Fire Safety Inspections: A Guide
When a building has been constructed, and the interior fixtures and fittings have been installed, it will need to be checked by a fire safety inspector. It is the role of the fire safety inspector to check that the building meets all of the current fire safety regulations which are in place. When the inspector is satisfied, they will issue a document which certifies that the building is safe for use. But what exactly will be inspector be checking? Below is a guide to 3 things that the inspector will check before issuing a fire safety certification certificate.
The width of the corridors
While the width of the corridors may not at first seem to have much to do with fire safety, it can play a significant role in allowing for the safe evacuation of people during a blaze. If the corridors inside a building are too narrow, this can make it difficult for people to escape quickly and will also increase the chance that people are injured or crushed during the evacuation.
The fire fighting equipment
The fire safety inspector will check that a sprinkler system has been fitted to the building if the law requires one. They will also check the number, location and type of fire extinguishers in the building. The number of fire extinguishers will be determined by the size of the building. The fire extinguishers should be located throughout the building at easy to reach locations. Finally, the fire extinguishers should be the right kind for the type of fire which may be encountered. For example, the fire extinguisher which is located near a room which contains an electronic server should be a CO2 fire extinguisher. If a water extinguisher is used on an electrical fire, it will not put out the fire and could result in electrocution.
The materials used
Finally, the fire inspector will check that the materials used to construct the building are fully compliant with fire safety rules. For example, there are two types of cladding available for the outside walls of a building. One is flammable while the other is fire resistant. Depending on the height of the building, you may by law be required to install only fire resistant cladding.
If you would like to find out more about the process of checking a buildings fire safety level and the steps you can take to ensure your structure is certified, you should contact a fire safety certification business today.