Fire Safety Procedures

 

Primary Responsibility	Victor Fromm
Issued	November 2020
Status	Agreed
Review Period	3 years
Next Review Date	November 2023

 
DISTRIBUTION

Original	Church Office
Copy	Trustees
Copy	Stewards in Welcome Team
Copy	Roots Community Cafe Team
Copy	Youth Leaders

 
1.   Roles and Responsibilities
1.1 Fire Safety Responsible Person
This role is held by Victor Fromm
Duties include:

• Overall responsibility for maintaining and managing the fire safety procedures;
• Annual inspection and follow up;
• Training of others in their general duties
• Ensuring that a fire drill takes place at least once per year.

1.2 Others with a Leadership Responsibility  
This includes the following roles:

• Trustees;
• Minister;
• Children’s Group Leaders;
• Welcome Team Members;
• Others responsible for events outside of Sunday services
• Fire Warden

 
Duties include:

• Understanding and communicating to other leaders / helpers the procedures in the event of a fire;
• Being able to use portable fire extinguishing equipment.

 
 

2. Procedures

 
     2.1 Evacuation in the Event of a Fire
 
Refer to Appendix A and Appendix B for the procedures to follow in the event of a fire during a Sunday Service, at Roots Community Cafe or at other times, respectively.
 
     2.2 Fire Drills
 
The Fire Safety Responsible Person organises at least one fire drill each year during or after the Sunday morning service, at the end of Roots Community Café session.  The results of these drills are recorded in the Fire Precautions Log Book, including any recommendations and follow up actions.
 
     2.3 Training
 
The Fire Safety Responsible Person ensures that all leaders in 1.2 above are trained in the following:
 

• General principles given in these procedures;
• Fire safety evacuation procedures;
• Escape routes;
• Location of fire safety equipment (portable firefighting equipment, fire blankets and manual fire alarm points/break glass box).  Copies of these procedures are given to each leader.
• A record of the training carried out is recorded in the Fire Precautions Log Book.

 
 
     2.4 Fire Safety Equipment and Escape Routes
 
A schedule of equipment and signage is maintained, including an annotated floor plan. An up-to-date copy is held in the Fire Precautions Log Book.  Portable fire extinguishers shall be inspected by a recognised supplier (or other competent organisation) at least once every year. Where necessary, as deemed by the inspection, the fire extinguishers are to be refilled.
 
Escape route inspections shall be carried out at least once each year by a trustee. Signed exit doors and routes must be kept available, working and free of blockage.  Records are kept of inspections and resulting actions are maintained in the Fire Precautions Log Book.
 
    2.5 House Keeping and Storage
All rubbish shall be regularly removed from the building (i.e.at least weekly and usually more frequently).  Large amounts of rubbish shall be removed immediately from the building.  All stored items shall be kept in a tidy manner.  Flammable materials shall not be stored near primary fire escape routes. 
 
     2.6 Kitchen
No cloths shall be kept near to the cooker.  No deep fat frying shall take place on the premises. A fire extinguisher is provided by the doorway to the kitchen.  A fire blanket is stored in the kitchen, away from the cooker.
 
     2.7 Electrical and Heating Systems
All electrical and heating systems are checked by a competent tradesperson at least annually for any faults.  Records are kept in the Fire Precautions Log Book of checks and resulting actions.
 
     2.8 Contractors and Hot Work Permits 
Where contractors conduct major or risky work (as deemed by either the Minister, Fire Safety Responsible Person, Church Fabric Officer) they are to produce an acceptable risk assessment addressing, amongst other matters, procedures to be taken to prevent accidental fire.  Hot working (e.g. welding, paint-stripping, cutting) is only to be carried out where necessary.  Where it is necessary, it is carried out under a hot work permit system – details from the Fire Protection Association. This ensures that:

• Heat and hot particles and objects are kept away from combustible materials;
• Someone, other than the operator, is standing by with firefighting equipment to hand and watching for any outbreak of fire;
• The area is inspected one hour after work is complete to ensure there is no smouldering fire;
• The premises are only open to office staff and leaders.

 
     2.9 Candles
Candles represent a fire risk. Care shall be exercised when candles are used.
 
 

 
APPENDIX A
 
FIRE PROCEDURES
 
Action to be taken in the event of a fire during a church service/ Roots Community Café of other event held on the premises
 
 

1. By the person discovering the fire

 

1. Raise the alarm by: either shouting “FIRE, FIRE, FIRE” or activating the fire alarm.
2. if it is safe, make an attempt to put the fire out.
3. Report to Manager of the Day, responsible for fire evacuation (wearing high viz jacket) informing them of location and nature of fire.
4. After raising the alarm, leave the building by the nearest and quickest means to the designated place of safety – the end of Queen Street (see plan)
5. Do not return to the building until the all clear has been given.

 

2. By Manager of the Day – on hearing the alarm

 

1. Ensure the full building alarm is sounding if only a verbal alarm has been raised.
2. Get the yellow high viz jacket from the foyer.
3. Instruct two stewards to act as Fire Wardens and in Roots Community Cafe two of volunteers to act as Fire Wardens
4. The Manager of the Day must phone Fire and Rescue Services (dial 999). If it is safe, use a phone in the building, alternatively use a mobile phone or a phone outside the building.
5. Delegate one of the Fire Wardens to go and meet the Fire and Rescue Services and direct them to the emergency.
6. If safe to do so, the Manager of the Day will delegate one of the Fire Wardens to check there is no one in the main church hall and the second to check the school rooms.
7. Give the all clear once the Fire Brigade have said it is safe to do so.

 
 
     3.   Leaders of Children’s Groups –on hearing the alarm  

1. Keep the children and young people calm. Organise them to safely exit the building, without running. Shut all windows and doors.
2. Take the register with you.
3. Proceed to the designated place of safety – the far end of Queen Street.  Keep your group with you and check they are all there.
4. If any are missing or you suspect they are still in the building, report this to the Manager of the Day or one of the Fire Wardens.  Otherwise, report that all are safely out.
5. Do not return to the building until the all clear has been given.

 

4. The Welcome Team –on hearing the alarm 

 

1. All Welcome Team Members should be familiar with the location of fire extinguishers and all exits and evacuation procedures.
2. Lead and encourage the congregation to move outside the building as quickly as possible to the assembly point.
3. Open all the exit doors
4. Any Welcome Team Member who is not on duty that day should go to assist any of the congregation who need assistance.

 

5. Congregation –on hearing alarm  

 

1. Exit the building by the nearest exit to the Assembly Point.
2. Please do not go and find your children in the church building. If they are in classes, they are being looked after and are exiting the building.
3. At the place of safety, the children will be with their group leaders and have been asked to remain with them. 
4. Do not return to the building until the all clear has been given.

 
 

 
APPENDIX B
 
FIRE PROCEDURES
 
Action to be taken in the event of a fire not during a church service
 

1. By the person discovering it

 

1. Raise the alarm by: either by shouting “FIRE, FIRE, FIRE” or activating the fire alarm.
2. If it is safe, make an attempt to put the fire out.
3. Call the Fire and Rescue Services (Dial 999). If it is safe, use a phone in the building, alternatively, use a mobile phone, or a phone outside the building.
4. Meet and direct the Fire and Rescue Services to the emergency.

 
 

2. Group Leaders – on hearing the alarm

 

1. Organise the group to safely exit the building without running. Shut all windows and doors.
2. Take the register with you.
3. Proceed to the designated place of safety – far end of Queen Street
4. Check all the group is with you.  If any are missing, inform the Fire Officer
5. Do not return to the building until the all clear has been given.

 

3. Anyone else in the building – on hearing the alarm

 

1. Leave the building by the nearest fire exit and proceed to the designated place of safety.
2. Do not return to the building until the all clear has been given

 
 
Record of amendments

Date	Revised pages	Details of revision