Fire Safety
Protecting you, your loved ones and your property
Coming from a career in the Fire and Rescue Service, Fire Safety is a subject that GH Installations founder, Graham Holland is extremely passionate about. Having seen the devastating affects that fire can have first hand, we are committed to ensuring we do everything we can to keep yourself, your love ones and your property safe.
​
As well as ensuring all our work is carried out to the highest possible standards, we also provide a number of periodic testing and maintenance services, including Thermal Imaging Surveys. These offer the peace-of-mind in knowing that your appliances and electrical systems are free of defects or faults which could result in catestophic failure and/or dangerous overheating.
​
We also supply and install a full range of fire detection and warning systems, from small domestic set ups to complete office or workplace installations.
​
To discuss your requirements, or ask for our advice on keeping safe, please contact us.
This document provides practical advice to those responsible for fire safety in small and medium businesses. It provides entry-level guidance on how to make sure you are meeting the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
For larger, or more complex premises, the government have released a series of other documents which can be found here.
6 top tips to safety in your home or workplace
-
1 – Carry out a fire risk assessmentEither by conducting one yourself or by employing a competent person with sufficient knowledge and skill. They can be very basic and mostly common sense. There are plenty of forms and guidance online, most if not all Fire and Rescue services have forms available on their websites and all will give guidance free of charge. Further to this they all give free home safety checks, especially making venerable persons priority. If you know anyone how would benefit, get in touch with your local fire service.
-
2 – Ensure you have adequate fire detection and alarm systems.Never a truer statement has been said, smoke alarms do save lives, but only when they have been adequately installed and maintained. This is a massive subject in its self, depending on Domestic, Commercial and Industrial situations. The British standard BS5839-1 covers Non domestic and BS5839-6 covers Domestic premises. In conjunction with these standards, Building regulations Approved document B gives guidance on suitable arrangements of dwelling houses including HMOs, providing there are no more than 6 residents. With HMOs Local authorities have the authority to require additional fire safety provision to those recommended in approved document B. The housing act 2004 makes more important requirements for HMOs. Always consult with the local authority to determine their requirements.
-
3 – Register your electrical appliances at www.registermyappliance.org.uk.Many fires are started through faulty equipment, some of which have had product recalls due to identified faults. By registering you will be notified of any problems associated with your appliances and stop any potential problems occurring. To register a faulty appliance - click here.
-
4 – Keep escape routes clear.Don’t store or keep any items near or close to heaters, fires, consumer units and fuse boards. If you have log burners and open fires don’t store the wood too close.
-
5 – Have your electrical services checked periodically.In-ine with current guidance, every 5-10 years, consider changing your fuse board if you don’t have additional protection via RCDs. Also consider LED lighting if still using halogen or incandescent lighting, LED lamps run a lot cooler and use considerably less energy.
-
6 – Consider sprinkers.If you're redeveloping, refurbishing or building from scratch, very common in commercial and industrial buildings but less so in residential and domestic situations. I believe this will change in the coming years as building regulations are reviewed. The cost of installing at the start of a project would be minimal compared to the potential gain if a fire was to start. Sprinklers could also be considered as an engineering solution to certain fire safety problems encountered on many developments and could also give reductions in insurance premiums. No life has been lost in a building protected by sprinkers in the UK.
Home Fire Safety Visits
​
Many local Fire and Rescue Services will come to your home and carry out a Home Fire Risk Check to help keep you and your family safe. For more information on fire safety, visit www.direct.gov.uk/firekills, or contact your local Fire and Rescue Service (not 999).
​
You are half as likely to die in a house fire if you have a working smoke alarm. If a fire starts in your home, a smoke alarm gives you the time to get out.
Modern alarms are neat and tidy, cost around £10 and are easy to fit. You may find your local Fire and Rescue service may install one for you, for free, as part of a free home fire risk check.