Legislative issues A number of leading developers have
already taken the lead from this document – for example, Sir Robert McAlpine specifying the WES+ wireless fire alarm system for the temporary site accommodation units at the new American Embassy development in London. In fact, many contractors we speak to say:
‘We have used wired systems, although we didn’t find them practical. Trailing leads were an ongoing concern because they caused trip hazards and other safety issues around site.’ These issues are why they upgrade to a wireless system. Arson is a growing threat on site, and a leading insurance company estimates that it accounts for 40% of all fires at a cost of £400 million per year. The best way to overcome this problem is to choose heat or smoke detection units as part of the wireless fire alarm system. These systems provide automatic cover 24/7 and ensure that the site is protected even when personnel are not present. During the day, manual call points installed on site in accordance with the project’s fire plan and interlinked to create a completely secure mesh network so that all areas receive the same audible and visual alert signal, can be manually triggered by personnel.
Joined up approach
Being alerted to a fire on site, evacuating personnel to safety and then tackling the blaze with a fire extinguisher can make all the difference to outcomes. We are committed to providing construction sites with a joined up approach to fire safety, and that commitment resulted in the introduction of a range of new extinguishers. The fire extinguisher regulations form part of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales. These set out where and when a fire extinguisher is needed. Basically, a fire extinguisher is required, albeit with a few exceptions, in all premises used for non domestic purposes and this includes construction sites. The number and type of extinguishers
that are required depends on the site and materials present. In order to determine this, it is necessary to carry out a fire risk assessment. Where construction sites are concerned, a watermist extinguisher makes a good choice, because it is a broad spectrum device which is able to tackle general fires as well as other classes of fire – Class A, F, B and electrical fires (Class E) – some of which are notoriously difficult to extinguish.
FOCUS
www.frmjournal.com SEPTEMBER 2018
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