Fire Safety A-Z Guide For Businesses

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Access Doors
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that all smoke and fire dampers need an access door or panel so they are accessible to inspect and maintain. These access doors provide unobstructed easy access.

Accreditations
At Urmson Fire Specialists Ltd we work with a range of industry bodies and associations to ensure we keep up to date on training and industry knowledge.

Our accreditations demonstrate our level of expertise and our commitment to keeping staff skills and knowledge up-to-date. our accreditations include CHAS, FIRAS, BESA, RESET, IHEEM

Air Handling Units
An air handling unit, or an AHU as it is also commonly known, is used to purify, air-condition or renew air, and circulate it to specified areas of a building via ductwork.

Asbestos awareness
All of our engineers are trained to be able to recognise asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and follow the guidelines as set out by the Government.

B

Batt & Mastic
Batt and mastic is used to seal gaps and openings in walls, floors, and ceilings, acting as fire barriers. It is used when fire stopping a room and is designed and manufactured to meet BS476 Part 20 standards, which outlines a 4-hour fire barrier requirement.

BESA
BESA is a trade body and membership organisation, that Urmson Fire Specialists Ltd are members of.

BESA aims to ensure that its members and their customers specify and deliver better building engineering services and a better-built environment.

BORIS
Real-time reporting system that is used for all our services and this enables our clients to access their reports 24 hours after the testing / works have been carried out.

Building Safety Act
The Building Safety Act was granted on 28 April 2022 and has made a major shift in the responsibility of building owners for fire safety.
All building owners now have a legal responsibility to comply with this new law, for more information read our blog – The Building Safety Act

BS8214 (Fire Door Standards)
BS8214 is a British Standard that gives recommendations for the specification, installation, and maintenance of timber-based fire doors, relating to their fire performance and smoke control.

BS9999:2017
The BS 9999:2017 is a British standard code of practice that provides recommendations and guidance on fire safety in the design, management, and use of buildings.

C

CE Marking
CE markings demonstrate that a manufacturer had checked and confirmed that their products comply with the relevant safety, health or environmental requirements. In November 2019 a regulation came into effect which meant all external fire-rated door sets had to be CE marked to EN 16034 and BS EN 14351-1.

CHAS
CHAS is the UK’s leading provider of compliance and risk management services. As a CHAS accredited contractor, we can demonstrate compliance with our supply chain and risk management services.

Compartmentation
Fire compartmentation is a key part of any building design and construction. It involves dividing a building into smaller, self-contained areas or compartments, each equipped with fire-resistant walls, floors, and doors.

Compliance
Our experience and knowledge ensures that fire dampers, fire doors are compliant to relevant laws, accreditations and standards.

CSCS Skills Cards
The Construction Skills Certification Scheme or CSCS Skills Cards are used to provide proof that our engineers are qualified to be on-site and complete the work required.

D

Door Closing Devices
In the event of a fire, door-closing devices are designed to automatically release and close a fire door, helping to prevent the spread of the fire and smoke throughout a building.

Drop Test
Fire dampers work by shutting when they detect heat to stop the spread of fire through ductwork. One of the tests our Engineers carry out as part of a Fire Damper Test is a drop test.
A drop test manually releases the mechanism that holds the fire damper open to check it shuts correctly and easily. Once completed, the fire dampers are reset.

Ductwork Cleaning.
Regular ductwork cleaning is needed to ensure there is no build-up of dirt which can include dust, bacteria, and indoor pollutants such as mold spore. If left, airflow efficiency can be impaired, which leads to an increased use of energy and creates a hazard to health and fire risk.

E

Enhanced DBS Checked
All of our engineers undergo an enhanced DBS check which means they can work in confidence within all workplaces, including education and healthcare settings.

F

FIRAS
FIRAS certification is a UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited certification scheme that promotes good practice for the installation and maintenance of passive fire protection products.

Fire Curtain
A Fire curtain is an automatic, fire-rated textile protective barrier that descends from the ceiling to block an opening, creating a barrier to stop fire and smoke from transferring from one part of a building to another.

Fire Dampers
Fire dampers are crucial passive fire protection products. They are integrated into the ductwork of heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) systems to prevent the quick and dangerous spread of fire and smoke inside the ductwork through fire-resistance-rated walls and floors.

Fire Doors
A fire door is a door manufactured with a fire-resistance rating and is used as part of a passive fire protection system to reduce the spread of fire and smoke. They are an integral part of fire compartmentation in a building. and dangerous spread of fire and smoke inside the ductwork through fire-resistance-rated walls and floors.

Fire Door Rating
Fire doors are given a rating of FD30 or FD60 which defines the rate that the door has been shown to control the spread of fire and smoke. FD30 for at least 30 minutes and FD60 for up to 60 minutes.

Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into force on 23rd January 2023 and made it a legal requirement for the responsible persons for all multi-occupied residential buildings in England, with storeys over 11 metres in height to undertake quarterly checks of all fire doors and annual checks of all flat entrance doors.

Fire Safety Engineer
A Fire Safety Engineer is responsible for the design and maintenance of a building’s fire safety systems, building control, and fire consultancy under the guidance of local codes and regulations.

Fire Stopping
Fire stopping is a form of passive fire and is a vital component in the safety and integrity of a building. It plays a key role in preventing the spread of flames, smoke, and toxic gases, to allow occupants more time to evacuate safely.

Fusible Link
A fusible link is a mechanical or electrical device that is fitted on fire safety devices including fire dampers. They are activated when they reach a set temperature, to prevent the spread of smoke and fire.

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H

HTM 03-01
HTM stands for Health Technical Memorandum and the HTM 03-01 is a set of documents and guidelines that explains the legal requirements, design implications, maintenance and operation of specialised ventilation in healthcare premises providing acute care.

HTM 05-01
HTM 05-01 sets out the recommendations and guidance for healthcare organisations to effectively set up the appropriate fire safety management systems.

HTM 05-02
HTM 05-02 provides detailed information on fire safety in the design of new healthcare buildings and extensions and is used on conjunction with HTM 05-01 and HTM 05-03.

I

IHEEM
The RJ Urmson Group has been a member of the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM) for over 20 years.

ISO 9001
ISO 9001 (International Organisation for Standardisation) is a globally recognised standard for quality management. The aim of ISO 9001 is to help companies improve their performance, meet customer expectations, and demonstrate their commitment to quality.

At the RJ Urmson Group, we continue to work and implement IOS 9001 standards. We focus on putting into place effective processes and ensuring the continued training of our staff to deliver a high standard of our services.

Intumescent seal
Intumescent strips, or fire door strips as they are also known, are fitted around fire doors to make sure any gaps are sealed to prevent the spread of smoke and fire.

IPAF
IPAF training is a safety course aimed at providing theoretical and practical instruction on the safe and efficient operation of powered access equipment. This equipment includes Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), which are commonly used for tasks like working at height, maintenance, and construction

Ironmongery & Door Hardware
Fire door hardware and ironmongery are fire rated and certified to match the doors they are being fitted too, for example a 30 minute or 60 minutes rated door. Hardware includes hinges, door closers, latches, handles.

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K

Kitchen canopy Cleaning
The commercial Kitchen canopy or hood can become coated in combustible materials such as fats, grease and soot that are given off during the cooking process. If these are not regularly removed through cleaning, then the risk of a fire increases as the amount of material deposited increases.

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M

Method Statements
We use method statements to describe and detail our work and processes throughout the Ubusiness in a logical, step-by-step manner. They detail how a specific task is to be completed, reviewing topics including the health and safety implications.

N

NVQ Level 2 Fire Protection
At Urmson Fire Specialists Ltd our Fire Stopping Engineers are qualified for the NVQ Level 2 Passive Fire Protection (Fire Stopping).

As a group of businesses, we believe that it is important to ensure that all our engineers are highly qualified and stay on top of their product and industry knowledge.

NAHFO
The National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers (NAHFO) is an organisation that represents and supports the highest standards of fire safety within our healthcare environments. Urmson Fire Specialists Ltd attend the NAHFO National Conference each year.

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P

PASMA
Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association (PASMA) and is a widely-recognised certification for those who work at height using Mobile Access Towers. PASMA training will teach you skills such as how to assemble, dismantle and relocate Mobile Access Towers

As a group of businesses, we believe that it is important to ensure that all our engineers are highly qualified and stay on top of their product and industry knowledge.

Passive Fire
Passive fire protection refers to a set of techniques and materials designed to contain or slow down the spread of fire within a building or structure. Examples of passive fire protection measures include fire-resistant materials like concrete, brick, and stone, as well as fire-rated doors and walls. Fire dampers and firestops are also commonly used to prevent fire from spreading through ventilation ducts and other openings in the building.

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R

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO) is a UK framework that governs fire safety in non-domestic premises and communal areas of residential properties. Implemented in 2006, it places responsibilities on employers, building owners, and occupiers to assess and manage fire risks, establish emergency procedures, and ensure the safety of people within the premises.

Remedial Works
At Urmson Fire Specialists we can carry out remedial or repair works on fire dampers, fire doors or ductwork. Following one of our detailed surveys we will detail the list of repairs or remedials needed in order for the equipment to stay compliant and work efficiency when needed.

RESET Scheme Members
Reset Compliance Systems is a verification system for third-party contractors that confirms their compliance with all legislation and HSE regulations and provides proof of qualifications and competencies. All of our engineers are provided with a Reset card, confirming they have all the skills and qualifications necessary to be on-site and complete the work requested.

Responsible Person
Within fire safety, a responsible person is the person responsible for the building, this could be an employer, the owner, the landlord, an occupier, or anyone else who has control of the premises, for example, a facilities manager, building manager, managing agent or risk assessor. They have the responsibility of carrying out a fire risk assessment of the premises, reviewing it regularly and updating staff or their representatives about any risks identified. They are also required to put into place, and maintain, any appropriate fire safety measures and training.

Risk Assessment
The responsible person for a building is required by law to carry out a fire risk assessment. The fire risk assessment will review and identify any fire risks, followed by a plan to remove or reduce the risks identified. It also requires an emergency plan to be put in place and any training provided.

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Safe Contractor Accreditation
Having Safe Contractor accreditation means we have been pre-qualified to ensure we meet high standards of health and safety, giving our customers peace of mind in the work and proficiency we adhere to.

Smoke Damper
A smoke damper is a mechanical device that, when closed, restricts smoke passing through an aperture within a duct or structure.

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The Fire Safety Event
The Fire Safety Event is an annual exhibition specifically for fire safety industry professionals and companies. Each year companies attend to showcase the latest products and solutions in fire safety. Urmson Fire Specialists also attend to promote all of our fire safety services including Fire damper testing, fire door inspections and compartmentation surveys.

Threshold Gap
According to the Fire Safety Regulations 2022, the industry-standard gap allowed between a fire door and the frame, is no more than 4mm.

Gap tester cards can be purchased to check this gap. The only exception is at the bottom where it needs to be as small as possible considering being able to open the door and not snagging on the floor.

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V

Ventilation Ductwork Cleaning
See Ductwork cleaning <click here>

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