Our Services
Entire Lifecycle Fire Safety Management & Consultancy
From “cradle to grave” (design to end of operation) of any facility’s life-cycle, GHT can provide the necessary consultation, guidance and assistance to establish and maintain a high level of fire safety, as well as meet all the necessary regulatory requirements and owner/manager obligations.
We also work closely with the building owner/manager to ensure any fire safety measures work in concert with the operational needs of a facility and cause no unnecessary disruption to operations. Below are the key services included in our comprehensive fire safety management process.
Fire Safety Audits
Before any fire safety measures or upgrades can be introduced into a building, a fire safety audit must be conducted. This audit will include obtaining all necessary fire safety information relating to the building, such as previously granted fire safety certificate documentation, “as built” drawings, fire safety register documentation etc.
All information will then be reviewed in a desktop study, to establish the level of fire safety compliance in the building. Following this, a visual inspection of the building will be undertaken and an audit report, along with fire safety drawings (if applicable) will be produced, noting any issues identified.
Fire Safety Regulatory Compliance
Any audit report and fire safety drawings (if applicable) provided by GHT will identify the shortcomings of the building in terms of its compliance with both Building Regulations and/or fire safety standards relevant to the facility eg. Technical Guidance Document B for fire safety, as well as any fire safety management based obligations specific to the facility.
It is imperative that any facility owner/manager meets these obligations, as it will negatively affect both insurance cover and their legal standing if an incident occurs and the building is not compliant.
Fire Safety Risk Assessments
As all passive and active fire safety components in the building will be evaluated as part of the auditing process, each area can then be risk-assessed individually by GHT, to indicate the associated level of risk, based on the likelihood and severity of impact to life and property.
Example items include fire alarm systems, emergency lighting systems, fire doors, fire resistant construction and compartmentation, firefighting facilities, fire safety procedures in place (includes evacuation strategies), ongoing fire safety management etc.
Fire Safety Maintenance & Inspections
Once all fire safety upgrades are complete, a premises can be deemed “fire safe”. This level of fire safety must then be maintained, through the proper upkeep of all passive and active fire safety measures in a facility. Regulations dictate that certain fire safety components must have regular maintenance and testing for the systems to be deemed fit for purpose.
GHT provide a service to work with the relevant facility service providers to ensure the correct level of maintenance and testing is achieved on the client’s behalf. We also carry out onsite inspections where necessary, to ensure appropriate workmanship standards and ongoing fire safety procedures are implemented.
Fire Safety Training & Evacuation Strategies
For any passive and active fire safety components to be effective, facility occupiers ie. management and staff members must be educated on the basic purpose and function of any such components and strategies. Where necessary, staff must also be trained in their use eg. fire extinguishers, fire alarm panels etc. depending on the fire safety procedures and designated responsibilities established on site.
These necessary active fire safety procedures (including daily staff inspections for ongoing upkeep of a fire safe premises, the establishment of a safe and effective evacuation strategy, as well as the associated staff training required) are also areas with which GHT can assist.
Pre-Incident Planning
At GHT we prepare, maintain and provide pre-incident plans. Pre-incident or pre-fire planning is the process that involves the gathering, managing and presenting of operational or risk-critical information about a high-risk premises in a fire services’ area of response, especially detailing potential hazards in the event of an emergency.
Fire Safety Register Records
The equivalent to a standard Safety File, the Fire Safety Register is an organisational tool to record all aspects of fire safety at a facility. This includes files for all items noted above, such as the fire safety procedures established on site, the fire evacuation strategies, relevant contacts, fire safety reports, fire safety drawings, third party certificates from service providers, inspection and maintenance records etc.
GHT can provide and maintain the fire safety register records in digital and/or hard-copy format on the client’s behalf, thus facilitating fully comprehensive and compliant ongoing fire safety management for a facility.