FAQ's & Useful Information
Legislation, law, standards & responsibilities can be quite confusing, & sometimes overwhelming. Our aim is to simplify the requirements needed in fire & electrical safety.
If you still can't find what you need, get in touch & our dedicated support team & our knowledgeable friendly technicians will gladly help. We allow you to be the expert in your business, whilst our business keeps you safe & compliant
FIRE SAFETY
The fire safety legislation is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, sometimes referred to as the RRO is legislation that replaced the Fire Precautions Act 1971. The premise of the order is to simplify fire safety law, requirements & to make clear who is responsible. The order has a specific requirement for the responsible person to organise a fire risk assessment to identify & manage the risk of fire
Whilst everyone in your organisation has a role to play in fire safety & the prevention of fire, there are people who hold a legal responsibility to manage the risk of fire.
You’re responsible for fire safety in business or other non-domestic premises if you’re:
- an employer
- the owner
- the landlord
- an occupier
- anyone else with control of the premises, for example a facilities manager, building manager, managing agent or risk assessor
You’re known as the ‘responsible person’. If there’s more than one responsible person, you have to work together to meet your responsibilities
Reference: gov.uk
Competency is a key definition in Fire and Electrical safety
Someone is who is competent will have the following:
- Qualifications/Education
- Experience
- The right tools
- Access to standards & legislation
- Will use approved equipment
- Hold minimum insurances
If you have concerns that measures have not been taken to reduce the risk of fire or to prevent injury, then you should contact your local fire brigade & use the report a concern page
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
This all depends on the size of your premises & the associated risks. You are required to have a minimum of 2 class A appliances at rating of 13A each per floor. Trent Safety Services offer a free site survey & design service in accordance with BS5306 Part 8
Each Fire Extinguisher carries a rating which must be clearly marked on the appliance. The rating signifies not only the type of fire it can be used on, but also the size of the fire the appliance can tackle. We use this figure to determine how many appliances are needed for an area or for a risk. For example a 6 litre water extinguisher carries a rating of 13A. This will cover a 200 square meter area for a class A risk
- Class A Fires involve a solid fuel source such as Wood, Card or Paper
- Class B Fires involve a flammable liquid such as petrol, alcohol, or paints
- Class C Fires involve a flammable gas such as Butane, Propane or Methane
- Class D Fires involve a flammable metal such as Aluminium, Lithium or Zinc
- Class F Fires involve a cooking oil such as Lard, Sunflower or Rapeseed
Please note that although electrical fires do not hold a classification, as they are considered an ignition source & not a fuel, they still require a provision where there is a risk. We recommend a CO2 Fire Extinguisher for this or a water mist
- Red - Water (Class A Fires)
- Cream - Foam (Class A and B Fires)
- Black - CO2 (Class B Fires & Electrical Risks)
- Blue - Powder (Class ABC, BC)
- Purple - Metal fire, depending on type, & electrical risks)
- Yellow - Wet Chemical (Class A and F Fires)
- White - Water Mist (Class A, B & F Fires & electrical risks)
With a traditional water or foam fire extinguisher, no this would not be advisable. The 35KV test is based on an accidental discharge & misuse could cause a short circuit or an electric shock. Modern water mist extinguishers are tested up to 1000KV & are therefore safe to discharge onto small electrical equipment
Yes you can buy a portable fire extinguisher online, but you must have the extinguisher commissioned onsite by a qualified technician. This involves a basic service. We recommend this especially when the appliance has travelled through a courier network.
Fire Extinguishers must be serviced every 12 months in line with BS5306 & the manufacturers instructions
Extinguisher servicing does differ from each appliance. In general we will perform a visual inspection, weigh the appliance, test any gauges & replace the o ring on all hoses & horns
Fire Extinguishers can last for many years, however there are key service intervals we need to be aware of & replace units where necessary. A CO2 appliance must be hydraulically pressure tested every 10 years. We remove the extinguisher out of service & replace this with a replacement unit. Extinguishers containing water, powder & chemical agents must have an extended service performed every 5 years. Due to changes in legislation, & for safety reasons, we now perform this offsite & provide you with a brand new unit as a service exchange
Fire Extinguishers can not be thrown away in general waste. They can be highly dangerous when removing them & the contents can be harmful to the environment. As a registered waste carrier Trent Safety Services offer a disposal service. The appliances are removed for recycling & handed to our service partner who hold appropriate waste carrier licenses & an ISO accreditation
In short, no they can not. Fire Extinguishers must be placed on a British Standard, wall mounted bracket, or a Fire Extinguisher stand with appropriate signage
As a responsible person, you are required to keep accurate records of Fire Extinguisher servicing, usage & training. You are also required to perform visual inspections at regular intervals. We recommend performing this on a monthly basis. One of our technicians would be happy to demonstrate this during your next service visit
Anyone at work that may encounter a situation where they may use a portable fire extinguisher must have adequate training. You may select designated employees for this. Trent Safety Services can provide this in a classroom environment with live demonstrations. You must;
- DIAL 999. You or a colleague should alert the Fire Brigade at the earliest opportunity
Then to operate an extinguisher, use the acronym PASS
- PULL the pin whilst standing at a safe distance
- AIM the hose or nozzle at the base of the fire
- SQUEEZE the handles together to activate the extinguisher
- SWEEP from side to side until the fire is fully extinguished
Do not try to tackle a fire that is losing control or is too large. When using a CO2 appliance, do not hold the horn on operation as this can cause burns if the horn is not frost free.
PORTABLE APPLIANCE (PAT) TESTING
PAT stands for Portable Appliance testing, which is the phrase used to describe the inspection & testing of electrical equipment. It will involve a thorough visual inspection, & a test involving specialist test equipment. It will involve testing portable items connected to a three pin plug, & those portable items fixed to the wall. It excludes the fixed hard wiring of the property. This is a separate test which is referred to an Electrical Installation Condition Report
No it is not the Law to have PAT testing carried out. The electricity at work regulations require you to make sure that electrical equipment is maintained in a safe condition. Although this regulation does not specify how & when this should be done, the easiest way to achieve this is to have PAT testing carried out and this will fulfil your obligations
Although there is no specific regulation on the frequency of test periods, the old 4th edition of the IET code of practice has specific recommendations. The frequency will depend on the environment, usage & location. In the new 5th edition IET code of practice, it is down to the clients own risk assessment
This will all depend on the number of items you have, & the type of items you have, but on average we expect to test between 25-30 appliances per hour
The HSE recommends that new equipment should just receive a basic visual inspection as it should arrive in good working order. However if you consider that most manufacturers batch test their items, & we consider the transit of a new item, we would recommend testing all new equipment at your next inspection
There is no specific law requiring you to keep records, however considering the Electricity at Work regulations require you to maintain electrical equipment, it would make good practice to keep accurate records of inspections & a great way to keep an asset register of your equipment
It is recommended that you carry out a regular visual inspection yourself. The frequency of this depends on the environment & usage. You must check the following
- Inspect the plug for signs of damage, you may also check the fuse
- Inspect the wiring for fraying, cuts or melting
- Inspect the appliance for cracks, dents & signs of danger
- Remember, if you can get a finger in, its a fail
Similar to work regulations, there is no specific law that requires to you have PAT testing carried out, but does require you to make sure electrical equipment you have supplied is safe & maintained. PAT testing would be the easiest recorded way of fulfilling this. The housing act 2004 states that landlords should review conditions regularly to try & see where and how their properties can be made safer
If not carried out correctly then yes. It is better to use a competent person to carry out the inspection who should be able to identify the equipment and select a different means of testing on their test equipment
For a full test using calibrated test equipment, you would need to turn off the equipment & remove the plug from the wall. Where a piece of equipment can not be turned off, Trent Safety Services will perform a formal visual inspection where we can see only & this will be noted in the test results
If Trent Safety Services fail an item, we will remove it from service & notify the responsible person. We will apply a red fail sticker but we will not damage, cut wires, or remove plugs to prevent further usage
Following the IET code of practice, where possible, we will inspect the inside of a plug. We look for loose or poor terminal connections, frayed wires, faulty, incorrect sized or counterfeit fuses & general damage
There are 2 main general fuse sizes, 3 amp which is used for appliances under 700 watts in power & 13 amp for appliances over 700 watts in power. Some equipment use a larger amount of power when first started up, for example IT equipment, so these may come fitted with a 5 amp fuse
Absolutely we do. Our test equipment is maintained on a regular basis & is sent for calibration once per year
How to Wire a Plug
Wiring a plug is a simple task that anyone can carry out. If you are replacing a damaged plug, you will need only a screwdriver, if you are using a new cable, you will also need wire cutters/strippers. Follow the link below to access an online tutorial.
Fire safety training
This depends on the type of course you select. Please see below for average running times
- Fire Warden Training - Approximately 3 hours
- Fire Awareness Training - Approximately 2 hours
- Practical use of extinguishers only - 1 hour
A fire warden, fire awareness, or a practical fire extinguisher certificate will expire after 3 years, however it is recommended to have a refresher every 12-18 months
Under the regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, it is necessary to provide staff with sufficient training. How in depth this needs to be depends on your own risk assessment.
No, it is possible to complete fire training online, however the cost difference is negligible when you add up the amount of e-courses required per person. Face to face training is generally considered a lot more engaging & includes practical fire fighting experience which an online course cannot provide.
FIRE SAFETY SIGNAGE
Yes, Fire safety signage is a requirement by Law under the regulatory reform (Fire Safety) order 2005. All employees & visitors must have adequate signs to direct people to exits & fire safety equipment. Safety Signage is covered by the regulations implement European Council Directive 92/58/EEC on minimum requirements for the provision of safety signs at work. They require employers to provide safety signs where other methods, properly considered, cannot deal satisfactorily with certain risks & where the use of a sign can further reduce that risk
- RED - Prohibition, Stop!
- BLUE - Mandatory, you Must!
- YELLOW - Warning, Hazard
- GREEN - Safe Condition, Escape Route or First Aid
- UK Health & Safety at work poster
- Emergency Exit Signage
- Fire Notices
- Fire Equipment Signage
- First Aid Signage
- Signage to cover any risks or hazards
- No Smoking
- Directive signs, for example PPE must be worn
The best solution is to have a competent person perform a site survey so that you know exactly what signage is & importantly isn't required
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENTS
Yes, it is the law to have a fire risk assessment if you are responsible for a building & the people within it. If you employ more than 5 people then it must be written down. Please see further details in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order). The order excludes residential properties with one single family dwelling.
You can if you are deemed competent to complete a suitable sufficient report then yes. Templates can be downloaded from your local fire authority. You can find your local authority by clicking here
The report is usually around 50 pages & includes photographs of specific points which are easy to read, follow & action. It is broken down so that the report is easily digestible & actionable. You will learn about your hazards, the people at risk, escape routes/plans & if you have sufficient equipment to notify or deal with a fire
Each action is given a priority rating from low to high. It is advisable to correct high priority actions as soon as possible. Remember that regulations are important & all action points should be followed up
You should always keep your Fire Risk Assessment. It is an important document. It should be reviewed on a regular basis, as a minimum annually. Any major restructures or changes to staff, it is advisable to complete a new Assessment
We will provide electronic and hard copies of your assessment. This should be backed up away from site, or a hard copy kept in a fire proof safe. You will need to produce your report in the event of a fire or on the request of a fire officer
The consequences can be severe. Local fire authorities have jurisdiction to audit your premises. They can impose unlimited fines & serious failures can lead to a custodial sentence
about trent safety services
Although a majority of our work is within a 50 mile radius of our Nottingham office, we cover UK wide
We prefer to be dedicated to mechanical & electrical testing. Whilst we are experts in Fire Extinguishers, Fire alarms require a whole other expertise. Speak to our team if this is something you require & we can point you in the right direction
We are located in Colwick in Nottingham, with easy access to the city & motorways. Let us know if you would like to visit us at our office
All complaints are taken extremely seriously & will be investigated thoroughly. A complaint case is open & is sent to the managing director. The client will be provided with a reference number or relevant job number where all details will be logged. A response will be provided within 2 working days
Visit our "join our team" page to see our latest vacancies. We are always growing & expanding & looking for talented people to join our mission. Send us your details at anytime for consideration. All live job vacancies will also be placed on selected job websites
need fire extinguishers, PAT Testing or Fire training in nottingam, derby, leicester, lincoln, west
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