Why it's Vital to Keep Fire Escape Routes Clear This Festive Season – and Other Helpful Fire Safety Tips

In the workplace, the festive season will often bring changes. From putting up decorations to storing extra stock and taking on temporary seasonal staff, this is a time when fire safety risks are heightened. These factors make it essential to review fire risk assessments to identify new fire hazards at this time of year.

All owners of non-domestic premises in England and Wales must, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, take steps to prevent fires, and to protect visitors and employees against death and injury in the event of a fire.

It is a legal requirement under the Order to carry out a fire safety risk assessment and, when things change, such as during the festive season, an assessment review is important to cover the new risks that are present.

Storing additional stock this Christmas?

If you are storing extra stock in the lead up to Christmas, this will need to be considered by your fire safety risk assessment. It is vital that all means of escape, including doors and stairways, are kept clear and unobstructed. Any additional goods and excess or waste packaging must not be allowed to reduce widths in these areas, even if it's temporary.

When bringing in extra stock, you should make sure you have a safe place to store it without blocking the means of escape or any fire doors, and without encroaching on any fire doors, which must be kept clear and, in the case of internal fire doors, closed.

It's also essential that you don't wedge internal fire doors open to accommodate extra stock, and make sure that you don't stack up anything too close to sources of ignition, such as lighting and heaters.

Take care not to block smoke detectors or sprinkler heads too, as this could affect the way they operate.

Fire escape signage, firefighting equipment, emergency lighting, break glass call points, fire alarm sounders and emergency isolation points must also be kept clear.

In terms of waste packaging, it's vital that this is disposed of safely and correctly, and not stacked up outside the premises where it could potentially fuel an arson attack.

Looking for fire risk assessment providers in Cumbria, Penrith, Kendal or Carlisle?

Here at BPW Fire Safety, our experienced and qualified fire safety specialists and fire risk assessment providers are ready to help keep your premises safe and compliant this festive season and beyond with a full range of fire risk assessment services.

For a tailored quote at competitive rates for fire risk assessments Cumbria, Penrith, Kendal and Carlisle wide, contact BPW Fire Safety today.