FOCUS Current affairs
risk assessment: maintenance in a care home kitchen is likely to involve less frequent visits than an environment where chicken is fried 14 hours a day, seven days a week. Kitchen fire protection designs work in a
variety of ways to extinguish or suppress a fire. In any particular installation, auditors take into account the hardware manufacturer’s instructions as a basis for inspection. NSI auditors undergo training to develop understanding of the technical aspects of each system design, equipping them to assess competently an installation’s compliance with the instructions of the manufacturers. In addition, the auditor checks the
effectiveness of the installing company’s business management system, which is tested to verify that the following areas are covered adequately: •
organisational resource, maintaining for example a stable management structure, and actively managing company policies and procedures and competency/training records
• quality objectives and planning, including the maintenance of a register of approved subcontractors
• operational planning and control • products and services • •
record keeping and documentation internal audit
NSI has long recognised the importance of a joined up approach to delivering fire safety and it
conducts inspection audits of the management system (to ISO 9001, in the case of NSI Gold approval) alongside the technical competency audit to the relevant standards. This brings a significant benefit to the approved company, as a single audit programme integrates both quality management and technical competency; encouraging comprehensive operational efficiency between site installation activities, design, and overarching management.
Audit observations
Since BAFE and NSI launched the commercial kitchen fire protection scheme, NSI auditors have encountered the following common issues, which those managing commercial kitchens should consider:
Communication and training People working in kitchens are often unaware of the existence of an installed fire suppression system. Designed to automatically activate when fire is detected, flames will have developed somewhat before activation takes place. Early manual activation can significantly reduce the risk of damage and injury; yet if kitchen staff are untrained, clearly the outcome when called on in earnest might be reduced.
Maintenance and cleaning The system’s effectiveness can be significantly reduced and the risk of more extensive
46 DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020
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