HHSRS Hazard 24 - Fire

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