Health and Safety Research
To ensure that our design for the exhibition space follows the appropriate health and safety guidelines, the research team thoroughly investigated the different aspects which need to be taken into consideration when designing and organising an exhibition. Along with the usual risks and safety precautions that come with setting up a public exhibition, we also had to think about how we can accommodate the necessary COVID-19 regulations and how this would impact the way that visitors use the space.
Risk Assessment
Fire Safety and Means of Escape
Fire Exits
- Emergency routes and exits must lead as directly as possible to a place of safety
- Entire escape route up to and including final exit from a building must remain unobstructed at all times
- While distance people have to go to escape (the travel distance) must be as short as possible
- Final exit doors should open easily, immediately and wherever possible, in the direction of escape – outwards into a place of safety outside the building
As our exhibition space will be held in the foyer on the ground floor of the Eldon building, the main fire exit doors for the people visiting the exhibition will be the main entrance doors that open onto Middle Street. The doors are automatic and are required to stay open in the event of a fire.
Place of Ultimate Safety
- Ideally should be in open air, where unrestricted dispersal away from the building can be achieved
- Always important to follow escape route to its ultimate place of safety
- Final exits on these escape routes (fire exits) must have sufficient capacity to ensure swift and safe evacuation of people from the building in an emergency situation
The exhibition will be set up in the foyer of the Eldon building therefore, the route to the main fire exits is relatively short as they are located just to the right of the exhibition space. However, due to the exhibition displays and people having to manoeuvre around them as they evacuate the building, the time it takes to safely reach the fire exits doors will be extended.
Width of Fire Exits
Due to social distancing restrictions and the size of the space we have for the exhibition, there will not be more than 60 people using the space at one time.
The main entrance double doors, that will be used as the main exit in the event of a fire, open up to a width of 1700mm which is more than enough to allow the maximum number of people to escape in the event of a fire.
Risk Profile
Risk profiles can be created by combining occupancy characteristic and fire growth rate.
B1 – Banking hall, reception area, foyer
Process of Escape
Escape is generally considered in four distinct ‘stages’ as follows:
- Escape from the room or area of fire origin
- Escape from the compartment of origin via the circulation route to a protected stairway or an adjoining compartment offering refuge
- Escape from the floor of origin to the ground level
- Escape at ground level away from the building
- Important that each floor plan of a building indicates the shortest route to a place of comparative or ultimate safety should an emergency situation happen
- The width of final exit doors and the escape routes leading to them will dictate the maximum number of people who can safely occupy that floor or a specific area within it under normal conditions of operation
As the exhibition will only be held at the ground floor level of the Eldon building, the main distinct ‘stage’ in the escape process that will need to be considered for the visitors is number 4. However, as the building will still be under regular use by other people, it is important to ensure that no part of the exhibition is blocking escape from the upper floors so that ‘stage’ 3 can still take place effectively.
Existing Fire Safety in Eldon
Evacuate through main entrance and go down the side of the building to the car park.
Once people have escaped the Eldon building, they will walk along the side of the building to the car park to the right of the Eldon building where everyone that has evacuated will gather.
Fire Risk Assessment
Identifying Fire Hazards
Sources of Ignition – sources of heat that could get hot enough to ignite material found in the premises
- Electrical installations – overloads, heating from bunched wires, damaged cables
- Light fittings and lighting equipment – display lighting
- Hot surfaces – from display lighting/exposure to direct sunlight
Sources of Fuel – things that will burn reasonably easily and are in enough quantity to provide fuel for a fire or cause it to spread to another fuel source
- Paper, books, clothing and displays - depending on materials
- Flammable chemicals such as cleaning products – premises will be cleaned more thoroughly and more frequently due to COVID-19
Sources of Oxygen
The main source of oxygen for a fire is in the air around us and in an enclosed building this is provided by the ventilation system that is in use.
This generally falls into two categories:
- Natural airflow through doors, windows, and other openings
- Mechanical air conditioning systems and air handling systems
Identifying People at Risk
Although all of the people who use the premises should be considered, special attention should be given to those people who may be especially at risk.
- People who are unfamiliar with the premises – visitors and members of the general public
- Visitors with language difficulties (non-English speaking)
- People with disabilities – including mobility impairment or vision and hearing impairment
- People who may have other reasons for not being able to leave the premises quickly – people with young children or babies with them, those who have special needs or the elderly
- People in the immediate vicinity of the premises
Evaluating, Removing and Reducing Risk
Evaluating the Risk of a Fire Occurring
- Accidentally, such as when lighting displays are knocked over
- By act or omission, such as when exhibition equipment is not properly maintained, or when waste is allowed to accumulate near a heat source
Evaluating the Risk to People
- Fire and smoke spreading through the building due to poorly maintained and damage fire doors or fire doors being wedged open
- Fire starting on a lower floor affecting the only escape route for people on upper floors or the only escape route for people with disabilities
- Fire developing in an unoccupied space that people have to pass by to escape from the building
Removing or Reducing Sources of Ignition
- Wherever possible replace a potential ignition source for a safer alternative
- Separate ignition hazards and combustibles – ensure sufficient clear space between lights and combustibles
Removing or Reducing Sources of Fuel
- Ensure that display materials are fire retardant or have been treated with a proprietary fire-retardant treatment designed to enhance their fire performance
- Minimise the amount of combustible display materials in corridors and circulation spaces (e.g., artwork, etc.)
Removing or Reducing Sources of Oxygen
- Closing all doors, windows and other openings not required for ventilation, particularly out of working hours
- Shutting down ventilation systems which are not essential to the function of the premises
- Not storing oxidising materials near or within any heat source or flammable materials
Flexibility of Fire Protection Measures
The level of fire protection should be proportional to the risk posed to the safety of the people in the premises. The objective should be to reduce the remaining risk to a level as low as reasonably applicable.
- Revise the layout to reduce travel distances
- Reduce the fire risk by removing or reducing combustible materials and/or ignition sources
- Control the number of people in the premises
Comments
Post a Comment