Good God FS101
I do hope the fire service stay as enforcers and dont get their mits on fire risk assessments!
The FPA was a blunt tool that frankly didnt work so well in all cases and was a huge burden for businesses
I worked in a team of 40 fire safety Inspecting Officers. Out of that number, 18 or so were good to excellent, whereas the others ranged from jobsworths to hangers on. Senior managers who needed to sign off enforcemet notices were often not fire safety competent, but passing through a fire safety dept on their way to the next rank. Even now I do not see the level of FS competence in fire services that I do in the real world - even though I accept that there are plenty of cowboys operating at the moment.
Post Grenfell will almost certainly result in a 'Gas Safe' type competency register for fire safety practioners. I believe small low risk premises will remain as now, that non competent people will be able to carry out FRAs. This would allow the owner of a SME to carry out his own FRA. But - as with the Fire Precuation Act, there will be a definition of high risk - if you like a bar will be set - and anything over that bar will require someone from that register.
Sleeping risks over a certain height, healthcare or vulnerable persons, and places of entertainment are bound to be on that list. Perhaps shops and offices over a certain area in size will require the same.
But please no, lets not go back in time and give it back to the fire service. It will be akin to ditching the tablet and using slate and chalk!! :)
Hi Messey, long time no chat.
my reasoning is from experience of FRAs I have done in the past few years where my assessment disagreed with previous assessors.
you mention sleeping risks over a certain height, what about a hairdresser ground floor with 1st floor sleeping accommodation. who assesses that.
I found no fire seperation, no alarms, no means of escape except through the shop which was the Risk etc. etc.
Is that High Risk and would it be on your list.
If your route is deemed the best the bar will be set very low otherwise no improvement will occur.
On another point the FRS will not be training staff to undertake FRAs therefore no competence. as you know money has been withdrawn from FRS and needs to be eversed, that could include for such training.
I learned to write on slate and chalk, that was all right for me ha ha haaaaa
Take care pal.