Property

Devoncourt Flats

85 Berryhead Road. Brixham Devon TQ5 9AB

Built

Built 1962 as residential flats – no planning  known.

Additional three flats added 1994/5 number 22,23,24.

Construction

24 individual flats.

Private access to each flat

Block with steel frame for balconies.

9” dividing walls between each flat, dry lined

Fire resistant ‘permit-board’ to all internal corridors to a height of 5’ and balconies below windows to a height of 3’6”.

Balcony floor covered with fire resistant tiles.

Internal corridors covered with fire resistant tiles, under carpets.

Flat roof.

There is a high degree of compartmentation in the premises

Usage

Residential flats.

The flats and grounds are not open to the public.

Current use:-  main and second homes, and offices.  

Some flats are let by the individual owners on long lets and/or holiday lets

7 flats are owned by Devoncourt Ltd who let their flats on long lets and holiday lets.

During the period Nov to Easter the flats are mainly unoccupied.

When the flats are unoccupied the Caretakers inspect the flats regularly, for the owners and ensure all services to the flats are switched off.

Externally

Free standing garage used for storage and building maintenance.

Two wooden sheds

Car parking on three sides of the main building accommodating 24 cars.

Assessed by

Robin Hooker                               

Date

First Assessment date:-  7^th September 2006       amended date:-

Saturday, 22nd September 2011

Risk

Details

Action

Persons at Risk

Sleeping

Assessment

Risk of Fire occurrence

All persons, children and pets on the premises.

All persons, children and pets resident in the premises.

All persons, children and pets visiting the premises - guests

Persons asleep in the premises

Children playing on the premises

All staff on the premises.

All contractors visiting the premises

All delivery persons visiting the premises

Persons walking by the premises.

Persons as risk – Sleeping.

Persons sleeping in the flats will be familiar with the exits and entrances.

They will be owners or their invitees, or guests.

No members of the public are permitted.

Ground floor – maximum persons sleeping

Summer – 40

All other times – 24

First floor – maximum persons sleeping

Summer – 40

All other times – 24

Second floor – maximum persons sleeping

Summer – 40

All other times – 24

A fire on the premises could be started in one of the following ways

1. Accidental – the knocking over of lights, portable heating

   appliances, lighted cigarettes or candles, or chip pans

2. By an act of omission – where an electrical appliance or

    wiring is not properly maintained or where matter is

    allowed to collect near a heat source

3. A deliberate act of setting something on fire to cause

    attention or damage.

Review persons at risk periodically

Display warning notices ‘what to do in the event of a fire’ for all to see.

Risk

Details

Action

Sources of Fire

All inflammable and flammable products, material and possessions.

Electrical goods, tv, toasters cookers, microwaves, fridges CD players etc, portable lights and circuitry

Cleaning products

Paint, thinners and maintenance products and tools

Naked flames – matches, lighters, candles. Fires

Smoking – matches, lighters cigarettes, cigars, pipes

Gas lighters

LPG portable heaters and building equipment

Electrical sockets

Electrical fuses and RCD circuit breakers (trips)

Clothing bedding and personal possessions

Furniture and beds

PAT check

Annually

Check RCB protected electrical circuits annually

Training and correct storage

Banned

Restrict smoking to living room

None in the building

Store outside the building in a protected area.

Ban the use of LPG heaters where possible.

Ensure that sockets are not overloaded.

Ensure that fuses and trips are not over rated.

All must comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire)(Safety) Regulations 1988 as amended.

Risk

Details

Action

Ground Floor

A fire on the ground floor may affect the possible escape route for all occupiers of the building

A fire in Flats 2 ,3 ,4, 5, 6, 7, and 22  will vent heat smoke and gasses to the outside from the front and rear of the building.

A secondary effect may be of heat gasses engrossing the corridors and balconies above through open windows and doors.

Further if the intensity of the fire is such,  it may burn through the ceilings and directly effect the flats above.

Because of the construction of the building – 9” block walls – between flats it is unlikely to directly effect the flats adjoining on either side.

Persons from these flats may evacuate the building though their fire proof staircase  to the car park, or by climbing down over the front balcony to the garden.

A fire in Flat 1, 

will vent heat smoke and gasses to the outside from the front and possibly into the stairway of the building at the rear.

A secondary effect may be of heat gasses engrossing the internal stairs and balconies above through open windows and doors.

Further if the intensity of the fire is such,  it may burn through the ceilings and directly effect the flats above.

Because of the construction of the building – 9” block walls – between flats it is unlikely to directly effect the flats adjoining on either side.

Persons in Flat 1 and flat 22

may evacuate the building though the main internal staircase entrance   or by climbing down into the garden

Display warning notices ‘what to do in the event of a fire’ for all to see

Ensure that the fire resistant open staircase is never blocked.

Ensure fire door is kept shut at all times

The main stairway is a protected route, against fire, smoke and gasses for a minimum of 30 minutes

See below

Risk

Details

Action

First Floor

A fire on the First floor may affect the possible escape route for all occupiers the first and ground floors of the building

A fire in Flats 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 12a 14, and 23  will vent heat smoke and gasses to the outside from the front and rear of the building.

A secondary effect may be of heat gasses engrossing the corridors and balconies above through open windows and doors.

Further if the intensity of the fire is such,  it may burn through the ceilings and directly effect the flats above.

Because of the construction of the building – 9” block walls – between flats it is unlikely to directly effect the flats adjoining on either side.

Persons from these flats may evacuate the building though their fire proof staircase  to the car park, or by climbing down over the front balcony to the garden.

A fire in Flat 8 and 23, 

will vent heat smoke and gasses to the outside from the front and possibly into the stairway of the building at the rear.

A secondary effect may be of heat gasses engrossing the internal stairs and balconies above through open windows and doors.

Further if the intensity of the fire is such,  it may burn through the ceilings and directly effect the flats above.

Because of the construction of the building – 9” block walls – between flats it is unlikely to directly effect the flats adjoining on either side.

Persons in Flat 8 and flat 23

may evacuate the building though the main internal staircase entrance. Flat 8 may use their balcony to access flat 9’s balcony   

Display warning notices ‘what to do in the event of a fire’ for all to see

Ensure that the fire resistant open staircase is never blocked.

Ensure fire door is kept shut at all times

The main stairway is a protected route, against fire, smoke and gasses for a minimum of 30 minutes

See below

Risk

Details

Action

Second Floor

A fire on the Second floor may affect the possible escape route for all occupiers the second floor of the building

A fire in Flats 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 24  will vent heat smoke and gasses to the outside from the front and rear of the building.

A secondary effect may be of heat gasses engrossing the corridors and balconies above through open windows and doors.

Further if the intensity of the fire is such,  it may burn through the ceilings and directly effect the flats above.

Because of the construction of the building – 9” block walls – between flats it is unlikely to directly effect the flats adjoining on either side.

Persons from these flats may evacuate the building though their fire proof staircase  to the car park, or by climbing down over the front balcony to the garden.

A fire in Flat 15 and 24, 

will vent heat smoke and gasses to the outside from the front and possibly into the stairway of the building at the rear.

A secondary effect may be of heat gasses engrossing the internal stairs and balconies above through open windows and doors.

Further if the intensity of the fire is such,  it may burn through the ceilings and directly effect the flats above.

Because of the construction of the building – 9” block walls – between flats it is unlikely to directly effect the flats adjoining on either side.

Persons in Flat 15 and flat 24

may evacuate the building though the main internal staircase entrance. Flat 15 may use their balcony to access flat 16’s  balcony, flat 24 may use an emergency rope ladder.  

Display warning notices ‘what to do in the event of a fire’ for all to see

Ensure that the fire resistant open staircase is never blocked.

Ensure fire door is kept shut at all times

The main stairway is a protected route, against fire, smoke and gasses for a minimum of 30 minutes

See below

Risk

Action taken to date

Proposed Action

Implementation Date

Smoke Inhalation

and the spread of fire

Flats

Each flat is fitted with one or more smoke detectors. Battery operated. To BS5446 standard

The detectors are checked regularly by cleaning staff, caretakers and owners.

A notice is in each flat asking the owners/occupiers to check the smoke detectors regularly and not to remove the batteries, and to not smoke in the bedrooms.

A record is to be maintained of checks carried out to smoke detectors when flats are un-occupied.

Maintain the radio – link smoke detectors in each flat

Test each week of before a flat is occupied.

Flat1, 8, 15, 22, 23,& 24 have direct access to the stairway. These flats risk a potential fire spreading from the stair way to their flats.

A 30 minute fire door is  installed at the entrance of each flat, with a visi panel to protect the occupants from opening the door allowing unseen smoke to enter their flat. These doors are to be kept closed at all times

No smoking signs in the corridors and stairways.

Review continually.

Constant vigilance

Risk

Action taken to date

Proposed Action

Implementation Date

Smoke Inhalation

and the spread of fire

Stairway

The stairway is fitted with several or more smoke detectors. To BS5446 standard

Battery operated Lithium 10 year batteries.

Installed May 06

Each landing has a radio linked smoke detector connected to each other and each  landing each corridor. All interlinked.

To BS5446 standard

The detectors are checked regularly by cleaning staff, caretakers and owners.

An automatic powder fire extinguisher has been fitted in the Launderette to stop the spread of fire.

A record is to be maintained of checks carried out to smoke detectors when flats are unoccupied.

A record is to be maintained of checks carried out to smoke detectors when flats are un-occupied.

Maintain the radio – link smoke detectors in each flat

Test each week of before a flat is occupied.

Flat1, 8, 15, 22, 23,& 24 have direct access to the stairway. These flats risk a potential fire spreading from the stair way to their flats.

A 30 minute fire door is  installed at the entrance of each flat, with a visi panel to protect the occupants from opening the door allowing unseen smoke to enter their flat. These doors are to be kept closed at all times

No smoking signs in the corridors and stairways.

The electrical equipment isolators and RCD cupboard outside flat 22 is a 30 minute minimum fire retaining cupboard to prevent the spread of fire and smoke to the stairway

Made fire resistant by using GlasRoc 2 hours panelling doors and sides. All cable holes  are filled with fire resistant expanding foam or boxed in.

The launderette cupboard outside flat 1 is a minimum of 30 minute fire retaining cupboard to prevent the spread of fire and smoke to the main stairway

Made fire resistant by using GlasRoc 2 hours panelling on the door insides.

GlasRoc see addendum

Review continually.

Constant vigilance

Risk

Action taken to date

Proposed Action

Implementation Date

Smoke Inhalation

and the spread of fire

External staircases.

Each staircase serving a maximum of six flats is open to the air

A record is to be maintained of checks carried out to smoke detectors each week

Clarify the legal potion as to the need of linked, hard wire or wireless smoke detectors to each individual flat, and stairs and corridors

If required obtain estimates of a linked smoke detector system. Notify the owners of the cost and install the system, having received approval from each owner.

Stair way to be made into a protected stair way to prevent the spread of smoke and fire.

A glazed 30’fire check door is to be fitted on each landing entrance with an automatic door closure and signage showing Fire Door keep closed.

The door will open inwards to prevent injury to persons exiting flat 1,8,& 15.

The door is to be carefully marked PULL on the corridor inside.

Immediately

31/12/06

30/06/07

30/11/06

30/10/07

Risk

Action taken to date

Proposed Action

Implementation Date

Smoke Inhalation and the spread of fire

Office and garage

The office and the garage is to fitted with  smoke detectors. To BS5446 standard

The fire door to the office must be fitted with a self-closing device.

A clear access and exit must be made through the garage for any persons in the rear of the garage.

Combustible material must be kept to a minimum.

Rubbish must not be allowed to collect.

All off-cuts and part-used combustible materials must be disposed of.

All paint and cleaning combustible materials must be stored away from any windows or doors.

Furniture not compliant with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire)(Safety) Regulations 1988 as amended, must be destroyed

Fire Extinguishers must be available in the garage.

Hazardous material stored outside the garage must be kept to the minimum. All leaves and of-cuts and part used combustible materials must be removed. Gas bottles must be kept to a minimum. Empty bottles should be removed.

30/09/06

done

30/09/06

30/10/06

Risk

Action taken to date

Proposed Action

Implementation Date

Fire Prevention

Potential sources of fire

Cigarettes

Pipes

Candles

matches

No smoking signs in bedrooms and corridors and stairways.

No smoking signs and no naked flame signs must be displayed in all communal places.

No smoking and no naked flame signs must be displayed in the car parks

No smoking signs must be displayed in the bedrooms of all flats – by agreement with the owners – to be obtained

30.10.06

30.10.06

Risk

Action taken to date

Proposed Action

Implementation Date

Fire Warnings and signage.

Fire extinguisher signs in situ

Fire door signs is site

What to in the event of a fire signs in situ

Fire exit pointer signs in situ

Emergency lighting in situ

Continue to up grade where necessary and replace is damaged or fallen.

All times

Risk

Action taken to date

Proposed Action

Implementation Date

Fire Fighting Equipment

Dry Powder Fire extinguishers minimum 1lb installed in all flats.

Fire blankets installed in all flats.

Fire extinguishers installed in all corridors. Foam, Water, Dry Powder and CO2

Automatic dry powder fire extinguishers installed in the launderette and basement

Check operations efficiency and dates.

Every month.

Risk

Action taken to date

Proposed Action

Implementation Date

Staff training 

Sight of Fire Notice in the office, corridors and every flat.

Verbal Training given

Written training instruction to be prepared and training give to all staff and cleaners.

A fire safety check list is to be prepared which must be completed weekly by office Manager each Saturday morning.

At six months each member of staff is to be tested on the Fire Safety Training Evacuation and Fire Fighting procedures.

20/10/06