NEW FIRE SAFETY GUIDANCE

The Fire Industry Association (FIA) have recently published a number of new guidance documents.

The first of these is a Guide on equipment for use in explosive atmospheres (ATEX). This gives background information on the use of electrical equipment in areas where there is a risk of explosion and also gives information on the concepts available for protecting equipment used in hazardous areas.

The guide covers the regulatory framework, hazard classification, explosion protection, installation and maintenance and applicable standards. This can be downloaded from the FIA’s website at: https://www.fia.uk.com/news/new-fia-guidance-document-fia-guide-on-equipment-for-use-in-explosive-atmospheres-atex.html

The next guide covers using water mist systems to protect high-rise buildings. The guide is intended to support anyone who either owns or operates a high-rise building or who is selecting, designing, installing or specifying firefighting systems. This can be downloaded from the FIA’s website at: https://www.fia.uk.com/news/new-fia-guidance-document-on-the-protection-of-high-rise-buildings-using-water-mist.html

The final set of documents concerns the maintenance and end-of-life disposal of certain types of fire extinguishers which may contain chemicals that have been identified as persistent organic pollutants.

All organisations have a duty of care to prevent unauthorised or harmful deposit, treatment or disposal of waste and prevent the escape of waste from your control. Where a fire extinguisher needs to be emptied or thrown away and the extinguishing media contains potentially harmful substances, these should be disposed of properly. It is not acceptable to simply discharge the extinguisher onto the ground or down the drains.

Guidance for extinguisher maintenance, manufacturers/rechargers, extinguisher disposers and end users can be downloaded from the FIA’s website at: https://www.fia.uk.com/news/fia-guidance-document-pollutants-in-water-based-fire-extinguishers-extinguisher-maintenance-and-environmental-regulation.html

Please speak to your normal PIB Risk management contact or get in touch using [email protected]  if you have any questions about fire safety in your workplace.