Review of Fire Safety Audit form and Process

Review of Fire Safety Audit form and Process The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

• CFOA commenced Fire Safety preparation for FSO in early 2004 • CFOA Training and initial audit form issued to all brigades late 2004 • Training completed prior to April 2005 • FSO deferred until October 2005 • Software development completed • Use of Audit form commenced 1 st October 2005 The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

• Virtually all FRA’s have adopted or adapted the CFOA audit process • Audit process designed to deliver greater consistency in enforcing FSO across country – which was achieved • CFOA agreed with CLG to review the fire safety audit after 12 months • CFOA Task and finish Group established December 2007 (led by HFRS) • Key issues identified with Part B of the Fire Safety Audit – – Compliance level often inappropriate – Initial Enforcement expectation often wrong – CFOA EMM too restrictive The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

T of R/Work streams • Workstream 1 – – • Workstream 2 – – – • Review of Audit Form Parts A & C to reflect current FSEC requirements Review the compatibility and issue of site specific information for RCC Review implications for CLG returns Review the Graphic Equaliser (Impact of Mott Mac. Donald report) Review of Audit Form Part B Scoring/weighting etc Scope of articles Lessons learned Process EMM Workstream 3 – Ops Data Gathering (Parts A and C Audit form) – All work deferred until workstreams 1 and 2 are complete • Workstream 4 – Article 31 Notices – All work deferred until workstreams 1 and 2 are complete The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

Initial Issues • Wanted to achieve an outcome of Audit to more fully reflect the risk in the building • Wanted to amend current system rather than wholesale change – for National acceptance • Current audit system takes no account of Article importance – E. G (Article 37 – firefighters switches for luminous tube signs has same weighting as Article 14 – emergency routes and exits and Article 13 – Firefighting and fire detection) • Current scoring system – total of scores and divide by number of section used – results in an average score across the Articles – Often results in satisfactory when not appropriate The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

Schedule 2007 • 11 th/12 th September 2007 SW group revised Part B • Trialled in SW Region with good early results • 5 th/6 th December 2007 National CFOA meeting – South West amendments presented to National CFOA T & F group • National group agree with the principles and philosophy used • Extend Pilot across all Regions Jan/April 2008 The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

Schedule 2008/9 • 2 nd/3 rd April 2008 – National CFOA meeting – lessons learnt from pilot • Full Nationwide consultation (6 weeks) May/June 2008 • Consultation with all F&RS, CLG, CBI, FSB and LBRO • Return from all CFOA Regions, CLG and LBRO • Software Suppliers informed of changes • Guidance note and revised audit form issued to all F&RS 4 th August 2008 (2008/1016) • In use April 2009 The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

Part B & C example changes • Articles • Scoring Methodology • EMM Process The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

To refresh your memory! All these articles are on the current audit form Article No. and description Possible scores 9 – Risk Assessment 1, 3 or 5 10 – Principles of prevention 1, 3 or 5 11 – Fire safety arrangements 1, 3 or 5 12 – Dangerous substances 1, 3 or 5 15 – Procedures for imminent danger 1, 3 or 5 16 – Additional measures – dangerous substances 1, 3 or 5 17 – Maintenance 1, 3 or 5 18 – Safety Assistance 1, 3 or 5 21 – Training 1, 3 or 5 14 – Emergency routes and exits 1, 3 or 5 29 – Alterations notices 1, 3 or 5 13 – Fire-fighting and fire detection 1, 3 or 5 19 – Information to employees 1, 3 or 5 20 – Information to employers from outside undertakings 1, 3 or 5 22 – Co-operation and co-ordination 1, 3 or 5 23 – Employees duties 1, 3 or 5 37 – FF switches for luminous tubes 1, 3 or 5 38 – Maintenance of Firefighters measures (risers, etc. ) 1, 3 or 5 The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

• Premises divided into 4 groups • High scores to higher risk premises • See Graphic Equaliser IRMP Note 4 The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

Safety Critical Articles The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

Other Article/ risks The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

Fire warning arrangements The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

Fire Fighting Equipment The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

Article 14 Means of escape The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

Initial Enforcement expectations Total Score Initial Enforcement Expectations 1 0 – 25 Broadly Compliant Inform & educate 2 26 – 35 Notification of Minor Deficiencies 3 36 – 45 Notification of Deficiencies 4 46 – 55 Enforcement Notice 5 56+ Enforcement Notice ‘Fast track’ with short date deadline Prohibition Now notices sit outside of this process Next Stage - Apply principles of EMM The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

Initial Enforcement Expectations Fast track notice (consult by phone if necessary) with short timescale The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

Strategic Factors Variations to EMM are normally subject to a line management review This is not a procedure in its own Right but captures the issues inspectors consider when exercising their professional judgement, this reflects the process by which enforcement decisions are reached HSE EMM - http: //www. hse. gov. uk/lau/lacs/22 -18. htm The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

Audit The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service

Summary • Revised existing Audit form – not wholesale change • Audit form better reflects levels of risk in premises and address concerns from both pilot and national consultation • Audit form will better inform F&RS IRMP planning • Audit form to be reviewed by CFOA – date TBC • Other political drivers may necessitate an earlier review The Chief Fire Officers’ Association The professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service