HHSRS VERSION 2
Yes
Yes
No
No
Fire
Vulnerable age
Related hazards
24 (BCC-02)
May 2006
Persons aged 60 years or over
Excess Cold, Electrical Hazards
Multiple locations
Secondary hazards
DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS
Dwelling: Ground floor flat in a 2 storey, 1910, building
Background: This flat is self contained. The building was converted from a house in the early 1980's but
without planning permission or building regulation approval. Local authority intervention in 1988 led to
improvements being made to the means of escape from fire with the entrance doors to both flats being
replaced with 30 minute, smoke sealed, fires doors and a fire alarm system being installed comprising of
interlinked, mains powered, heat detectors in the kitchens of both flats, a smoke detector in the living room of
the ground floor flat and a smoke detector on the landing of the first floor flat. The rear garden of the ground
floor flat is fenced in although there is a gate leading to a rear access lane.
A) Fire Precautions and Means of Escape: All doors with the exception of the main entrance door are
sound timber panel doors. The flat has a wiring installation that is 30 plus years old with only a single double
power socket outlet provided in both the living room and the bedroom. The installation itself is in a reasonable
condition for its age. Heating within this flat is provided by 2kW portable electric convector heaters in both the
living room and the bedroom. There is a heat detector in the kitchen and a smoke detector in the living room
which form part of a fire alarm system covering both flats. Audibility within the bedroom is at a satisfactory
level. There is a fire blanket provided in the kitchen but no fire extinguisher anywhere within the flat.
LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS
LIKELIHOOD
A
A
-
m
Smoke/heat detectors
-
3
n
Fire fighting equipment
-
-
o
Lightning protection
-
-
OUTCOMES
3
a
Smoke/heat detectors
-
2
b
Means of escape
-
-
c
Combustible furnishings
-
-
d
Fire fighting equipment
1
-
e
Lightning protection
-
-
Key
3
Seriously defective
2
2
Defective
2
1
Not satisfactory
-
Satisfactory/NA
a
Heater/cooker position
b
Adequate Space Heating
c
Heating Defects
d
Clothes drying facilities
e
Number/siting of sockets
f
Electrical Installation
g
Non-fire resistant fabric
h
Smoke permeable fabric
i
Fire stops to cavities
j
Disrepair to fabric
k
Internal doors
l
Self-closers
RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT
Score: 100
IMPROVE
Justification
NEW RATING
Av: Nos
Likelihood to
1 in 1800
Outcomes to
4.6
0.0 31.6 63.8
%
Provision of gas central heating or electric storage heating; upgrading the electrical
installation with an increased number of sockets within the flat particularly the living room
and bedroom would reduce the likelihood of an occurrence to about average
Av:39
A B C D E
F G
Average likelihood and harm outcomes for all persons aged 60 years or over, 1997-1999
Score: 31
I
J
H
24 (BCC-02)
May 2006
HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES
1 in 560
LIKELIHOOD
Low
High
Av Pre 1920 Flat: 1,681
560
< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130
75
42
24
13
7.5
4
2.5
1.5 >
Justification
OUTCOMES
Class I
Class II
Class III
Class IV
Justification
RATING
The likely overloading of the ageing power circuit in the flat as the result of a shortage of
sockets and the use of portable heaters coupled with the lack of fire doors to the kitchen
increase the likelihood of a fire that could give rise to harm. However the flat is on the
ground floor and with an adequate detection and alarm system the likelihood is only a little
greater than the national average.
%
Av Pre 1920 Flat: 5.6
4.6
< 0.05 0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
Av: 0.0
0
< 0.05 0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
Av: 27.7
31.6
< 0.05 0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
Av: 66.7
63.8
< 0.05 0.15 0.3
0.7
1.5
3
7
15
26
38 >
There is nothing that suggests that the spread of harms will be anything different from the
national average, and there are three routes of escape.
Av. Pre 1920 Flat: 39
A B C D E
G H
I
J
F-