These are the first questions that should be asked before requesting plans to be drawn of buildings / premises.

 

Plans should convey to the relevant  person looking at them what they need to know, so for instance a builder will need to know site dimensions and position of the building before commencing a project, so the plan needs to be accurate and to scale.

 

However, a person who may be in a fire / emergency situation only needs to know where they are at that moment and where to go next. so the drawing needs to be clear and without unnecessary information.

 

 

 

 

Since the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 , Fire & Rescue services no longer issue Fire Certificates, these certificates required the production of fire plans indicating the necessary fire precautions imposed.

 

The “order” has now imposed on the owner/ occupier the responsibility to maintain and produce a fire risk assessment for their premises, the findings of these assessments would be easier to implement and maintain if a plan is produced.

The plan should indicate_;

 

i)      Fire resistance

ii)     Fire doors

iii)    Protected stairs,

iv)    Automatic fire detection including.. manual fire alarm call points, detectors, sounders,

v)     Emergency/Escape Lighting

vi)    Emergency first aid fire fighting equipment

vii)   Escape signage

viii)  Emergency Fastenings.

 

 

Application plans can be requested by Building Control, Planning, Licensing

These need to be scaled with dimensions and in some cases additional elevation views  to provide all the information required by the department/authority to have a good overview of what is required before allowing work to start or granting permissions or a licence.

 

 

 

In October 2008 a new British Standard was introduced  which aimed to improve and facilitate fire safety provisions in buildings to ensure reasonable standards for the fire safety of people in and around buildings , including fire fighters.

 

The standard deals with four main fire safety measures:-

 

i)     Management of Fire safety, and maintenance.

ii)    Provision of means of escape.

iii)   Structural protection of escape facilities

iv)   Provision of access and facilities for firefighters

 

This document has been introduced to give a complete history of a building throughout its working life and assist occupiers to meet their statutory duties under the Regulatory Reform Order.

As part of the recommendations to assist in the management of buildings practical plans/diagrams and reference tables should be produced and made available.

These plans can also be used to assist in the formulation of  the premise fire Strategy plan.

 

 

In the government guidance in the the Regulatory Reform Order(Fire Safety) Order, it recommends that plans and specifications including special hazards/risks should be readily available to firefighters.

Premises Information Boxes are a method of providing this information. Typical contents of one of these boxes could include :-

 

 

i)     Orientation plans

ii)    Essential structural features

iii)   Location of high risks, equipment

iv)   Location of any automatic fire fighting equipment

v)    Location of main electrical & gas supply intakes/isolators

vi)   Any items that may require salvage

 

  

Wayfinding plans should be provided in buildings where the escape route may not be obvious to the occupants and those unfamiliar with the building layout.

These plans should be provided and positioned throughout an escape route to give clear and easily understood directions to places of safety.

 

 

 

I)        Positioned in individual rooms (Hotels, Nursing homes) and common areas.

II)      “You are here” markers symbol to indicate orientation and position.

III)      Escape arrows to give direction to nearest exit and where appropriate an alternative

IV)      Identification of the room, floor or area.

V)       Position of nearest manual call points and fire fighting equipment

VI)      Refuge points

VII)     Assembly points

 

Plans are produced in “AutoCad”, can be Scaled, in Colour and up to A1 in size from most Formats:-

 

 

i)      Cad drawings

ii)     PDF files

iii)    Photocopies

 

For further information please contact

 

 

FireCad

01273 414688

plans@firecad.co.uk

Ken Towner