Fire Precautions in the Department of Physics
Scope
This page outlines the main precautions in the Department to prevent fire, the detection system, and
the systems that have been devised to minimise the probability of loss of life in the event of fire or the
loss of property. A second document, the Cavendish 'Fire Wardens Handbook', is issued to Fire
Wardens, giving them more information about their role.
Contents
1. Reducing the Risk of Fire
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Housekeeping
Space heating and lighting
Flammable liquids
Gas stores
Electricity
Grinding, welding, etc
2. The Fire Precautions in the Building
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The electronic system
Smoke/heat detectors
Compartmentalisation
Escape routes
3. Procedure in the Event of Fire
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Alarms
Fire extinguishers
Calling the fire brigade
Evacuation and assembly areas
Visitors (short-term) to the Department
Persons of impaired mobility or other
significant problems
The role of the fire wardens
The role of the staff at reception
The role of the emergency team
Lecture theatres
4. Special Procedures
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Fire practices
Examinations and special events
Appendix A Instructions to staff
Appendix B Fire extinguisher chart
Appendix C Plan of the site showing assembly areas and emergency exits
Appendix D Visitors Card
Appendix E Examination procedure
1 Reducing the Risk of Fire
1.1 Housekeeping
The biggest contribution that you can make to the prevention of fire is in your approach to
housekeeping. Make sure that you:
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Are tidy in your workplace
Remove all combustible waste promptly (e.g. packing materials, used tissues)
Do not keep empty packing cases for longer than is strictly necessary. Do not leave them in
the corridor, on the tops of cupboards, conduits, etc!
1.2 Space Heating and Lighting
Many fires are started by portable heaters. Ensure that the heaters you use are the approved type,
which are properly guarded. Place them where they cannot be knocked over. Ensure that nothing can
fall onto the heater and become overheated - never hang clothes or dishcloths over the heater.
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Electric heaters draw a considerable current - ensure that the lead is adequate, and that if you use an
extension lead you do not overload it, or coil it up, thereby causing it to overheat and set light to the
carpet!
Lighting in the laboratories is by fluorescent tube, but many people will have ordinary electric light
bulbs at their home. These are capable of igniting materials such as card or paper, if these are placed
too close to the bulb - keep paper and cardboard boxes well clear of light fittings.
1.3 Flammable Liquids
Liquids that are flammable or highly flammable should be stored in purpose-built flammable liquid
stores. These are generally metal cabinets, with a clear label on the outside. The shelves of these
stores usually have a rim, so that the contents of broken bottles do not spill out - this gives the shelf
the appearance of being 'upside down'. Don't turn the shelf up the other way!
DO NOT place oxidising substances, or other chemicals, in the same store. Unfortunately, the
symbols are easily confused.
(left) These are the symbols for an oxidising
substance
THEY MUST NOT BE STORED WITH
FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES
which have these symbols (right)
Remember,
+
=
Only have the minimum quantities of such liquids out in a room at any time - a wash-bottle full or, if
you are a large user, roughly what you need in a day.
Never store more than an aggregate of 50 litres of flammable and very highly flammable liquids in any
workroom. In calculating this aggregate, you must include any waste.
When you are using flammable liquids, ensure that you limit the amount that you can spill - use a tray
or bunded area for transferring large quantities. Keep containers closed when not in use. When you
carry flammable liquids, make sure they are in closed containers. (There have been several serious
accidents due to people accidentally spilling highly flammable liquids from open containers when
carrying them about).
1.4 Gas Stores
Gases that are not in current use should be stored in the purpose-built gas store adjacent to the Link
building. There are rules regarding segregation in this area:
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Fuel gases and oxygen should either be separated by a fire-resisting wall, or separated by at
least 3 m.
Hydrogen should be separated from other fuel gases by a distance of 1 m.
LPG in excess of 50 kg should be 3m or more away from any other compressed gas.
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Empty cylinders should be stored separately from full cylinders, but still segregated by type as
above.
NEVER place oil, paint, petrol or corrosive liquids in the gas store.
There must be no smoking or naked lights in the area of the gas store.
1.5 Electricity
While it is unlikely that you will be electrocuted by low voltage, high current supplies, they present a
serious risk of fire. Ensure that all current carrying conductors are adequate for their purpose, and that
there is no possibility of the current flowing, unintended, through a conductor that is too small remember, you can light a fire with a torch battery and some wire wool!
1.6 Grinding, Welding, etc
In normal operation, welding, grinding and other work, giving rise to flames, hot material or sparks
should only be done in designated areas. These areas will have been designed to have as little
combustible material as possible, and the housekeeping arrangements should ensure that this status
is preserved. The author has witnessed fires arise from a) grinding operations close to a plastic
dustbin filled with oily paper waste, and b) oxy-propane cutting where a broom had been left in the
path of the sparks.
Serious fires often arise as a result of maintenance or construction work. Here hot work is often being
done away from a designated area, and strenuous efforts must be made to remove all flammable
material. Work of this nature may only be done under the conditions of a hot work permit, which will
specify the precautions to be taken before, during and after the work has finished. The permit to work
system is operated by Keith Matthews.
2 The Fire Precautions in the Building
2.1 The Electronic System
In the reception area, there is the main control panel for the fire system. This panel communicates
with several slave panels scattered throughout the site. The system consists of smoke detectors (the
norm) or heat detectors (in a few rooms), which are located in virtually every room on the premises.
Except in the Microelectronics and Kapitza (formerly IRC) Buildings, each detector is individually
addressed, and once triggered, an audible signal is given off at reception, and the information
regarding the location, and the nature of the triggering event is displayed at a panel inside reception
and on the main panel in the reception area of the Bragg Building. The slave panels will also be giving
off audible signals and showing the information. In the daytime, reception staff will immediately call
the Emergency Team to deal with this.
There are four conditions:
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'normal', which denotes there are no detected problems.
'fault' - which indicates that a detector appears to be faulty or missing
'pre-alarm' - which indicates a possible fire condition.
'fire' - which indicates the system has detected fire.
If the equipment has gone into 'fault' or 'pre-alarm', it may be possible to prevent the system from
going into fire, if the condition can be rectified. The Emergency Team (in daytime) or Security (at
night) will respond.
A signal denoting 'Fire' will relay to Security, who will respond, day or night. They summon the Fire
Brigade.
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The system is tested each Monday morning before 8.30am. From a number of call points within each
of the buildings the system is triggered to fire, so that we can establish over a period of time that
every point works. The alarms only ring for approximately 20 seconds on these tests, and evacuation
is not required at this time. Please report to Jane Blunt or Keith Matthews any part of the system that
does not appear to work, or any area where you cannot hear the alarms adequately.
There is also emergency lighting in most corridor areas of the laboratory. This automatically becomes
active if the power fails (but not when we switch the lights off). An indication that an emergency light is
in good working order is that there is a red indicator light visible. If any emergency light appears to
have failed, please notify the Laboratory Superintendent.
2.2 Smoke/heat Detectors
Like all equipment, detectors sometimes go wrong. They may then trigger either a fault condition which sends an alarm to the main panel and the satellite panels, or if we are unlucky it may trigger a
full fire alarm. In the daytime, we can respond very quickly to replace or disable the faulty detector,
but this can be more difficult at night. If a fault has developed at night which is setting the alarms off
there is no alternative than to leave the building altogether. You cannot remain in a building with a
faulty fire system, because you will have no way of knowing whether the alarms are real or due to the
fault. Security will be attempting to find the fault, and getting whatever help is needed to rectify it.
Other false alarms are generally due to dust. For this reason, contractors will occasionally 'bag off' a
detector with an orange cap (or a latex glove!!). These should not normally be left on overnight.
Please tell Keith Matthews if this has happened, and/or Jane Blunt.
2.3 Compartmentalisation
To prevent the spread of fire, the buildings are compartmentalised. That is, there are fire resisting
barriers between adjacent areas of the building. At a casual glance it is not obvious where these
compartments are, because of the false ceilings, but a compartment boundary would have the wall
extend above the ceiling, sealing it off.
A hole as small as 50 mm can breach the integrity of a compartment and allow fire to go from one
area to another virtually unimpeded. It is therefore important that all building work and alteration must
be agreed with the Laboratory Superintendent, and finished to a suitable standard.
Most of the buildings have large doors in the corridors, held back by magnetic catches. Once the fire
alarm sounds these doors are released and should close automatically. It is important to avoid
obstructing these doors by placing ladders, fire extinguishers, etc, against them.
2.4 Escape Routes
Corridors, fire exit doors and other means of escape must be kept clear at all times. You should avoid
placing readily combustible items, such as paper recycling bins in the corridors.
Out of hours, most doors are closed with magnetic locks, but these can be opened in an emergency.
The magnetically locked doors are opened by pressing the glass in the green boxes. Emergency fire
exits can be opened by following the instructions printed on them (e.g. 'press bar to open').
3 Procedure in the Event of Fire
3.1 Alarms
If the system has detected a fire and already triggered off the alarms, then personnel need take no
further action except to evacuate the building in a prompt manner and go to an assembly area.
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However, any person finding signs of fire, such as smoke which cannot be explained, flames, etc,
should immediately take action by breaking the glass at a Fire Call Point if the alarms are not already
sounding. They should then leave the building by the shortest route, and report to the Duty Officer at
the reception area of the Bragg Building to inform him/her of what has been done. (This helps in
completing the investigation later). The instructions to staff are in Appendix A.
3.2 Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are, in general, positioned on the escape routes. They are usually close to Fire Call
Points, the red boxes that have a break glass for setting off the fire alarm.
You should only use a fire extinguisher if all the following apply:
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The alarm has already been raised, so that everyone else is leaving the building.
There is a safe exit route so that you can get away in a hurry if you need to.
You have the correct fire extinguisher.
It is a good idea to go on a fire extinguisher user's course, because you will learn to handle the
equipment correctly, and you may discover just how limited it is.
If you do use an extinguisher, and succeed in putting out a fire, then well done! Stay on the scene to
ensure that it does not re-ignite. If you extinguish a flame and leave immediately it is not safe to go
back - in the meantime the fire could have started again, and you could be killed.
See Appendix B for a Fire Extinguisher user chart.
3.3 Calling the Fire Brigade
If the system has detected 'Fire' there is an audible signal at reception, and a message appears on
the panel in reception, the main panel and the slave panels. The Fire alarms in the building affected
immediately begin to sound.
The Fire Brigade must be called. This is done by Security once the alarm has been raised.
3.4 Evacuation and Assembly Areas
Personnel are asked to leave the building by the most direct route (and this may well involve
operating a 'break glass' point) and go to the Assembly areas (See Appendix C). These are relatively
close to the building, but have been chosen so that personnel are not standing in the roads that the
Fire Brigade may use.
If it is a false alarm or a practice drill, you will be told as soon as possible, so that you may re-enter
the building.
If it is a real emergency (e.g. fire, escape of gas, etc) you will be informed, and actions will be decided
upon. For instance, it may be safe to allow you to go into neighbouring buildings. However, in the
event of real fire, it may be necessary not only to ask you to go some distance away (e.g. to the Vet
School), but it may also be necessary to evacuate the adjacent buildings. In taking these actions, the
Emergency Team will be guided by the Fire Brigade. If everyone is at the Assembly areas, and nowhere else, this makes the planning of the next stage much easier.
3.5 Short Term Visitors to the Department
Short term visitors to the Department should sign in at reception, and be given a visitor's badge. They
will also be given a leaflet which gives them information on the Department, how to obtain help if they
need it and what to do if the fire alarms ring. Their host should help them to make their exit by the
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nearest safe route, and take them to the Assembly Area. A copy of the leaflet they are given is in
Appendix D.
3.6 Persons Who May Need Additional Assistance
There are several reasons why people may need help with evacuation. They may be unaware of the
alarm, or they may have difficulty in moving about the laboratory. There may also be injured persons.
Hearing impairment: People here for relatively short times who might be unable to hear the alarms
should be part of a 'buddy' system. For example, an undergraduate in this position would be the
responsibility of the head of class, lecturer, and/or other staff in the area. They have to ensure that the
student is aware that the alarm is sounding and should therefore leave the building. For a person at
the Cavendish on a more permanent basis, there are various technological means for communicating
emergencies - such a person should seek the advice of the Safety Officer or the Laboratory
Superintendent.
Impaired mobility: Impaired mobility is not confined to wheelchair users. There are many people in
good health working at the Cavendish who have great difficulty in negotiating stairs. One lift only, the
glass lift in the Pippard Lobby area, is suitable for fire evacuation. People entering the Cavendish who
have impaired mobility need a personalised evacuation plan, and a support network to ensure that
they are taken care of in emergencies.
There are two main options for people who have difficulty with stairs:
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If they are on the first floor of the Bragg/Mott complex, they could move to use the lift in the
Pippard Lobby area. If this option is chosen for someone in the Mott Building, it is important
that they check with reception first, to ensure that the reason for the evacuation is not that the
Bragg building is on fire!
If it is not possible to move across to another building at the same level then it is imperative to
take into account the risk of injury to the person concerned during evacuation using the 'Evac
Chair'. These 'Evac-Chairs' are designed for transporting people down stairs quickly and
safely, and they are stored at the tops of all major staircases. First aiders are trained to use
these chairs. However, it is recognised that certain persons might find it difficult to be
transported in these chairs. In the event that a person needs to be evacuated this way, call
37499 to summon a first aider, unless someone familiar with these chairs is already to hand.
If, by the time that help has been obtained, it is clear that there is no fire or other lifethreatening emergency, then it is permissible to make the decision not to evacuate the
person, if it puts them at greater risk.
Persons who are injured: If there are injured personnel, do not move them unless they are in
immediate danger to life. Call 37499 immediately to summon a first aider. If their injuries appear
extremely serious, call 1-999 to summon an ambulance, then make the 37499 call.
3.7 The Role of the Fire Wardens
The primary role of the Fire Wardens is to assist in evacuation. They are not expected to do anything
else, nor are they expected to place themselves at risk. Each has an area of the building on a
laminated floor plan, and is asked when the alarm goes off to quickly check whether their area is
empty. They should:
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Check every room that can be opened without a key - noting if possible those that are locked.
Knock on locked doors loudly, and call out.
Encourage people to leave - and take note of anyone who refuses.
Take care before opening any door - e.g. smoke coming under a door, a hot door handle,
would be signs that it is not safe to open a door.
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Leave the building and liaise with the Safety Officer or other member of the Emergency
Team, who should be near the reception area, regarding any uncertainties about people left in
the building, location of smoke, etc.
Fire Wardens are also asked to help in relaying messages about the 'all clear', etc.
Fire Wardens have more detailed instructions in a 'Fire Warden's Handbook'.
3.8 The Role of the Staff at Reception
As soon as the Fire Panel displays the message 'fire' reception staff call the Emergency Team using
the ‘notifier’ system to notify them of the status and the location. If a fire is confirmed they should also
make a confirmatory call to the fire brigade.
Reception staff also deal with any other emergency calls, calling first aiders, or any other persons
needed to deal with the situation.
Whenever the panel indicates a fault, the reception staff call the Emergency Team using the ‘notifier’
system, so that the fault can be dealt with.
More detail is in the Fire Warden's Handbook.
3.9 The Role of the Emergency Team
The emergency team (Peter Norman, Jane Blunt, Keith Matthews and Alan Turner) is called using the
looped mobile phones whenever the fire panel indicates a fault or fire. They immediately respond to
discover the cause of the problem and take action.
If the emergency team can confirm that there is no fire, then it is sometimes possible to call the Fire
Brigade and ask them to stand down. If this is done, then the Emergency Team will silence the alarms
and give the all clear. In all other cases the Fire Brigade will authorise the all-clear.
If the alarm is false, they may use the opportunity to patrol the affected building to check that
everyone has left. Any person found inside, who has not made an effort to leave, can expect to be
asked to leave, firmly.
3.10 Lecture Theatres
When the sounders operate in the Lecture Theatres, it is the responsibility of the Lecturer, or
Chairperson of a meeting, to ensure that everyone is reminded to leave and go to an Assembly area.
The sounders make communication difficult, so the Lecture Theatres have two overheads, one to be
displayed as people are congregating at the start of the meeting, which shows the exit points. The
second overhead simply bears a message telling people to leave by the nearest exit.
4 Special Procedures
4.1 Fire Practices
The objective of carrying out fire practices is to check that all the systems work, which includes the
system for evacuating personnel. Personnel are asked to cooperate during fire practices by leaving
the building by the shortest route, and waiting at an assembly point for further instructions.
Prior to commencing the evacuation exercise, the Emergency Team will make a call to Security to
interrupt the automatic call to the Fire Brigade.
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To add an element of realism to fire practices, certain exits may be blocked, so that personnel have to
choose another route out of the building.
The results of fire practices - times to evacuation, cooperation, etc, will be reported to the people in
the relevant building, via posters.
4.2 Examinations and Special Events
Examinations
In the examination room the sounders are silenced to reduce the disruption to candidates. In the
event of the fire alarm sounding (which they will be able to hear from surrounding rooms) candidates
are asked to continue. The emergency team will take positive action to either reassure the invigilators
that it is a false alarm - in which case the students will be informed. Alternatively, if the alarm signals a
real fire, the students will be evacuated, and measures will need to be taken to deal with the
disruption of their examination. The candidates are informed of these arrangements at the beginning
of the examination by the chief invigilator
A copy of the instructions to the Chief Invigilator and to the Emergency Team is included at Appendix
E.
Special events
From time to time special demonstrations are staged in the lecture theatres and/or the classes areas.
If it is anticipated that smoke or dust will be released during the demonstration, the organiser or
speaker should undertake a risk assessment and liaise with the Safety Officer and the technician in
charge of the area, to arrange for the smoke detectors to be disabled for the duration of the
demonstration.
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Appendix A: Instructions to Staff
If you find a fire:
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Raise the alarm (use red 'break glass' boxes)
Ring 1-999
Leave the building by the nearest safe route
Then
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In daytime: report to reception to the fire team
At night: report to the Fire Brigade in arrival
If you hear a fire alarm:
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Leave the building by the nearest safe route
Go to an assembly area to await instructions
Exception: alarms are tested before 8.30 am each Monday - you need take no action at that time
provided the alarm is ringing intermittently. Report any faults in fire warning equipment promptly.
Appendix B: Fire extinguisher chart
Extinguisher
user guide
Wood, paper
textiles
Flammable
liquids, greases,
oils
Fires with
electrical hazards
Metals (e.g.
magnesium and
aluminium
Foam
Carbon
Dioxide
Powder
NO!
✔
✔
✔
NO!
NO!
✔
✔
NO!
NO!
NO!
Needs a
special type
Water
✔
Key
✔
is positively recommended
NO!
is positively discouraged and is often dangerous.
The absence of a symbol is neutral. The extinguisher can be used but is not
ideal.
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Appendix C: Plan of the Site Showing Assembly Areas and Emergency Exits
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Appendix D: Visitor's Leaflet
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Appendix E: Examination Procedure
Special procedure for examinations
The fire alarm is turned off in the examination rooms, and replaced by a flashing light. The other
alarms in the building are audible to the candidates, but not too intrusive. Candidates are to be
informed before they begin the examination that if the light flashes this indicates a fire alarm in the
building but that they should stay put and continue, so long as there is no obvious danger. They are to
be assured that a message will be relayed to them quickly regarding whether it is safe to continue.
The invigilators are informed of the following modifications to the procedure:
If the alarm sounds in the building where the examination is being held:
1. Emergency Team report to the Master Panel. (For a weekday examination, the call will be via
the normal paging process. For a Saturday examination two people must remain within the
Bragg building throughout the duration of the examination so that they can react immediately
to alarms).
2. On discovering the source of the alarm, establish as quickly and safely as possible the cause.
3. If it is established with certainty that it is a false alarm, mute the alarms in the building. (This is
a significant departure from normal procedure).
4. Report the situation to the Invigilators as quickly as possible, so that an announcement can
be made to the candidates.
5. Liaise with the Fire Wardens to establish that the building, apart from the examination room
has been evacuated as normal.
6. Request assistance from the Fire Wardens to prevent other personnel from re-entering the
building until the official all-clear is given by the Fire Brigade
7. Allow people back into the building once the Fire Brigade are satisfied.
If it turns out that there is fire, or if it cannot be established that it is safe:
1. Leave the alarms ringing
2. Report as quickly as possible to the examination room and evacuate the candidates to an
assembly area. (They should leave their scripts)
3. Liaise with the Fire Wardens and Fire Brigade, regarding the next steps to take as a result of
the fire.
4. Liaise with the invigilators regarding the next steps to take as a result of the disruption of the
examination.
5. Allow people back into the building once the Fire Brigade are satisfied.
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