Hazard 24 - Fire
This hazard covers threats from exposure to uncontrolled fire and associated smoke at a dwelling.
It includes injuries from clothing catching alight on exposure to an uncontrolled fire, which appears to be common when people attempt to extinguish such a fire. However, it does not include injuries caused by clothing catching alight from a controlled fire or flame, which may be caused by reaching across a gas flame or an open fire used for space heating.
Occupier behaviour is a major factor in relation to fires starting. Over 80% of accidental fires in dwellings result from occupier carelessness or misuse of equipment or appliances, etc. Fires started by smokers' materials and matches account for about 40% of accidental deaths from dwelling fires, with a death rate of over 30 per 1,000 reported fires, the highest death rate resulting from any cause of fire ignition.
Vulnerable Group: All persons 60 or more years of age
Defects & Justifications
- Heater/cooker position - inappropriate siting and/or close proximity of flammable materials.
- Space heating - inadequate for the whole of the dwelling encouraging use of supplemental heaters.
- Defects to heating - defects or disrepair to appliances or system.
- Clothes drying facilities - lack of indoor facilities.
- Number/siting of sockets - insufficient and/or inappropriately sited electric socket outlets.
- Electrical installation - defects to the supply, meters, fuses, wiring, sockets or switches.
- Non-fire resistant fabric - allowing fire to spread.
- Smoke permeable fabric - allowing smoke to spread.
- Fire stops to cavities - lack of, allowing fire to spread.
- Disrepair to fabric - walls, ceilings and/or floors may allow smoke, fumes and/or fire to spread.
- Internal doors - insufficient doors or doors of inappropriate materials or ill-fitting doors.
- Self-closers - lack of effective self-closers where appropriate.
- Smoke/heat detectors - lack of, or defective, smoke and/or heat detectors with alarms or of detection and alarm system.
- Fire fighting equipment - lack of adequate and appropriate means of primary fire fighting.
- Lightning protection system - lack of a system where appropriate.
- Means of escape - inadequate safe means of escape in case of fire.
- Thumb lock not available or not working properly.
- Combustible furnishings - including furniture and furnishings.
- Presence of an external cladding system and extent to which the building is covered, and absence of any evidence that this is non-combustible
- Lack of a current suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment
- Outstanding action points from Fire Risk Assessment
- Lack of or non-functioning automatic fire detection and alarm system in individual dwellings (in cases where individual dwellings are being inspected)
- Non-functioning or poorly managed and maintained smoke control system in the common parts (including any associated smoke detection system where relevant)
- Disrepair to the outer surfaces of the building
- Disrepair to the fabric and compromising of compartmentation
- Absence or inadequate record of dry riser (or wet riser if building over 50m) checking (six-monthly)
- Presence of services and service ducts compromising compartmentation
- Services not in fire resistant enclosures
- Non-functioning smoke vents/control systems or no record of weekly testing in accordance with BS 9999:2017
- Non-fire-resistant doors, or badly maintained doors opening on to common parts
- Disrepair to refuse chute hopper
- Sources of fuel, rubbish or other flammable material whether external or internal
- Inadequate waste storage
- Opportunity for external intentional fire starting
- External unintentional fire starting, e.g. car fire, skip fires, barbecues on balconies
- Lack of controlled access or other security measures to the building allowing unauthorised access or risk of arson
- Non-fire-resistant doors and door sets to one or more flats including lack of door closer or poorly fitting doors
- Absence of or non-functioning fire detection and alarm system in individual dwellings (in cases where individual dwellings are being inspected)
- Non-functioning or poorly managed and maintained smoke control system in the common parts, including any associated smoke detection system where relevant (periodic testing schedule)
- Non-fire-resistant fabric/enclosure of services
- Disrepair to doors forming route of escape to a place of safety including sanctuary for disabled persons
- Single route of escape to a place of safety
- Narrow route of escape to place of safety
- Absence of test certificate for fire lift (if present)
- Obstructions to the route of escape, such as mobility scooters, prams/pushchairs (the presence of much may indicate lack of storage within flats)
- Absence of, or disrepair to emergency lighting (monthly testing)
- Absence of or inadequate record for dry riser (or wet riser if building over 50m) (as in BS 9990:2015) ('fire mains' required in all buildings that are more than 18 m in height)
- Lack of suitable access to building for firefighters
- Absence of fire suppressant or sprinkler system
- Non-functioning smoke vents
Index of HHSRS Hazards
