Fire Prevention Risk Assessment

SITE/ADDRESS:

DATE/S OF ASSESSMENT: ..
Name of Responsible person on site: .
Tick appropriate boxes. Not all items are applicable to all sites tick N/A if not applicable to the site being
assessed.
1.0 RISK ASSESSMENTS GENERAL
Have risk assessments been carried out in accordance with the
requirements of the legislation listed below?
1.1

YES

NO

N/A

Occupational Health & Safety Act 85 of 1993

1.2 Electrical Installation & Electrical Machinery Regulations

a. Have all electrical systems been tested within the last
5 years?
b.Have all portable electrical appliances been tested?
c. Are records kept regarding regular testing of installations,
Equipment & portable appliances?
1.3 Local Municipal Fire Bye Laws
2.0 RECORDS
2.1 Fire Clearance Certificate/ Certificate of Registration
a. Is the Fire Clearance Certificate/Certificate of Registration
kept on the premises?
b. Certificate number: .
c.

Date of Issue:

Note: A Fire Clearance certificate is required for premises used as offices or shops where:

More than 20 persons are employed in the building as a whole

More than 10 persons are employed in a building above or below the ground floor

Fire Prevention Risk Assessment

A fire clearance certificate is also required for sleeping accommodation provided for guests or staff :

More than six(6) beds in a building

Any sleeping accommodation below ground or above the first floor.

A Certificate of Registration for flammable substances is required where highly flammable materials are
stored in, on or under any building or are used in or on such building site exceeding the following
quantities:

2.2

Class 0 flammable liquid (LP Gas) - 48Kg

Class I flammable liquid (closed cup flash point < 21C) 200 L
Class II flammable liquids (closed cup flash point >21C < 55C) 400L
Class III flammable liquids (closed cup flash point from 55C up to 100C) 400L

Fire Log Book (FM/SHE/XX/SA)

Is the Fire Log Book up to date as follows:
a. Fire Alarm
Weekly test, 3 monthly service, faults & remedial action
entered?
b. Emergency Lighting
Monthly test, 3 monthly service, faults & remedial action
entered?
c. Hose reels & portable fire fighting equipment
Annual service, quarterly checks, faults & remedial action
entered?
d. Are fire training records up to date?

2.3

Staff Training
a. Are staff trained every 6 months? (3 months for night shift?)
b.

Have names of all staff trained, full & part time, been entered
the Fire Log Book relevant section?

YES

NO

N/A

Fire Prevention Risk Assessment

2.4 Sprinkler Installation
a. Is regular testing carried out (monthly)?
b. Are accurate records kept?
c. Name, Address & telephone number of maintenance Engineers:

2.5 Plant & Machinery

a. Are the records for testing, maintenance & repair of fixed
Installations e.g. boilers, water systems, lifts, hoists, escalators,
etc. up to date?
b. Are all vents & service ducts, etc. suitably protected where
appropriate, to prevent the spread of fire heat & smoke?

3.0 LIAISON
a. Is good liaison maintained with the Fire Authority?
b.

Is there adequate access for fire brigade vehicles?

c.

Are the fire evacuation assembly areas in safe areas, clear of the
building & away from the fire brigade vehicle access & parking?

d.

Are fire hydrants clearly indicated & accessible?

e.

Has the fire authority been consulted on any building materials

which could help fire to spread, and the flammability of
furniture, drapes, artificial foliage & wall/ceiling coverings
used in the building & on escape routes?

4.0 FIRE EVACUATION

a. Are there clearly defined written evacuation procedures?
b.Is a member of management ready at all times to assume
responsibility for operating fire evacuation procedures
(Emergency Controller)?
Name of Management member (Emergency Controller)
..

YES

NO

N/A

Fire Prevention Risk Assessment

c. Have staff been instructed about when to call the fire brigade,
to alert management, and who to alert?
d.

Have night shift also been instructed what to do in terms of c. above?

e.

Are all staff trained in the evacuation procedures & what to do

in the event of fire?

f.

Do they know that their first duty is to raise the alarm?

g.

Are staff aware their main responsibility is to assist in

evacuating visitors?

h. Have Fire Marshalls been appointed & trained for each floor/
area? Attach a list of Fire Marshalls & areas of responsibility
i. Do all staff know who their Fire Marshalls are & how to
contact them?
j.

Are staff trained to operate the fire alarm call points, & to use hose
reels/extinguishers to put out small fires?

k. Will the visitors register be readily available in order to check

for any missing persons?
l.

Are spare master keys kept available at security (in a secure

manner) for issue to the fire Brigade in case of an emergency?

m. Are emergency evacuation/fire drills carried out every 6

months?
Date of last emergency evacuation drill.
YES
5.0 ESCAPE ROUTES
a. Are there sufficient exits for the number of people present on
site?
b.Do exits lead directly outside to a place of safety?
c. Are all corridors, stairways & stair wells free from obstruction
& not used for storage?
d.If the premises have external fire escape stairs, are these
maintained in a safe condition & inspected regularly?
e. Are all floor & stairway surfaces in good condition & free
from tripping & slipping hazards, i.e. no upturned carpets or
covering?

NO

N/A

Fire Prevention Risk Assessment

f.

Is the normal electrical lighting functioning, i.e. all bulbs serviceable

& provided?

g.

Are all fire exit doors easily opened from inside without the use
of a key?

6.0 FIRE PREVENTION

a. Are all staff given fire prevention instructions & told to report
any potential fire hazards?
b.Do staff understand the importance of closing fire resisting
doors to check the spread of fire & smoke?
c. Are all public rooms inspected last thing at night to ensure that
electrical appliances have been switched off?
d.Is waste & rubbish collected regularly & placed in safe
receptacles in a designated area or outside the premises?
e. Are No Smoking rules rigorously enforced?
f. Are cables run only where damage is unlikely, not under floor
covering or through doorways?
g. Are maintenance workshops kept clean, tidy & free of
combustible materials?
h. Is the upholstery on furniture in good condition?
7.0 HOT WORK
a. Is there a hot work system in place & operating?
8.0 FIRE RESISTING DOORS
a. Are all fire resisting doors in good condition, i.e. closing fully
into rebates, not wedged open?
b. Are self closing devices (where fitted) effective & in working
order
c. Are signs fixed on fire resisting doors at eye-level on both sides as
follows:

Fire Prevention Risk Assessment

(i)

Fire doors to stairways & those provided in corridors or to rooms

of high risk, i.e. kitchens, boiler rooms : Fire Door
Keep Closed*

(ii)

Fire doors to cupboards & stores on escape corridors or

stairways : Fire Doors Keep closed & Locked*

(iii)

Automatic fire doors fitted with magnetic door release units:

Automatic fire doors Keep Clear Close at Night*
* Signs must comply with SANS specifications

9.0 FIRE NOTICES

a.Are all fire escape routes indicated by fire exit signs or
pictograms (running man) with directional arrows? *
b.

Are all fire exits indicated by Fire Exit or Exit or

pictogram(running man) with directional arrows? *

c.

Over panic bars on fire door exits Push bar to open *

* Signs must comply with SANS specifications

d.

Are Fire Evacuation Procedures notices displayed as follows:

(i)

The back of hotel bedroom doors

(ii)

In all Offices/Staff Rooms/Canteens/Boardrooms/

Reception/Receiving & Despatch areas?

(iii) Adjacent to all fire alarm break glass operating points?

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10.0 FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT
a.

Is portable fire fighting equipment suitably located & available

for use?

b.

Is sufficient portable fire fighting equipment, of the correct

type, as required in terms of the Occupancy Classes specified
in the SANS 0400 1990 National Building Regulation
guidelines available?

c.

Is the portable fire fighting equipment of the correct type for

the type of fire hazard likely to be encountered in the area
it has been deployed in? As follows:
TYPE

USED FOR FIRE INVOLVING

Water

Wood, paper, fabric, plastic

(Not electrical)

CO2

Electrical equipment, gas, flammable liquids

Dry Powder

Flammable liquids, electrical equipment,

Wood, fabric, paper, petrol

Fire Blankets

Fat & Oil fires

d.

Is the portable fire fighting equipment hung on brackets

securely fixed to the wall, approximately 1.5 metres from
the ground?

e.

Is all fire fighting equipment clearly indicated with signs

Fire Hose Reel or Fire Extinguisher or Fire Blanket or
relevant Pictogram with indicating arrows? *
* Signs must comply with SANS specifications

Fire Prevention Risk Assessment

YES
11.0 EMERGENCY LIGHTING
a. Is the emergency lighting system in good working order
b.Is emergency lighting tested as follows:

c.

(i)

Daily - Are all light operational?

(ii)

Monthly switch off mains & check ELs are illuminated

Does the premises have an emergency generator power system?

d.Is the emergency lighting connected to the emergency power

system?
e. Are the emergency generators tested/run on a regular basis?
f.

Are all tests of emergency lighting & emergency generators

recorded in a log book?

12.0 FIRE ALARM SYSTEM

a.

Is the fire alarm system in good working order?

b.

Can the alarm be raised without anyone being placed at risk

from fire?

c.

Are the fire alarm call points unobstructed, clearly visible,

suitably indicated by signs? *

d.

Is the fire alarm monitored 24 hours a day & can the exact
location where the alarm was activated be identified?

e.

Is the fire alarm tested weekly, using different call points on

each occasion & checking that the bells, door release units
(where fitted) are operating & the monitoring control room
receive the signal?

f.

Are all checks & tests recorded in a Log Book?

13.0 HEATING APPLIANCES

a.

Are heating appliances fixed in position at a safe distance

from any combustible materials & suitably guarded?

NO

N/A

Fire Prevention Risk Assessment

YES
14.0 PORTABLE HEATERS
a.

Are all portable heaters electrical?

b.

Are they in good condition?

Note: Portable coal, paraffin or gas heaters are not allowed on the
premises
15.0 HYDRANT SYSTEMS
a.

Is there a ring mains hydrant system on the premises?

b.

Are the stand pipes protected from damage & identified with
sign For fire use only *
* Signs must comply with SABS specifications

c.

Are the large bore hoses & nozzles secured in a red lockable
box next to the stand pipe?

d.

Are staff prevented from using the stand pipes for drawing
water/washing/watering gardens, etc?

e.

Are the stand pipes serviced annually with other fire fighting
equipment & form part of the Service log book/Register?

f.

Is the water pressure & flow volume checked on an annual basis

by a competent person experienced to do such checks?

16.0 ELECTRICAL LEADS, EXTENSION CORDS & PLUGS

a. Are all plugs in good order, not damaged, earthed where
necessary, connections safe & no wire exposed?
b. Are all electrical leads & extension cords safe to use & free from
cuts twisting, exposed wires, joins & safe connections to plugs &
junction boxes?
c. Are damaged plugs, electrical leads & extension cords replaced
immediately they are found to be damaged?
d. Do they form part of monthly inspections & results recorded
in a log book or register?

NO

N/A

Fire Prevention Risk Assessment

17.0 FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES

a. Are all flammable substances/liquids & combustible materials
stored safely?
b. Do flammable substance/liquid stores comply with the
requirements of the OHS Act & Regulation as well as the local
Municipal Fire Bye Laws ? (Regulation 4 of General Safety
Regulations Use & Storage of Flammable Liquids refer
c. Do the Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations to the
OHS Act apply to the site?
d.

If so is there total compliance with the Regulation?

e. Do the Hazardous Installation Regulations to the OHS

Act apply the site
f.

If so is there total compliance to the Regulations?

g.

Is the system for controlling the amount of flammable

substances & combustible materials operating effectively?

18.0 SMOKING AREAS

a. Have smoking areas been demarcated outside buildings/work
areas?
b. Are the smoking areas located where there is no fire risk?
c. Have ashtrays been provided?
d.

Have they been indicated with signs, including the official

sign required in terms of the Tobacco Control Act?

e. Have they been indicated with signs, including the official

sign required in terms of the Tobacco Control Act?

Fire Prevention Risk Assessment

19.0 NON COMPLIANCE REPORTS

19.1 A Non Compliance report (FM/SHE/XX/SA) shall be raised for all NO answers recorded during the
Assessment, and it must contain proposed remedial action to be taken with timings & responsible persons.
19.2

Copies of all Non Compliance reports must be attached to this assessment.

19.3 Non Compliance Reports number/s .. refer.

Name of Assessor/s:

....

Signature:
Position:....
Date:.
Name of Responsible Person: ...

Signature:..
Position:....
Date:..