In a press release, BAFE stated that with the COVID-19 pandemic’s lockdown measures ‘slowly beginning to ease’, it ‘strongly advises that fire safety measures ‘are not overlooked or deferred further’, as ‘there is a bombardment of information coming out’ regarding the pandemic and changes to a ‘new normal’ that ‘we are becoming accustomed to’. It has been ‘keeping abreast of this information’, and chief executive Stephen Adams ‘has been discussing this within the industry’.
He recently and ‘clearly’ stated that ‘the fact that fire safety legislation has not changed to accommodate the coronavirus pandemic’, and that it is ‘still very much being enforced in the interest of life safety’. Citing the recent announcement that planned maintenance and void work ‘should resume’ from the government, BAFE ‘must stress fire safety obligations should also continue to be followed with as much significance, performed as safely as possible’.
It added that ‘fire does not discriminate’, and noted that as it ‘has discussed many times before, fire systems and provisions are often taken for granted and their maintenance can be overlooked, especially if those responsible for fire safety have not been working in the building or are on furlough’. Unlike security systems that are deactivated and activated regularly, fire systems ‘are always set to active ready to react in the event of fire’.
That means that ‘you may not pick up on faults early that could jeopardise the effectiveness of the system and the safety of your occupants’, meaning therefore that ‘regular scheduled maintenance performed by competent providers’ is ‘crucial’ and ‘noted as best practice in the appropriate standards’. By ‘document[ing] evidence’, you ‘will demonstrate due diligence’, with all fire safety systems and provisions needing to ‘continue to be well maintained’ ready for reoccupation.
This is ‘prevalent’ during the current situation as lockdown measures ‘may instigate an obligation to update your fire risk assessment’ as well as ‘action any issues highlighted’ in order to ‘comply with legislation’. Previous guidance issued in March by BAFE head of schemes Chris Auger specified that ‘if a client is not permitting access on-site due to coronavirus precautions, please make sure you explain that this is their decision to not allow you to complete this work’.
That guidance also highlighted that it is ‘the role of the premises management’, such as the responsible person or duty holder, to ‘ensure they fulfil their fire safety obligations’, and they should be advised ‘of any risk […] if they still do not grant you access on-site, document this communication’ as this will ‘provide evidence you have acted responsibly with your clients’. If allowed on site, workers ‘should stay safe’ and ‘follow appropriate’ guidance to avoid increasing risk.
BAFE highlighted that it ‘continues to encourage this action’, and stressed that ‘contact with clients is important as present’. It concluded by noting that ‘as we all begin to adapt to new ways of working and ongoing development regarding the pandemic’, companies should ‘continue to uphold best practice in the fire safety industry, whilst being understanding of clients’ decisions at present’.
Mr Adams stated: ‘We are fully aware that the fire safety industry is somewhat invisible to the greater public, and just expect their premises managers to be ‘doing the right thing’, even throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Competent fire safety is simply expected, and it comes down to the industry to contact their clients to educate them of the facts. Legislation is still in place; standards continue to recommend scheduled maintenance and third party certificated providers can competently assist them in the interest of keeping people safe from fire.’