RISK ASSESSING THE FIRE RISK ASSESSOR – RETAINERS AND DISCLAIMERS

[hammer1]

Great article below:

http://www.firesafetylaw.co.uk/risk-ass ... sclaimers/

There a seminar in June on this up Manchester way....

[Messy]

I have to say I was - and am - concerned about the non invasive nature of the fire risk assessments I complete. Fire spread through hidden voids or those that should be fire stopped keeps me at wake at night the most.

I will randomly lift ceiling tiles above doors but rarely floor tiles. I haven't got the time or kit to do so. However, if I have suspicions about significant fire separation issues, I record my concerns and recommend a full survey be carried out - for big premises, perhaps in a phased process over several years.

From heritage buildings to modern offices with raised floors, false ceiling and data engineers punch holes through every surface - its a tricky one. But it's residential where it will go wrong. Stay put policies + dodgy builders + uncontrolled fire safety provision in flats (not covered by fire safety legislation) = fatalities. Someone will have to swing, and the Assessor's going to be at the top of the list.

Thank goodness I don't do residential any more

[Alexis]

Thank you for this very interesting link Hammer and Messy, thank you for your follow-through opinions.

[hammer1]

I have to say I was - and am - concerned about the non invasive nature of the fire risk assessments I complete. Fire spread through hidden voids or those that should be fire stopped keeps me at wake at night the most.

I will randomly lift ceiling tiles above doors but rarely floor tiles. I haven't got the time or kit to do so. However, if I have suspicions about significant fire separation issues, I record my concerns and recommend a full survey be carried out - for big premises, perhaps in a phased process over several years.

From heritage buildings to modern offices with raised floors, false ceiling and data engineers punch holes through every surface - its a tricky one. But it's residential where it will go wrong. Stay put policies + dodgy builders + uncontrolled fire safety provision in flats (not covered by fire safety legislation) = fatalities. Someone will have to swing, and the Assessor's going to be at the top of the list.

Thank goodness I don't do residential any more

Can you imagine . I am in knee deep residential

Trying to educate clients in regards to type 1,3 etc fire risk assessments is a minefield alone.

A lot of FRA's now have caveats galore (along the same line you had in asbestos surveys). What was interesting about that article was the potential for liability on the management/training after the FRA has been completed.

We obviously see where risk assessors get prosecuted, wonder how many have been taken to account and been cleared over the years?

[stephen1974]

Tempted to go on this.
I can risk assess what I can see but often dont have access to whats above the ceilings or below the floors.
I was about to risk assess the building im looking after and replace our existing assessments done by a contractor. Decided to pass on that idea for the moment and just keep using the contractor instead.

Worried about things being a case of missing something because you dont know what you dont know.