or over at the start of the school year who receive physical education.