In case of fire

In response to urgent requests for assistance in understanding and meeting the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order from a number of industrial and commercial clients, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance set up a comprehensive training seminar, held in June. As well as providing clear guidance as to the full implications of the order, the seminar was designed to deliver the following key additional benefits: a demonstration of simple, practical steps to achieving full compliance; and an insight into the opportunities to go beyond the minimum statutory obligations into the realms of property protection, business continuity and the ultimate goal of full flexibility of use - leading to commercial benefits and financial savings.

Developed in conjunction with Russ Timpson, head of MSI's strategic partner, the Fire Strategy Company, the seminar also included advice from leading fire engineering professionals and prominent managers, past and present, from the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority

To start with, regarding practical advice on achieving full compliance, after a review of the legislation and how it may be applied - using real life case studies, photographs and video footage drawn from a range of industry sectors - the delegates were urged to consider their organisation's acceptable level of risk.

This acceptable level of risk is primarily based on the concept of foreseeability. Whether an incident is foreseeable or not will be based on the organisation's own loss history, and also on that of the industry sector as a whole. This knowledge was highlighted as an essential starting point to carrying out the assessment. Also important was an understanding of exactly what type of response could be expected from the local fire service. For example, a risk assessment based on an expected attendance time of 10 minutes may be worthless if the premises can only be reached in 30 minutes.

With their acceptable level of risk in mind, the delegates were then taken through the nine steps of risk assessment detailed in PAS 79, with practical examples used to highlight: pertinent construction and occupancy issues; the top causes of fire; appropriate fire protection measures; useful methodologies for assessing and quantifying fire hazard; and guidance on management and review of risk assessments.

With many of the delegates responsible for large or complex premises, an insight was then given as to how they may analyse and co-ordinate a set of potentially disparate risk assessments carried out by different personnel in areas of inherently variable hazard.

The penultimate session of the day entailed walking the delegates through four different occupancies. With the assistance of detailed photographs, potential concerns that need to be addressed when carrying out the assessment were highlighted in office, factory, warehouse and retail outlet environments.

For the final session of the day, Paul Jenkins, head of fire engineering for the LFEPA, explained what the regulatory authorities would be looking for when evaluating fire risk assessments. Rather than the detail of the assessment, Jenkins stated that they would review the methodology used and assess the document's suitability in the light of the nature and complexity of the building. Jim Golt, the former head of fire engineering for the LFEPA, added that there would probably now be more emphasis on the management of fire risks, as opposed to the days when fire certificates were issued, when physical features of the building were more to the fore.

At the heart of the seminar was Timpson's focus on the potential commercial benefits from the fire risk assessment process. He urged the delegates to grasp the opportunity to take the assessment process beyond the minimum statutory legislative requirements and into the areas of property protection, business continuity and the ultimate goal of full flexibility of use.

He advised that a long-term view is vital and that the cost of implementing better fire protection measures should be weighed up against the potential premium savings over the life of a building.

Additionally, his experience showed that focusing on the financial benefits of fire safety was usually the most effective way to gain board level buy-in.

The delegates left with a clear understanding of the implications of the new legislation, practical advice on how to complete a suitable risk assessment and extremely useful professional insights into the risk assessment process and fire safety in general. They were also given a CD incorporating the day's presentations and a set of useful tools and guidance documents to enable them to commence their own risk assessment process.

- For further information on the seminar, visit www.msilm.com and to enquire about booking a place on the next training seminar contact russ@firestrategy.fsnet.co.uk

Mark Redding, Account manager - risk engineering, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (London Management).