While many of us spend a fair bit of time in offices, fire safety at work may not be something we think about too much.
But, as an employer, you’re potentially putting lives at risk if you fail to act responsibly. And, possible human cost aside, there are real business reasons to pay attention to this aspect of health and safety. According to the Association of British Insurers, some 60% of private businesses never recover after a blaze. Don’t become one of them.
And, apart from anything else, it’s the law. You face a hefty fine and even a prison sentence if you fail to comply with your legal requirements.
If you rent a workspace, it can be tempting to believe that fire safety falls to your landlord to manage. But, in fact, while landlords do have to keep buildings structurally sound, commercial tenants also have responsibilities when it comes to fire prevention. (See below.)
What are the most common causes of fires in offices?
According to the London Fire Brigade, electrical distribution is behind nearly a third (32%) of fires in offices, and lighting 14% – while 11% of blazes have smoking-related causes, including people disposing of smoking materials without taking care. (So you must have a smoking policy in place – and make sure you enforce it.)
Of course, other things can go wrong as well, for example if you don’t plan proper escape routes or prop fire doors open – these can keep a blaze at bay for a precious half-hour, which can potentially make a huge difference, but are useless unless they’re closed properly.
What do the rules say?
All office buildings in the UK have to meet national fire regulations, with the relevant legislation coming under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – also called the RRO.
All sizes of office building must have the following in place:
- A fire risk assessment – This needs to have been completed within the previous year, and written down if at least five people work on-site, although it’s never a bad idea to have this in writing, however many staff you have.
- A designated ‘responsible person’ to take the lead on this aspect of health and safety
- The right fire extinguishers
- Proper signage in the right places
- Designated fire wardens or marshals
- Fire safety training for the team
Additionally, unless you’re a very small workplace, you’ll need fire doors, emergency lighting and to have a fire alarm system in place.
Meanwhile, very big offices spread offer multiple floors may also have a wet or dry riser – pipework the fire brigade can use if a blaze does break out to move water around the building without needing to bring in hoses. In structures more than 18m tall, dry risers tend to be fitted, wet risers are typically installed in those 60m or higher.
Some workplaces often also have fire shutters or sprinklers, and the rules mean you should maintain these pieces of equipment twice a year.
Office fire safety equipment from Octopus Office
So, while fire safety in your workplace may seem dull or trivial, don’t think that a blaze could never happen at your organisation, and don’t wait until the worst happens before acting. Ensure you comply with all relevant regulations and protect your staff, property and, ultimately, your business.
At Octopus, we can help with all the fire safety signage you need (and indeed are legally obliged to have.) Equally, we have fireproof safes and cabinets to protect your most precious files and other items, plus fire-extinguishing metal waste bins like this one, which look smart as well as being functional.
Remember, we offer same-day delivery across the north-west with our own fleet of vehicles – or you can pick up your order yourself if you prefer, from our trade counter in Stockport. We also offer prompt delivery UK-wide, thanks to our network of trusted courier partners.
Call the order hotline on 0161 429 8118 or 0161 672 7330, browse the website or get in touch online. We’ll gladly answer any questions you may have about any of our fireproof or fire-safety products.