HEALTHCARE FIRE SAFETY
n Management The revised Firecode Parts A, B, and K have re-defined existing roles for Authorised Persons, namely: Authorised Person (AP) fire safety training, AP fire safety maintenance, and AP fire safety risk assessment. These roles may be currently undertaken by the Fire Safety Advisor (AP Fire), especially in smaller organisations. However in larger organisations several persons may be required, each competent in one or more areas. In addition to the Authorised Person
(Fire) described in HTM 05-01, this document introduces the new role of Authorised Person (Fire Safety Maintenance). Where necessary, this function may be shared by more than one person. In addition to appointing a competent person, as required in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) Article 18(1), for large sites with extensive fire alarm systems consisting of multiple panels, an Authorised Person(s) (Fire Safety Maintenance) should be designated who has extensive knowledge of the system. This person should be directly employed by the healthcare organisation, and their roles will include: n Briefing and liaising with design teams/ project stakeholders, and receiving and reviewing proposed design and handover documentation.
n Reviewing and commenting on proposed design variations from HTM 05-03 and BS 5839-1.
n Reviewing and verifying that contractor accreditation and competence is valid and appropriate for specified works (for example, third-party certification to appropriate scope).
n Being an attendee at the Fire Safety Committee meetings.
n Ensuring compliance with HTM 05-03 Part B.
n Liaising with the fire alarm company (Competent Person).
Cause and effect testing will include items such as fire dampers.
n Ensuring that any changes to the premises or changes of use are in line with HTM guidance, and do not compromise the existing fire detection and alarm system.
n Forming part of the fire response team, and attending any actuations of the fire alarm.
n In conjunction with the Authorised Person (Fire), investigating any false alarms with a view to reporting their cause and reducing their incidence as far as reasonably practical.
n Overseeing the fire alarm isolation permit system.
n Checking and responding to faults
regularly.
n Ensuring that an appropriate permit to work system is maintained for contractors, including for hot works.
n Ensuring that critical spares are available. n Ensuring that the correct level of testing is being successfully completed.
n Ensuring that a suitable emergency plan is in place to cover the non-functioning of part of the fire alarm system.
n Preparing an annual report to be available to the director with fire safety responsibility on the fire alarm system, to include required maintenance and the incidence of false alarms.
n At least annually, ensuring that the items in BS 5839-1, Section 45.3(b), are checked.
n What do I need to do? Ensure that a competent AP (Fire Safety Maintenance) is appointed. This function may be shared by more than one person.
n Fire alarm maintenance The fire alarm system in a large hospital is different to that in any other building, in that: n There may be hundreds of detection and alarm zones.
n There may be thousands of automatic detectors.
n There may be thousands of fire alarm call points.
Local staff can identify detectors that require cleaning.
n The cause and effect may extend to thousands of items.
June 2024 Health Estate Journal 27
Anthony Pitcher, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
Mazin Daoud, NHS England
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