Fire Risk Assessment

Fire Hazards and Controls

1 Electrical Sources of Ignition

Electrical wiring was checked by Barry Townhill, electrician, in May 2023

All appliances are in good condition with undamaged wires.

Electrical appliances (PAT) checked by Barry Townhill, electrician, on an annual basis.

Guests are advised to ensure any portable devices they bring into the property are PAT tested.

Usage of trailing gang leads are minimised and located to reduce risks.

Certificates are available for inspection if required.

2 Smoking

There is a strict ‘no smoking’ policy within the property and a sign is located at the entrance to the property. Smoking is permitted outside the property in the garden.

3 Arson

Combustible materials are not stored near the property to reduce the possibility of arson. Security measures in place at the property are designed to prevent unauthorised access and reduce the risk of arson.

4 Heating Installations

Heating is provided through central heating from an oil-fired boiler in the utility room. The boiler is serviced yearly by Dafydd Williams, heating contractor.

An electric fire is located in the upstairs living room, which is in good condition and is checked annually by a qualified electrician.

Certificates are available for inspection if required.

Oil for the boiler is stored in a bunded tank 30m from the property in the flower bed at the entrance to the garden. Oil enters the property to the left of the back door.

A carbon monoxide sensor is located in the Utility room linked to the property fire alarm system. It will be replaced in line with manufacturers guidelines in 2033. No other sources of heating are provided.

5 Cooking

Built in oven and oven/microwave at eye level, plus hob and extractor fan above hob, also toaster. Instruction manuals for hob/ovens and extractor fan located in the information pack. Hob/ovens and extractor fan are cleaned between bookings on changeover day.

A fire blanket conforming to BS EN 1869 is available in the kitchen.

Certificates are available for inspection if required.

6 Lightning

The property is of a similar height and construction to its neighbouring properties and does not pose significant risk of being struck by lightning.

7 Housekeeping

Domestic waste is stored in an under-sink bin away from ignition sources and removed from the property at regular intervals.

All furniture complies with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations.

No flammable items such as candles are provided or stored in the property.

8 Hazards Introduced by External Contractors

A policy is in place requiring that when contractors attend the site, they are provided with the appropriate information to ensure their safety when onsite i.e. action to take in the event of a fire.

All contractors who undertake work on the premises are checked to ensure they are competent and appropriately qualified.

9 Dangerous Substances

No Dangerous Substances are stored on the property.

10 Other Notable Hazards

a) EV Charger

The EV charger forms part of the electrical certification of the property. Guests are advised to ensure charging leads are placed so they are not walked over.

b) Elements of structure

First floor is of timber, ground floor is concrete. Floor coverings are oak downstairs and laminate flooring upstairs. The stairs to the first floor are wood with carpet. The exterior walls are of cavity wall concrete block clad in granite. Interior walls are a mixture of block and stud & plaster board.

Fire Protection Measures

11 Means of Escape

There are two exits from the property: -

• The uPVC front door which opens inwards into the hall and leads out onto the track passing the house.
• The second exit is a uPVC door which opens inwards from the utility room and leads into the garden.

Both doors are lockable with thumb turn knobs on the interior to ensure an easy means of opening the door.

Both exits are always be kept clear and all passageways and exit routes are kept free from obstructions.

The maximum distance from any location within the property to an exit is approx 15m.

The first floor bedroom is accessed via the upstairs lounge, so an alarm is located in the lounge to provide the required safety provisions for the bedroom.

An accessibility statement is provided to the holiday letting agency which informs letters of the nature of the building. As such it is not envisaged that persons unable to self-evacuate will let the property.

12 Compartmentation

The property is a two-storey semi-detached house with kitchen, utility, dining room, bathroom and bedroom on the ground floor, and living room and bedroom on the first floor.

The upstairs bedroom, downstairs bedroom and kitchen are furnished with 30-minute fire doors, to reduce the risk of fire spreading. Guests are encouraged to close the doors at night.

Walls are of standard plaster/plasterboard with no additional linings so as not to promote the spread of fire.

13 Emergency Lighting

Emergency lighting is installed in the living room and hall to guide the route to the exit. These lights will activate in the event of a power outage (3 hour limit). A torch is also provided by the hall exit door to assist with navigating outside in the event of an emergency.

14 Signage (escape and informative)

Since the property is small and of a simple layout, no signage is provided for escape routes.

15 Fire Alarm system

A BS 5839-6 LD1 category D1 fire alarm system is installed that is made up of mains wired, wireless interlinked detectors. Smoke detectors are located in both bedrooms, the living room and dining room. A Heat detector is located in the kitchen. A Heat and CO detector is located in the utility room.

The systems is configured to send a notification to the owner of any alarm conditions, (including items such as head removal).

16 Firefighting Equipment

A small all-purpose fire extinguisher is provided in the utility room. However, guests are advised to place their safety first and to exit the building in the event of fire.

A fire blanket conforming to BS EN 1869 is provided in the kitchen on the wall behind the utility room door, within easy reach of the hob.

17 Automatic Fire Suppression Systems

Not applicable

Management of Fire Safety

18 Evacuation Procedure

The property has adopted a full evacuation procedure, meaning that upon the discovery of a fire or the activation of the fire alarm, all within the property will evacuate via their nearest fire exit to the fire assembly point.

Guests are provided with a welcome pack which details the actions to be taken in the event of a fire. Additionally a copy of the fire evacuation procedure is also provided in the utility room (access point to the premises).

PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE

• Do not put the fire out unless have you have the skills or training to do so.
• Raise the alarm – shout “FIRE”
• Leave the room where the fire started and keep the door closed.
• Get everyone out of the building.
• Wait outside at a safe distance from the building
• Dial 999 and ask for the Fire Brigade or relevant service giving them the full, correct address including postcode as shown below. Or use ‘what3words’
• Notify the owner

19 Training

Not applicable since the property is unstaffed.

20 Testing and Maintenance

The property is in a good state of repair and undergoes ongoing maintenance to retain that state.

Fire alarms are tested at each changeover. Fire alarm is serviced every six months and fire extinguisher on a yearly basis.

Fire exits and fire doors are checked on a regular basis to ensure they are operating as intended and fit for purpose.

All testing and maintenance is recorded within in the fire logbook.

Certificates are available for inspection if required.

Action Plan

Item	Deficiency	Proposed action	Timescale	Person responsible
n/a	No identified deficiencies