With Christmas fast approaching many commercial premises and households in London and Manchester are getting ready to create their festive displays! London Fire Risk Assessments suggests that the first job in the Christmas preparations should be a quick Fire Safety check!

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Many people keep Christmas decorations for years and why not they are only used once a year! That said, during this period have you ever checked the internal and external Christmas lights for fraying wires, or signs of overheating – probably not!

Christmas lights are just one of the many ignition sources that can cause a serious fire – here are just a few additional checks for you to make

Check that plugs and sockets are not showing signs of overheating

Don’t overload multi point connecters and never plug one connector into another.

Ensure all decorations are kept away from any forms of heating.

Never leave candles unattended and ensure they are placed on a safe surface away from any combustible materials.

Put in place an end of day procedure to ensure all electrical sources are turned off, plugs removed from their sockets and candles are extinguished properly.

Finally, make sure your employee’s or family members all know the Fire Safety Emergency Plan.

Keep safe and enjoy the Christmas festivities!

Do all Commercial and Residential premises in London and Manchester require Lightning Protection?

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If a Premise which we are visiting is not in receipt of Lightning protection our Assessor will make an Assessment as to whether, in their opinion, it should be. If there is a possible requirement, the Assessor will identify this and suggest that a competent person should survey the building to establish if lighting protection is indeed required.  

The subsequent Report will identify that BS EN 62305-3:2011 gives general guidelines that should be followed to protect persons, as well as buildings and structures, including their installations and contents, from lightning.  The Report will identify that, by complying with these requirements, the Responsible Person can improve hazard prevention, reduce damage when lightning strikes and contribute to the electrical safety of their structures.  

If there is no apparent requirement for the Premise, Building to be in receipt of Lightning protection, this too will be identified, but with the recommendation that it should be considered, as it removes a possible Ignition source from a Premise, Building, and that this should be considered as part of any material roofing or structural repair and, or refurbishment. 

These preventative and protective measures are not only in accordance with recognised Guidance but also as a result of personal experience. 

In the process of inspecting a Five Storey Building converted into Residential Flats, the Building’s Caretaker identified that the Building had Lightning protection installed following a Lightning Strike which was “attracted” to the Building via Metal Roof Railings and an adjacent Satellite Dish. The strike materially damaged the Communal Television, Entertainment provisions and Communications provisions and irrevocably damaged several of the Residents Computers and Lap Tops.  

Obviously a “”striking” reminder of the importance of Lightning Protection.

If you are the ‘responsible person’ for a London or Manchester based commercial or residential premise and you are worried about your Fire Safety measures then contact London Fire Risk Assessments on 0781 8888626 their support team will be happy to talk through your concerns, alternatively click here.

Many London businesses will be opening on 4th July – London Fire Risk Assessments are introducing a LFRA Covid-Safe discount code for customers booking a Fire Safety Inspection for July, August or September – just playing their part in helping businesses recover!

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From the 4th July London Pubs, Bars and Restaurants will be able to open – such a long awaited sign that Covid-19 may be under control!

That said, London Pubs, Bars and Restaurants must have a Fire Risk Assessment in place reflecting their premise as it is today! If you need help contact London Fire Risk Assessments – we have been providing support throughout the pandemic and now we are offering a special LFRA Covid-Safe discount code to help business meet their Fire Safety obligations at a reduced cost.

Call London Fire Risk Assessments now on 0781 8888626 and book your Fire Safety Inspection or click here.

Covid-19 and working from Home – time to have a Fire Safety check to keep you and your family safe!

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With thousands of people across the country working from home, playing their part in the war against Covid-19, it may be time to take just a few minutes to do a Fire Safety check!

A few things to consider:

Electrical – with families being isolated, technology is playing a huge part in keeping everyone connected and entertained. Double check that you are not overloading extension leads, sockets are not showing signs of overheating and chargers are not left plugged in and unattended.

Heaters – it may be Spring but there is still a nip in the air so the heating may be on in the evenings. Double check that soft furnishing, clothes and other combustible materials are away from the heater and never cover electric convector heaters.

Smoking – you may or may not smoke in the house but if you do try not to smoke in bed or if you are feeling sleepy. Make sure you extinguish the cigarette properly and always use an ashtray or metal container.

Candles – creating an atmosphere and a change of mood is a nice idea, an excuse to dress up and enjoy a nice meal! Never leave a candle unattended and never position them near soft furnishings and finally make sure you extinguish them properly!

Know the Plan – London Fire Brigade have had a long running campaign to encourage families to ‘know the plan’ in case of an emergency. Make sure that the means of escape out of the home is kept clear and everyone knows what to do if things went wrong! This is particularly important if you have vulnerable or disabled persons in the home.

If you need any further advice on Fire Safety then contact London Fire Risk Assessments on 0781 8888626 or email [email protected] our advice is free!

Unoccupied Buildings – Fire Safety Guidance

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Unoccupied buildings continue to generate significant findings and concerns caused mainly by deliberate Fires, theft of fixtures and fittings and malicious damage.

Insurance Companies see an increase in the number of claims when Premises, Buildings are not in use, which they believe could have been prevented if the properties were properly secured and effectively managed.

In order to help persons protect these properties, a leading Insurance Company have developed the following guidance to outline the level of protection they recommend for vacant properties.

“Fire – the most common cause of fire in the United Kingdom is deliberate Fire setting (arson). Unoccupied Premises, Buildings are particularly vulnerable as they are unattended and therefore become a target of thieves and vandals, who often also start Fires for reasons including to destroy evidence of committed crimes.

To reduce the risk of deliberate Fires, it is very important to ensure that all material that could help to start and spread a Fire is removed from both inside and outside of the Premise, Building.

Non occupied sites can also be vulnerable to fly-tipping, therefore it is also important that a regular inspections regime is implemented to ensure that any damage to the Premise, Building or accumulations of waste and rubbish are quickly addressed.

It is typical that once minor damage has been caused to a property or low level fly tipping takes place, this tends to escalate into more damage and larger incidents. Prompt repairs and waste removal are essential to minimise the risk of the property being targeted for further attack.

It should be considered if it is appropriate for Mains electrical services to be disconnected, other than circuits required for Fire alarms or intruder alarm systems.

Contents and fixtures are often left in the buildings, which provide ready fuel for a Fire and it should be decided if these should be removed or minimalised. Additionally any internal doors that are missing or left open should be repaired and closed. Such actions can assist significantly in preventing a Fire from developing quickly and minimise damage in the event of a Fire taking place.”

London Fire Risk Assessments advice is for you to inform your insurance Company of any proposed closure or any other circumstance which could affect any future Claim. Also, even unoccupied Buildings should still be the subject of appropriate Risk Assessments, including an up to date Fire Risk Assessment. If you need help with this call us on 0781 8888626 or email and we will talk you through the best way for you to complete a Fire Risk Assessment.