FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We know that know that keeping on top of all of your fire safety requirements can be challenging.

We help you to manage services across your properties and help ensure that you and your buildings remain compliant.

Please see answers to our most frequently asked questions listed below.
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, then please contact us and we will get back to you within 48 hours.

Additionally you can email us here.

Frequently Asked Questions
WHY CHOOSE MJ FIRE SAFETY?

We are a hard-working, honest and reliable independent company without the politics or huge overheads of the large corporations, we value our relationships with our staff and customers and strive to ensure we offer the best possible service and working conditions.

Unlike most other fire safety companies out there our technicians are not paid commission.In addition the company does not employ sales people.Therefore we rely heavily on word of mouth and building on existing strong relationships to secure new business.

WHAT IS THE REGULATORY REFORM (FIRE SAFETY) ORDER 2005?

As part of the government’s commitment to reduce deaths, injuries and damage a law was introduced which put the emphasis of fire safety in the workplace on to ‘the responsible person’. The Regulatory reform (fire safety) order 2005 or ‘RRO’ is the title given to this government law. It came into effect in 2006. The responsible person is defined as the person with responsibility for complying with the RRO. In a workplace this will be the employer or a person who may have control of part of the premises.Typically these may be an occupier or owner.

In basic terms whoever has the power to ensure fire safety standards are upheld and implement necessary changes and improvements.

The RRO requires all premises (except private dwellings) to have in place a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. Whilst it is recommended that all fire risk assessments have their significant findings recorded, it is a requirement for all premises with five or more employees to do so.

WHO IS THE RESPONSIBLE PERSON?

The responsible person is defined as the person with responsibility for complying with the RRO. In a workplace this will be the employer & any other person who may have control of any part or the premises like the occupier or owner.

In basic terms who ever has the power to ensure fire safety standards are upheld and to implement necessary changes and improvements.

WHAT IS A FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT?

A fire risk assessment is a five point document to help gauge how well protected and in line with current fire safety guidelines a building and the people within it are. The assessment will initially identify the hazards in the workplace and the people at risk. It will evaluate these risks and how to remove or reduce them.The significant findings will then be recorded and an action plan formulated.This will detail urgent, necessary and recommended improvements together with time scales for implementation. Lastly the assessment should then be reviewed and updated regularly.

Fire risk assessments can be carried out internally by a competent person or externally through specialist companies like MJ Fire Safety.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD MY FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT BE REVIEWED

There is no fixed period for reviewing your Fire Risk Assessment although it is recommended that whenever there are any significant changes which could affect the fire risk for example new staff or legislation, material changes to the building or its activities and occupancy the assessment should be reviewed.

Outside of the above the period for review is based on the initial risk assessments suggestion for review.Therefore it is suggested that standard best practice is to review the Fire Risk Assessment on an annual basis.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD MY FIRE ALARM SYSTEM BE TESTED / SERVICED?

TESTED WEEKLY

Fire alarm systems should be tested weekly via a different fire alarm call point each week. This can be completed by site staff if competent.If the premise does not have someone available, your maintenance company should be able to provide this service.

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE & SERVICING

It is recommended that the minimum period between service visits is six months.

Over the course of a year, each device on the system should be inspected and tested. Some premises may require quarterly visits to ensure that all devices are tested.An example being flats with detection in each dwelling where access may be restricted.

Remember, all testing and maintenance should be recorded and we advise you to check the minimum number of service visits with your insurer.

WHAT IS A DRY RISER?

A dry riser is a fire brigade system, which normally consists of a vertical pipe, which extends up through a building or structure. Connected to the pipe is an inlet breeching at ground floor level.There are outlet valves on each landing, usually within the fire fighting compartment.

In a fire situation the fire brigade supply water to the inlet breeching. The water is pushed up the main by the fire tender. The dry riser then becomes pressurised. The fire brigade couple their hoses up to one or more of the outlet (landing) valves. The oulet valve is opened and the fire brigade have a pressured water supply to fight the fire at floor level.

WHAT IS A WET RISER?

A wet riser is much like a dry riser except it is constantly full of water and pressured accordingly.

Wet risers are filled straight from the towns main or by a tank with pumps that keep the pressure constant.

Wet risers are normally found in high-rise buildings due to the pressure required to provide water supplies to the landing valves sited on the upper floors and the time it would take to fill from empty in an emergency.

DO I NEED TO HAVE MY WET DRY RISER TESTED?

Yes, dry risers require servicing twice yearly.

The first visit comprises of a complete system inspection followed by a wet pressure test.The second visit is a full system inspection and exercise of all valves.

Wet Risers are maintained annually in accordance with BS 9990: 2015 and BS 5588 part 12. Furthermore any pump sets connected to a Wet Riser should also receive regular maintenance.

For advice or to organise a service maintenance visit please contact our office.

WHAT IS PASSIVE FIRE?

Passive Fire Protection (PFP) is an integral component of the three components of structural fire protection and fire safety in a building.

PFP attempts to contain fires or slow the spread, through use of fire-resistant walls, floors, and doors. PFP systems must comply with the associated Listing and approval use and compliance in order to provide the effectiveness expected by building codes.

DO I NEED TO HAVE MY FIRE DOORS CHECKED?

Yes, although fire risk assessors may highlight obvious defects on periodic assessments fire doors are engineered fire systems and much like fire alarms and fire extinguishers which require periodic inspection to ensure they are fit for purpose.

Our inspectors check everything from the door itself and the frame to the ironmongery, glazing and intumescent strips and smoke seals.

WHAT IS EMERGENCY LIGHTING?

Lighting that automatically comes on when the power supply to the normal lighting provision fails.

This lighting is generally used to ensure safe passage for people evacuating a building.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAINTAINED AND NON MAINTAINED EMERGENCY LIGHTS?

Maintained emergency lighting is an emergency light in which the emergency lighting lamps are on at all times such as the lights you find above exits at theatres and arena’s.

Non-maintained emergency lights come on when the power supply to the normal lighting fails such as offices and workplaces.