HMO fire safety - Belfast and beyond . . . If you own an HMO (that's a House of Multiple Occupancy to anyone new to this), you will be fully aware of all the legal requirements, including an HMO Fire risk assessment, that is needed to get a licence. The Council and NIHE (Housing Executive) as well as the NI Fire and Rescue service all take a great interest in the management, facilities and of...

The importance of keeping the external fire escape routes available! As a business owner or site manager, you are responsible to ensure all the fire exits are free from obstacles, covered by emergency lighting and are big enough to ensure all the occupants can safely leave the premises. This does not stop at the last exit from the building! Cars parked at the final exits, poor lighting at the assembly point or a lack of...

So the fire alarm has just sounded in your premises. On your way out you pass a man in a wheelchair. He needs help but you are not sure what to do? Well, preparation is the key with planning at the forefront! There are a few things you need to consider first; Do the public have access to the building? If they do, will they be escorted or left on their own? Have you checked...

There are many benefits of fire risk assessment and management, and I regularly come across businesses across Belfast and further afield that have not taken any measures to protect their business or property from a fire! One of the reoccurring reasons is the lack of the knowledge of the requirements in NI fire safety legislation. The need to comply with legislation and the need to complete a fire risk assessment are important in terms of...

Is the”stay put” policy for fires in high rise buildings still relevant? The fires in Grenfell tower in London earlier this year and the high rise fire in Dunmurry Belfast last week (https://www.nifrs.org/fire-coolmoyne-house-dunmurry-belfast/) have brought about a discussion on whether occupants should evacuate or stay in their apartment, questioning the whole “stay put” policy! This depends on a number of considerations. Firstly, what does the fire risk assessment say? Has the assessment stated whether the...

If you have disabled /mobility impaired staff or members of the public in your business, a disabled refuge will be required. There are quite a few rules and regulations relating to where the refuge can be located but this needs to consider within the fire risk assessment for the building. The easiest way to accommodate mobility impaired users is to ask them what they need help with, what they can do themselves and what they...