HHSRS 07/06

Yes

Yes

No

No

Fire

Vulnerable age

Related hazards

Persons aged 60 years or over

Electrical

External view of building

DESCRIPTION OF HAZARDS

DWELLING:

First floor corridor

First floor rear bedsit in a building constructed

in 1882

Background: The two storey brick built property is a Grade 2 listed building. This unit is located in the middle

of the corridor. There is no smoke detection or a fire door to this or any of the study bedrooms and the

windows within the rooms cannot be used as an alternative escape. There are 22 units on the first floor and

shared kitchens located at each end of the corridor. The corridor is 75 metres in length with a staircase at

each end. The shared kitchens have heat detectors linked to an alarm but this cannot be easily heard in the

letting. The door to the study bedroom (and all the others) is the original door and fire rated at approximately

10 minutes. The double doors at the end of the corridor (separating the kitchens from the corridor) are ill

fitting and have gaps around the frame (it is similar on the ground floor). There are 15 rooms on the ground

floor with two shared lounges and the two shared kitchens in similar locations to those on the first floor. There

are smoke detectors linked to the alarm system in the corridors but not in the lounges. The building was last

rewired in 1956 with a double socket in each bedroom and two double sockets in kitchens.

LIST OF RELEVANT MATTERS

LIKELIHOOD

A

m

Smoke/ heat detectors

3

a

Heater/cooker position

-

n

Fire fighting equipment

1

b

Space heating

-

o

Lightning protection

-

c

Defects to heating

-

d

Clothes drying facilities

-

OUTCOMES

e

Number/ siting of sockets

-

a

Smoke/heat detectors

3

f

Electrical Installation

2

b

Means of escape

2

g

Non-fire resistant fabric

-

c

Combustible furnishings

-

h

Smoke permeable fabric

-

d

Fire fighting equipment

-

i

Fire stops to cavities

-

e

Lightning protection

-

j

Disrepair to fabric

-

Key

3

Seriously defective

k

Internal doors

3

2

Defective

l

Self-closers

3

1

Not satisfactory

-

Satisfactory/NA

24 (IDeA - 01)

July 2006

Multiple locations

Secondary hazards

24 (IDeA - 01)

July 2006

HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM SCORES

LIKELIHOOD

Low

High

1 in 180

Av: Pre 1920 Flats: 1,681

180

< 4200 2400 1300 750 420 240 130

75

42

24

13

7.5

4

2.5

1.5 >

Justification

The high level of multi-occupation; the old wiring; the lack of adequate fire detection in the

letting(s) and lounges and inadequate alarm system; the inadequate protected route of

escape (including room doors); lack of escape or rescue via windows; all increase in the

likelihood of a fire that could cause harm.

OUTCOMES

%

Av Pre 1920 Flats: 5.6

Class I

21.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 0.0

Class II

0.5

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 27.7

Class III

46.4

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Av: 66.7

Class IV

31.6

< 0.05 0.15 0.3

0.7

1.5

3

7

15

26

38 >

Justification

The lack of detection in the unit(s) and the inadequate alarm sounder compromise early

warning; the door to the room offers little protection; the distance of travel to a place of

safety via an escape route that is not fully protected; kitchens located off the escape route

with no barriers to prevent fire from spreading onto this route - fire spread could be rapid;

and limited ability to rescue from the windows; are factors that increase the risk of worse

than average harm outcomes.

Av. Pre 1920 Flats: 39

RATING

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

Score:

1276

RATING SCORES AFTER IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVE

Likelihood to

1 in 1800

Outcomes to

4.6

0.0 31.6 63.8

%

Justification

Provision of half-hour (self-closing) fire doors to this (and all rooms); extension of AFD and

audible alarm to all units and common parts; repairs to doors & provision of double door

protection between room and stairs (escape routes); updating the electrical installation

reduces the likelihood and spread of harms to the average.

Av:39

NEW RATING

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

Score:

31

Av: Nos

Average likelihood and harm outcomes for all persons aged 60 years or over, 1997-1999.