RISK CONTROL

STANDARDS
FIRE DEFENCE
FIRE PROCEDURES

Element No:
FD03
Revision No:
1
Revision Date:
6/2003
Page 1 of 5
Approved by :MRG Standards & Strategy
Committee

(ACTION IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE)

1.

Introduction
The absence of a formal plan of action is often the cause of a fire developing into a major loss and every
operating location must have an effective fire procedure. In developing the procedure, based on this
document, reference must be made to the standards on Fire Defence Organisation (FD01), Fire Teams
(FD02) and Emergency Planning (EP01 AND EP04).

2.

3.

Responsibility
2.1

Responsibility for formulating and maintaining effective fire procedures rests with the Fire Officer
(FD01) in conjunction with the Emergency Planning Committee (EP01).

2.2

As part of the fire defence organisation, there will be fire team members, or wardens, in each
department or zone responsible for ensuring that the fire procedure is followed and taking control
until the arrival of a Fire Team Leader, Fire Officer or Fire Brigade.

2.3

Decisions must not be delayed because the responsible person is not available. The most suitable
person present must take the initiative.

Vital Requirements
All fire procedures must incorporate the following essential aspects:3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9

raising the alarm

mobilising the fire teams
calling the fire brigade
immediate attack by general employees
immediate attack by fire teams
liaison with fire brigade
evacuation - partial or total
salvage/recovery
post-emergency analysis

Circumstances must dictate the priority of these aspects and formalised procedures must be flexible enough to
fit the immediate needs of the incident.
4.

Raising the Alarm

All premises must have a clearly laid down method whereby any employee discovering a fire can quickly alert:

members of the fire defence organisation

other employees in or about the area

This method may be the activation of a manual fire alarm system or a verbal warning.

RISK CONTROL
STANDARDS
FIRE DEFENCE
FIRE PROCEDURES

Element No:
FD03
Revision No:
1
Revision Date:
6/2003
Page 2 of 5
Approved by :MRG Standards & Strategy
Committee

(ACTION IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE)

4.1

Manual fire alarm systems must be arranged to immediately alert people in the area, members of the
Fire Defence Organisation and Fire Brigade. The standard on Fire Alarm Systems (FD05) gives
further details.

4.2

When the alarm is communicated verbally, the person discovering the fire must alert other people
within earshot and either immediately notify the Fire Officer and the Emergency Controller or, if
involved in attacking the fire, ask someone else to do so.

4.3

On being notified of the fire, the Fire Officer must immediately check that:4.3.1
4.3.2

the Fire Brigade is alerted

the fire teams are mobilised

and then:4.3.3
4.3.4
4.3.5
4.4

5.

In cases where it is immediately necessary to evacuate all or part of the premises, the Fire Officer
should initiate the evacuation procedure, transferring control to the Emergency Controller as soon as
practicable. See also Section 8 - "Evacuation" below.

Calling the Fire Brigade

5.1

There must be no delay in calling the Fire Brigade. IT IS BETTER TO CALL THE FIRE
BRIGADE IMMEDIATELY THAN TO RISK SERIOUS SPREAD OF FIRE.

5.2

All persons charged with the responsibility of notifying the Fire Brigade must be trained in the
correct procedure. The information required by the Fire Brigade is:-

5.3

6.

notify Emergency Controller and Security Officer

notify management (particularly manager responsible for risk control)
put fire wardens and fire team leaders in other areas on standby.

name and address of caller

address of premises involved
type of fire (vehicle, grass, buildings, etc.)

any additional information which may be of consequence to the brigade (e.g. lives in
danger, people trapped, hazardous materials).

Instructions must simultaneously be given to specified persons to meet the brigade at the
appropriate entrance and direct them to the fire.

Immediate Attack

RISK CONTROL
STANDARDS
FIRE DEFENCE
FIRE PROCEDURES

Element No:
FD03
Revision No:
1
Revision Date:
6/2003
Page 3 of 5
Approved by :MRG Standards & Strategy
Committee

(ACTION IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE)

7.

8.

6.1

On discovery, a fire should immediately be attacked, providing there is no personal danger. When
there are other people in the vicinity, the person discovering the fire should immediately try to
contain it, at the same time telling another to report. Having reported, the second person should
help put out the fire. Fire team members should take over operations as soon as possible.

6.2

At the same time, action must be taken to clear from the fire area all persons other than those
engaged in fire fighting and to close all doors leading from the scene, taking care to leave an escape
route for the fire fighters. Doors to stairs and lifts must be closed to prevent spread of fire and
smoke to other areas.

6.3

Other employees can be directed in supporting tasks (e.g. moving goods out of danger) if these can
be done in safety.

6.4

If attempts to put the fire out are endangering the safety of the fire team, or if they are clearly failing
to keep the fire in check, they should be withdrawn on instruction from the Fire Officer/Emergency
Controller.

Fire Brigade
7.1

When the fire brigade arrives it must be directed to the fire and the Senior Officer must be quickly
briefed by the Emergency Controller/Fire Officer. If required, a copy of the plan of the premises
(Plan B - EP01) should be made available and recovered afterwards.

7.2

The Emergency Controller or Fire Officer must consult the Senior Brigade Officer on further
involvement of company personnel before withdrawing them from the scene.

Evacuation
Where the need for evacuation is not immediately evident to all occupants (4.4 above) the decision to evacuate
should be the responsibility of the Emergency Controller or the person in charge at the scene of the fire.
Evacuation should be started as soon as it becomes apparent that fire or smoke may spread to other areas or
floors, or there is a danger that escape routes may be affected. (See Emergency Planning EP01).

9.

Staff Training and Awareness

The training needs of all employees in fire procedure are:9.1
9.2
9.3
9.4

what to do on discovering a fire

how to activate the fire alarm
how to use basic fire fighting equipment
awareness of the evacuation signal

RISK CONTROL
STANDARDS
FIRE DEFENCE
FIRE PROCEDURES

Element No:
FD03
Revision No:
1
Revision Date:
6/2003
Page 4 of 5
Approved by :MRG Standards & Strategy
Committee

(ACTION IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE)

9.5
9.6
9.7
10.

how to evacuate - primary and alternative routes to the assembly area

emergency shut-down procedures
securing of vital records, documents, cash - if there is time to do this safely.

Notices
Once fire procedures have been formulated, brief notices such as the example given as ANNEX A, but
adapted accordingly, must be displayed in all areas as a constant reminder to staff of the action to be taken in
the event of a fire.

Cross References
FD01
FD02
FD03
EP01
EP04

Fire Defence Organisation

Fire Teams
Fire Alarm, Detection & Evacuation Systems
Emergency Planning
Emergency Planning

ANNEXURE A
EXAMPLE OF ZONAL FIRE PROCEDURE NOTICE :

RISK CONTROL
STANDARDS
FIRE DEFENCE
FIRE PROCEDURES

Element No:
FD03
Revision No:
1
Revision Date:
6/2003
Page 5 of 5
Approved by :MRG Standards & Strategy
Committee

(ACTION IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE)

IN CASE OF FIRE
Zone 6
IF YOU DISCOVER A FIRE
1.
2.

Immediately notify your Fire Marshal or his deputy.

With the aid of a second person ATTACK the fire with a fire extinguisher or hosereel. DO NOT PLACE
YOURSELF IN DANGER.

THE FIRE MARSHAL AND STAFF APPOINTED WILL

1.
2.

Ensure that the fire brigade is called.

FIRE BRIGADE NO. ..
NB : It is imperative that the fire brigade is called as soon as possible.
in the absence of the Fire Marshal or deputy, any staff members should make
the call.

3.

Start the Fire Alarm Procedure.

4.

Direct staff and visitors to available exits if necessary.

ALL STAFF
If you are told to leave the building go quickly using the main exit into (Anderson Street). If this route is blocked,
go out using the BLUE route into (Market Street). Do not use the lift. When you are out of the building assemble
in the open area opposite the main entrance in (Market Street). DO NOT RE-ENTER THE BUILDING FOR
ANY REASON. *
YOUR FIRE MARSHALS ARE :
Fire Marshall : Mr Len Sparks (Extension 203)
Deputy : Mr George Busi
Fire Brigade : 998
* TO BE ADAPTED AND MODIFIED TO THE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES