FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT – UNIVERSITY HOUSE
JUNE 2014
University House is located on the Broadwalk on the main campus. It is of concrete and
brick construction with the interior primarily being solid wall or plaster board partition
construction, separated by wood and/or fire resisting doors.
The occupation is spread over 3 floors with the building primarily being used for office,
café and bar areas. There is also a book binding shop, hairdressers, multi-faith area and
student advice centre based in the building. The building is linked to the leisure centre
through a protected stairwell on the ground and first floors. The building is also licensed
and therefore needs to comply with further legislation in relation to that.
METHODOLOGY
The fire risk assessment was undertaken using the framework outlined in the British
Standard PAS 79:2007. The process involved a visual inspection of all accessible areas
on a floor by floor basis to determine:
1. Potential sources of ignition.
2. Combustible materials.
3. Means of detection.
4. Means of escape.
5. Emergency lighting.
6. Means of fighting fire.
7. Fire safety signage.
8. Procedures and training.
9. Structural features.
10. Hazardous areas.
11. Significant hazards requiring further control.
12. Risk level.
Relevant information was then identified on building plans and these are included as an
appendix.
A summary assessment is also included as an appendix.
FINDINGS
1. Potential sources of ignition
The potential sources of ignition identified in the building are:
 Electrical appliances, including computer equipment – in offices.
 Cooking in kitchens on the ground and 1st floor.
 Hairdryers etc in hairdressers.
 Arson – large parts of the building are open access for students/visitors.
 Heat from equipment in printing shop.
All electrical appliances are PAT tested and the fixed electrical installation and heating is
serviced and maintained at defined intervals by Estates. Good housekeeping and a lack of
combustible materials in close proximity to the building’s exterior reduce the risk from
arson attack.
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FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT – UNIVERSITY HOUSE
JUNE 2014
2. Combustible materials
These are primarily:
 Paper files in offices.
 Rubbish stored in service areas prior to removal.
 Cooking oils in kitchens.
 Waste paper bins and recycling bins in offices.
 Small quantities (<5 litres) of solvent / methylated spirit in the Print Shop.
Good housekeeping was evident in the building and combustible materials were limited.
Adequate storage for paperwork and other office materials is provided.
3. Means of detection
The building has automatic detection in the form of smoke (or heat in kitchen areas)
sensors as well as manually operated call points in accordance with BS5839 L4/M, part 1.
These points are numerous and situated in convenient locations usually on escape routes.
The fire alarm is maintained on contract by Graingers Fire Systems who are the Estates
appointed contractor.
4. Means of escape.
The most heavily occupied area of the building is the Student Union Café Bar which has
an escape capacity of 340 persons which is far more than the expected occupancy
numbers.
A more detailed assessment of escape capacity is included as an appendix. The building
has adequate escape capacity for its intended use and expected occupancy.
Disabled visitors/students can access the building via the lifts in the main foyer or by a lift
to the rear of the building. A stair lift is also in place on the mezzanine level to the first floor.
The evacuation plan deals with disabled occupants although this is brief and not specific
as to refuge points etc.
The amount of staircases in the building would also be problematic to any disabled visitors
and needs to be considered carefully when the evacuation plan is reviewed.
5. Emergency Lighting
The building is fitted with adequate escape lighting which is designed to enable safe exit in
the event of a power failure. Illuminated exit signs in place over doors are permanently lit
to comply with current licensing legislation. Emergency lighting is tested at defined
intervals by Estates personnel.
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FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT – UNIVERSITY HOUSE
JUNE 2014
6. Means of fighting fire
Extinguishers are located as per University policy at key manual call points in circulation
spaces and in areas of higher risk such as kitchens. These extinguishers are serviced on
contract and are appropriate for their intended use.
7. Signage
The building is fitted with a variety of fire safety signs. These include fire exit, extinguisher,
fire-action and call point signs and are compliant with the Safety (Signs and Signals)
Regulations 1996.
Refuge point signage is required by the intercom on the 1 st floor landing in the foyer.
8. Fire Procedures
A current evacuation plan is in place for the building based on the University template.
In the event of the alarm sounding it will automatically relay to Maxwell control (Security)
who in turn will initiate the call challenge procedure.
9. Structural features.
The building has a central atrium are which also acts as a fire escape route.
10. Hazardous areas.
Kitchens are located in the building on the first floor in Café Bar Yours and on the lower
ground floor by the loading bay.
The book binding shop uses printing and associated machinery and has small stocks of
solvents.
11. Significant risks requiring further control.
General Items Identified.
Required actions.
See review record for minor actions
3
Actioned by.
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT – UNIVERSITY HOUSE
JUNE 2014
12. Risk level.
The following assessment of risk is based on the building after completion of additional
controls.
Likelihood
of Fire
X
Severity

=

2
X
2
Risk Level

=
4
Control measures to manage the fire risk in University House are quantified as:
Acceptable.
Increasing Consequence
Risk Rating:
5
10
15
20
25
4
8
12
16
20
3
6
9
12
15
2
4
6
8
10
1
2
3
4
5
17-25 Unacceptable – Stop activity and make
immediate improvements/seek further advice
10-16 Tolerable – look to improve within
specified timescale
5-9 Adequate – Look to improve at next
review
1-4 Acceptable - No further action, but ensure
controls are maintained
Increasing Likelihood
Guide to using the risk rating table:
Consequences
1 Insignificant – no impact
2 Minor – minor interruption to activity/process
3 Moderate – some damage to property/business
interruption
4 Major – significant internal damage to property
5 Catastrophic –major disaster e.g. loss of life/loss
of a building/impact on surrounding areas
4
Likelihood
1 Very unlikely – 1 in a million chance of it
happening
2 Unlikely – 1 in 100,000 chance of it
happening
3 Fairly likely – 1 in 10,000 chance of it
happening
4 Likely – 1 in 1,000 chance of it happening
5 Very likely – 1 in 100 chance of it happening
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT – UNIVERSITY HOUSE
JUNE 2014
Appendix.
Stair capacities.
The following numbers have been calculated using table 7 in the ‘Approved Document B.
Building Regulations 2000.’.
Main foyer to Mezzanine
1 x 2200mm =
360
(due to building regs stating that stairwells over 1800mm require a central handrail the
1800mm capacity has been applied to these stairs)
Quadruple stairs in main foyer – 1 x 1950mm
(ground floor).
1 x 1800mm
1 x 1700mm
1 x 1550mm
=
=
=
=
435
435
410
360
Double stairs in main foyer (First floor)
2 x 1450mm =
560
Stairs from upper first to first
2 x 1950mm =
720
Stairs from Harold Riley Suite (to outside)
1 x 1550mm =
300
Stairwell from upper first to
exit by print shop
1 x 1000mm =
(serving 3 floors)
230
Stairs from lower ground to
foyer level (one either side
of the foyer).
2 x 1800mm =
370 x 2 (each side)
Stairwell in link with Leisure
Centre.
1 x 1360mm =
260
total = 1640
One of these stairs needs to be discounted for potential loss during an evacuation, even
so the building has adequate evacuation capacity for the numbers of people who may be
in it at any one time.
All corridors and staircases need to be sterile areas. During the inspection the level of
housekeeping in these areas was good.
Door widths and capacities.
The following numbers have been calculated using table 5 (page 40) in the ‘Approved
Document B. Building Regulations 2000.’.
Milliways café dining area
1 x 1640mm
1 x 850mm
1 x 1500mm
1 x 1300mm
5
=
=
=
=
338
150
310
270
total 1068
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT – UNIVERSITY HOUSE
JUNE 2014
From pot wash area in café
1 x 790mm
=
50
Door by loading bay to rear
of building
1 x 870mm
=
110
Door from dining room at rear
of building
1 x 1500mm =
310
Door from private dining room
1 x 840mm
50
Main door to building (sliding)
1 x 2100mm =
430
Door at front of building by
print shop
1 x 1640mm =
338
Door to side of building by
print shop
1 x 1500mm =
310
Door to leisure centre side
Is reached via 2 internal doors
1 x 1540mm =
2 x 720mm =
318
2 x >50
Door at bottom of stairwell in
link to Leisure centre.
1 x 1350mm =
280
6
=