24 - West of England 01
FIRE
Vulnerable age
Persons aged 60 years or over
Related hazards
None
XXXX
HHSRS Operating Guidance: Feb
06
Multiple locations
Yes
No
Secondary hazards
Yes
No
Type of smoke detector (left) and
alarm sounder (right)
Dwelling: Pre-1920, three storey shared house with 5 bedrooms
DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS
Background
The house is a student shared house (not individual tenancies). Within the house there are two rooms (currently used as bedrooms)
and a shared kitchen/living room on the ground floor; two rooms (also used as bedrooms) and a bathroom on the first floor; and room
(bedroom) and store room on the second floor. There is gas central heating throughout. The property is in a reasonable state of repair.
The electrical installation is around 10 years old and in a good condition. None of the windows have opening casements through which
emergency escape could be made. All internal walls are of at least 30 minute fire resistence. There is an inter-linked wireless fire
detection and alarm system that meets the requirements of BS5839: Part 6 for a LD2 Grade A system. There is emergency lighting in
the stairwell. The final exit door has a lock which is openable from the inside without the need to use a key. There is a FD30S door to
the kitchen/living room with self closer. All the other doors are substantial, close-fitting, timber doors although not certified fire doors.
Fire fighting equipment is provided in the form of a fire blanket and a small multi-purpose extinguisher in the kitchen.
LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS
LIKELIHOOD
OUTCOMES
a
Heater/cooker position
-
a
Smoke/heat detectors
-
b
Space heating
-
b
Means of escape
2
c
Defects to heating
-
c
Combustible furnishings
-
d
Clothes drying facilities
-
d
Fire fighting equipment
1
e
Number/siting of sockets
-
e
Lightning protection system
-
f
Electrical installation
-
g
Non-fire resistant fabric
-
h
Smoke permeable fabric
-
i
Fire stops to cavities
-
Compounding matters - None
j
Disrepair to fabric
-
k
Internal doors
1
Key
3
Seriously defective
l
Self-closers
-
2
Defective
m
Smoke/heat detectors
-
1
Not satisfactory
n
Fire fighting equipment
-
*
Satisfactory/NA
o
Lightning protection system
-
H
I
J
G
RATING
Score: 71
RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT
IMPROVE
Likelihood to
1 in 5600
Outcomes to
10.0
4.6
31.6 53.8
%
Justification
Providing opening casements to the windows that can be used for rescue (or escape) or alternatively providing half hour
fire resistant doors with self closers to the escape route would reduce the likelihood and the spread of harms to at least
average (and probably better).
Av: 23
A
B
C
D
E
F
Average likelihood, outcomes and HHSRS score for hazards from fire for all persons aged 60 years or
over, 1997-1999.
NEW RATING
Av: Nos
Score: 20
H-
I
J
G
24 - West of England 01
HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES
Low
High
LIKELIHOOD
3,200
1 in
Av: Pre 1920 House: 4,496
< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130
75
42
24
13
7.5
4
2.5
1.5 >
Justification
The likelihood of an uncontrolled fire that could cause harm would probably be less than average for a pre-1920
dwelling-house given the fire precautions present. For example there is emergency lighting and an interlinked detection
and alarm system, if a fire was to start in the kitchen it would be detected and there is a fire door separating the
living/kitchen from the escape route so any fire should be contained. However this is three storey house with no
openable casements to allow escape/rescue in case of fire, and a greater distance to travel from the top floor room.
OUTCOMES
Class I
< 0.05
Class II
< 0.05
Class III
< 0.05
Class IV
< 0.05
%
Av: Pre 1920 House: 8.7
21.5
0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
Av: 3.2
4.6
0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
Av: 35.4
31.6
0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
Av: 52.7
44.7
0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
A
B
C
D
E
F
Justification
The absence of openable windows increases the chance that there could be a greater Class I harm outcome
particularly as this is a three-storey building.
Av: Pre 1920 House: 23