As of January 2023, the following form part of the new legal requirements under Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 in all Highrise residential buildings – those that have a floor at or over 18m or are 7 storeys high.
Wayfinding Signs
Specific signs located within all staircases including a firefighting stair, clearly identifying Floor and Flat Numbers – with directional arrows, for use by the Fire Service in the event of an incident. QFSM Ltd are providing a service using trained personnel with an operational Fire Service background to undertake a site survey of relevant buildings. Following the site survey, we prepare suitable photoluminescent signs in the appropriate format conveying the relevant information for Fire Service use.
Emergency Response Packs (ERPs)
Created with reference to the National Fire Chiefs Council’s guidance on Secure Information Box contents. QFSM Ltd utilise the considerable firefighting experience within QFSM, to interpret this latest guidance and produce a product that we consider covers all of the necessary information that a responding Fire Service first attendance would need, in the most easily accessible format.
Compartmentation Plans
Individual pages for each floor of the building, identified andhighlighted fire resistance of walls and doors (including smoke seals and self-closing devices), staircases, lifts (distinction between firefighting and non-firefighting) electrical and gas riser cupboards, dry/wetriser inlets and outlets, smoke ventilation systems and individually numbered flats. These are created with the responding Fire Service in mind through the vast experience of real-life firefighting within the company – and as such look quite different to architectural plans. There is a requirement for 2 sets of plans, 1 which will be contained within sleeves in the ERP, and a second laminated copy that can be removed and used at strategic locations in the event of a fire.
These plans can then be uploaded directly to the relevant Fire Service High Rise Data Portal.
Elevation Plans
Plans showing the location of flats within the building from a front on view. These plans are especially useful for Firefighters to be able to identify where individual flats fit within the building in relation to each other and also staircases, lifts, dry riser outlets, etc.
Property Summary Information Page
With accessibility and usability in mind, we have an initial page which aims to cover all key firefighting information as succinctly as possible, including approximate dimensions, numbers of floors and flats, firefighting equipment and systems, fire and evacuation alarms, evacuation strategy, fire rating on doors, external wall information where possible, gas and electricity information, plus location of hydrants and number of hose lengths to dry riser inlets.
Orientation Plan
A Promap of the building and surrounding area, with key information marked on including dry riser inlets, Secure Information Boxes, hydrant locations.
Additional information is also included, such as: access arrangements i.e. fobs or keys, CCTV, concierge, Responsible Person contact details etc.
Premises Information Plates (PIP)
600mm x 600mm metal plates displayed at 1 or more entrances to large buildings with all the At-A- Glance information a responding Fire Service will be looking for – based on the recognised London Fire Brigade (LFB) PIP/ePIP templates.
PIP+
Based on Premises Information Plates fixed to the outside of many large residential buildings in London and nationwide used by London Fire Brigade and other Fire and Rescue Services, showing key information on the building. In addition, we provide an aerial view of the basic layout with information such as: Assembly Points, if applicable, maisonette identification and location within building, services isolation valves, etc.
Residents With Mobility, Cognitive, Or Sensory Impairments Sheets
When provided with this information, we can create a visual plan to identify residents who require assistance in evacuating a building, split between Category 1 (needing 3 or more Firefighters to help them evacuate) and Category 2 (needing 2 or less).
Firefighting Equipment Off The Run Sheets
Sheets to be filled in when any Firefighting equipment is not currently operational.
Note: This information should already be being uploaded to the LFB High Rise Data Portal if the fault cannot be corrected within 24 hours.
Premises Information Box Access & Review Log Sheets
A sheet to be filled in every time the box and or emergency response pack are accessed or reviewed.
Building Managers Fire Safety Courses
We are delivering courses to Managers of residential buildings, highlighting and explaining the Responsible Person’s responsibilities across several crucial pieces of legislation:
The course also covers applicable fire safety guidance documents, and enforcement when the Fire Safety Order is not met.
Fire Door Survey Courses
Written for, and delivered to, persons required to inspect flat entrance doors, and common fire doors under the current fire safety regulations. Giving students specific knowledge and understanding of fire doors and their components, enabling them to inspect fire doors and meet requirements of the regulations.