Fire Advisory Services

Fire risk assessments Fire safety audits Fire investigations Fire safety consulting

THE UKs NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATION

Protecting people, property, business and the environment

Technical Expertise
The Fire Protection Association (FPA), founded in 1946, is the UKs national fire safety organisation, promoting fire safety within industry, commerce and the wider public. We provide authoritative advice and information on all aspects of fire safety and prevention including research, training, publications, risk surveying and auditing. The Technical Division of the FPA includes a team of highly experienced and qualified professionals offering a comprehensive range of fire safety advisory and consulting services tailored to the clients requirements. We have extensive experience in all sectors, including industry, commerce, local government, educational premises, hotels, leisure, residential care premises and healthcare occupancies. With consultants operating across the UK, we are able to offer a cost-effective high integrity service that will add value to your fire safety management programme.

How the FPA can help

The FPA offers a range of fire advisory services, including: Fire Risk Assessments Comprehensive fire risk assessments addressing both life safety and/or property protection. Fire Safety Audits Impartial audits helping to ensure independent and objective results. Fire Investigation Post-fire support service that will help to identify the lessons to be learnt and recommendations to prevent a recurrence. Fire Safety Consulting A range of fire safety advisory and support services. All fire advisory services are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the FPA quality management system. The FPA has been assessed by an external auditor and issued with a Certificate of Approval, indicating that the Associations quality management system complies with the requirements of BS EN ISO 9001: 2000.

Fire Risk Assessment

Both specific and general fire risk assessments can be conducted, depending on your needs. These include: life safety fire risk assessments to meet the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 property protection assessments to reduce and manage the potential for extensive property loss in the event of fire extensive fire risk assessments addressing both life safety and property protection. The assessments are conducted in accordance with the appropriate fire safety risk assessment guide, relevant standards and codes and Approved Document B: Fire Safety (Volume 2) Buildings other than dwelling houses Additionally: all life safety fire risk assessments take into consideration the needs of persons with impaired mobility or other disabilities supporting photographic evidence is provided where required risk ratings are assigned using a matrix that takes into consideration life and/or property loss potential either a generic report format is used, or we are happy to adopt or develop a format that is consistent with your corporate approach to quality and health and safety issues CAD drawings denoting fire safety equipment can be updated where available post-assessment support includes technical advice via email and a technical information package to help you to address significant findings and assist with the ongoing management of fire prevention and protection measures where complex fire safety deficiencies are identified, specialist advice using a fire engineering approach is available all information gathered prior, during or after an assessment is treated with the strictest confidence

Fire Safety Audits

Based on your existing fire precautions or fire safety manual, we will conduct an independent, impartial and thorough audit, adding value to your fire safety management system. Our generic report format can be used or we can develop a format to support the needs of your organisation. Audits are based on quality management audit principles, including preliminary feedback at the end of the audit and complete client confidentiality. Post-audit technical support is also available.

Fire Safety Consulting

Fire Safety Consulting is a support service to assist with the development and management of your fire safety programme and to propose practical and cost-effective solutions for specific fire safety problems. Services available include: the development, implementation, and review of company-specific fire safety strategies and standards local authority licensing issues the protection of historic/heritage buildings evaluation and supervision of fire drills specialist advice for complex fire safety deficiencies using a fire engineering approach fire safety management contracts; acting as a service provider, we can manage your fire safety management system. Fire safety specialists can also be provided on a part-time or temporary basis research into specific areas of fire safety that are relevant to your business; for example, advice on European and international fire safety law and management for international organisations

Fire Investigation
In the unfortunate event of a fire occurring, a post-fire support service is available. Acting independently, or as part of a specialist team, we can assist in determining the origin and cause of a fire and provide staff who are recognised as expert witnesses to present evidence in civil or criminal courts. Independent reviews of reports are also undertaken to identify the lessons to be learnt and to provide recommendations to help prevent a recurrence.

A selection of our recent clients:

Case Studies

Fire policy review undertaken on behalf of Barclays Bank The FPA was invited to review the fire safety arrangements at eight key locations operated by Barclays Bank plc. The assignment comprised of a series of site visits to review the fire safety systems which were in operation and to gain an understanding of the degree of risk at each of the premises. Acting in accordance to a specific brief the FPA were to consider fire safety policy issues and make reference to examples observed during the site visits. In presenting its findings, the FPA gave particular attention to the following issues: statutory compliance gap analysis rationalisation of standards standards gap analysis responsibilities gap analysis between the facilities management provider and the client life safety systems and loss control inspection programmes recommendations for frequency and type of emergency drill practice The report was presented to the Health and Safety team at Barclays Bank and used to enhance Barclays existing corporate fire safety management programme. Tim Cradock, Group Safety Manager, Barclays Bank plc comments: We felt that we needed an independent review of our fire safety arrangements for our more complex sites to ensure that our processes and procedures were reflecting best practice. I was impressed with their expertise, independence and their ability to operate in partnership with us to deliver this important piece of work.

Delivering specialist fire support for high-risk environments Family Mosaic is a Registered Social Landlord providing good quality, affordable housing services to over 45,000 vulnerable people. The FPA were asked to carry out fire risk assessments for a large number of Family Mosaic schemes. The outcomes and recommendations for each scheme were not universal and identified unique differences between staffed and non-staffed schemes, stay-put policies and issues relating to elderly or vulnerable young persons. FPA and Family Mosaic were also keen to ensure that the implementation of recommendations and provision of safety equipment were provided without an institutional feel. Common problems that were encountered included: how and where to provide fire extinguishers, call points and signage staffed 24/7 / not staffed 24/7 stay-put policies providing the feel of a home environment mobility and awareness issues Since successful completion of this contract the FPA have offered continuing support on a more ad-hoc basis, carrying out fire risk assessments and providing general fire safety advice wherever the need arises. Russ Bower, Group Health and Safety Advisor, Family Mosaic adds: Due to the very different needs of our service users and the specific risks associated with them we felt we needed expert advice and assistance which is why we chose the FPA. We were delighted with the results they have produced for us and their professionalism to-date.

Contact Information Fire Advisory Services Fire Protection Association London Road Moreton in Marsh Gloucestershire GL56 0RH Tel: +44 (0) 1608 812 529 Fax: +44 (0) 1608 812 501 Email: fireadvisoryservices@thefpa.co.uk Web: http://technical.thefpa.co.uk

The FPA Technical Division offers a unique blend of engineers, scientists and consultants with extensive experience in all sectors, providing a comprehensive range of practical, high integrity services tailored to your requirements.