There is no legal obligation to carry out a Fire risk assessment in your home, but there is a moral one. According to the latest figures, Fire and rescue services (FRSs) attended 577,053 incidents in the year ending March 2022, an 11 per cent increase compared with the previous year, and there were 272 fire-related fatalities.
Although there are no figures to back this up, it is common sense that a prior fire assessment could have prevented some of these fatalities.
What Is A Fire Risk Assessment?
A Fire Risk assessment is a thorough examination of your home and the users from the fire prevention standpoint. To keep people safe, it’s essential to recognise the possible threats and improve your fire safety measures.
Why Do It?
It is legally required to conduct a fire risk assessment. If you are in charge of a structure, such as an employer, owner, or occupant of property that isn’t a “single private dwelling” (a private residence), you must ensure that a competent individual completes a fire risk assessment. As stated earlier, it isn’t a legal requirement for a homeowner, but do you want your loved ones put a risk?
What Does a Fire Risk Assessment Tell Me?
Its goal is to establish if current fire precautions are sufficient and appropriate in light of all the dangers involved or whether control methods might reduce them.
The likelihood of a fire developing multiplied by the severity of the fire, or the “harm potential,” and the results in terms of loss of life, fire spread, damage, etc., are known as “fire risk.”
The damage that might result from a fire hazard relies on the likelihood that a fire could start from the danger and the possible repercussions of losing life or property.
What Types of Things Are a Risk?
A full assessment will look at the building as a whole and consider storage, blocked accesses, fire and smoke detectors and the occupants of the building. You must know the escape routes, especially if you have young children, elderly or movement-impaired guests or family.
Common Risks are:
Faulty appliances, leads, chip pans, and naked flames too close to combustible things cause severe UK fires.
So, while testing your smoke alarm monthly reduces fire risk, knowing the causes of fires that set off alarms will protect you and your family.
Living room fire dangers: With so much furniture, curtains, carpet, candles, fireplaces, and overloaded extension leads and sockets , it’s no wonder many fires start in the living room.
Home wiring: Checking domestic wiring for wear and tear can help prevent fires. Homeowners can visually inspect plugs and sockets for damage, but a licenced electrician should inspect the electrical installation.
Electrical goods: UK electrical fires are common. To prevent unsafe electrical parts, buy adaptors, extensions and other household electrical supplies from trusted vendors.
Kitchen fires: Distracted cooks or defective appliances create kitchen fires. Another risk is cluttered kitchens with tea towels and other combustible materials near the hob.
Deep-fat frying: Fried food lovers should get an electric deep-fat fryer with a thermostat since a pan spewing hot oil is unsafe and can catch fire if it overheats.
Bedroom fire risks: Overloaded sockets, garments near portable heaters, and youngsters playing with candles, lighters, and matches are common bedroom fire causes.
Hairdressing tools: In haste, forgetting to disconnect hair straighteners or other styling products might start a fire. After usage, disconnect and place on a heatproof mat.
Garden fires: We love gardening, especially for summer parties and barbeques. Maintain your garden to avoid fires. When having a BBQ, place the grill on flat ground away from overhanging trees and other flammable items. Never use petrol or paraffin for barbecuing, and keep sand or water handy to extinguish flames when barbecuing.
Conclusion
Fires can be devastating not just for your property but potentially for family members. It isn’t too much them to expect to be kept as safe as possible from fire risks in your home, and a Fire Risk Survey will advise you of all the potential weak spots and how to address them.