Fire Risk assessment & plan of building

BETHERSDEN VILLAGE HALL – FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT AND POLICY

RISK ASSESSMENT

The aims of this assessment are to:

Identify the fire hazards
Reduce the risk of those hazards causing harm to as low as reasonably practical
Decide what physical fire precautions and management arrangements are necessary to ensure the safety of the people in the hall if a fire does start.

Identify the Fire Hazards – consider ignition sources, fuel sources, oxygen sources

The following have been identified in the hall:

Ignition sources

Kitchen area – oven, dish washer, kettles, tea urns
Various – electric sockets, electrical leads, 13 amp plugs
Boiler
Electrical equipment bought into hall and or used by hirers e.g. fans, craft equipment,

Fuel Sources

Cleaning materials
Foam, wooden tables, plastic chairs
Curtains
Cardboard and Paper
Building material in body of the hall e.g. wooden beams in ceiling.
Dust in ceiling and higher parts of hall
Equipment/tools/materials used by organisations.

Sources of Oxygen

Main hall
Open windows and doors

WHERE THE ABOVE SOURCES COMBINE, THERE IS A RISK OF FIRE

Identify the People at Risk

Hirers and users of the hall
Cleaner who normally works alone
Children – children’s parties, events open to public, organisations events
Disabled users and frail elderly users including wheel chair users and those reliant on walking frames.

Remove, Reduce and Protect

Organise 5 yearly inspections of electrical systems
Organise annual service of the boiler
Foam and cushions to be stored away from ignition sources
Organisations’ equipment and materials to be stored after each session in designated storage areas away from ignition sources, where stored on the premises
Candles should not be used in the Village Hall
The Hall operates a “no smoking” policy
Cleaning materials to be stored correctly with quantities stored in the hall kept to a minimum
Annual inspection of fire safety equipment.

POLICY AND PROCEDURES IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE

Alarm

The Hall does not have an alarm or siren to alert users to a fire/need to evacuate. However, as the hall is only on the ground floor with easy access to all rooms a shouted alarm should be adequate subject to the responsible adults in charge ensuring that toilets, kitchen, stage area and committee rooms are checked for occupants if it is safe to do so.

The Hall also does not have Wi-Fi or a land line. Users should therefore ensure that they have a mobile phone with them in case of an emergency to contact the Fire Brigade and/or ambulance services.

Fire Safety Equipment and Detectors

If it is safe to do so, small fires can be tackled using the fire safety equipment in the Hall. Fire extinguishers are located:

# In the front lobby ( water – do not use for electric fires)

# In the kitchen lobby ( water – do not use for electric fires)

# In the main hall ( water – do not use for electric fires)

# In the kitchen ( C02 – all fires)

# Rear left hand corner of the stage as you look at it (CO2- all fires)

# There is also a fire blanket by the kitchen door. ( Effective for the smothering of small fires)

The extinguishers are operated by:

Holding upright
Pull out the pin
Aim at base of fire at a minimum distance of 1 metre
Squeeze the lever

Detectors are sited as follows:

# Rear of the stage

# Kitchen lobby

The Company hired to maintain and service the fire safety equipment is:

Trans-Fire protection Ltd (Caroline Richardson)

Tuesnold Grange, Tuesnold, Bethersden, TN26 3EH

Tel No : 01233 820025

Escape Routes

In the event of a fire, the Hall should be evacuated immediately through all available doors, which are safe to use and the Fire Brigade and , if necessary, the Ambulance Service called.

Exit routes are:

# via front doors

# via Fire Exit Doors in main hall into the garden

# via kitchen door

# via Fire Exit Door in the small Committee room

Users leaving via the Fire Exit Doors in the main hall into the garden should go down the steps and turn left and follow the path into the car park. Users leaving from the small Committee Room or kitchen should turn right and follow the path into the car park.

Please assist any frail or handicapped hall users to evacuate safely.

The fire exits and kitchen door are operated by an exit bar which is 1.57m above the ground. They have been tested and adults should be able to operate them without problems. Smaller children may struggle but they will always be supervised by a number of responsible adults.

Assembly Point

The Assembly Point in the event of an evacuation is the far side of the car park away from the Hall, on the left looking away from the Hall, by the recycling bins.

Please ensure that the entrance to the car park is kept clear for use by emergency vehicles.

EVACUATION PROCEDURE

Bethersden Village Hall Evacuation Procedures If you discover a fire

• Take Command – give loud and clear instructions to immediately leave the hall and head to Assembly Point in car park by recycling bins

• The hirer and/or a responsible adult should check the toilets and kitchen (and the committee room and stage area if they are being used) if they are safe to enter to ensure that everyone has left the building

• Close all internal doors if circumstances permit, as soon as the hall is empty

• Telephone the emergency services stating the following details: Bethersden Village Hall, Forge Hill, Bethersden, TN26 3AF.

• Try to tackle small fires with a fire extinguisher or the fire blanket, if it is safe to do so

• The hirer/responsible adult should brief the emergency services when they arrive particularly if there are any concerns that someone may still be in the hall

• Undertake a roll-call if possible

• Contact one of the following Bethersden Village Hall Committee members:

Jan Guntrip 07866500548

Sue Gammon 07940473695

On being told there is a fire

• Leave the building immediately

• Do not stop to collect belongings

• Assist others who may be more vulnerable than yourself

• Assemble in the car park by the recycling bins