Fire Safety audit is a statutory audit s prescribed in the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) – 2007 and Rule 36 of the factories and Other Places of Work (Fire Risk Reduction) Rules L.N. 59 of 2007.
Fire safety audits are structured to check current adequacy of components, services and equipment; report of the expected performance, make recommendations for the compliance with the existing building rules, regulations, codes and standards, and the requirement of providing a safe place for living or carry out commercial or industrial activities.
A comprehensive fire safety audit will cover various aspects which are related to design, operation and maintenance of the facilities, and even the review of inherent fire hazards associated with the day to day activities in a building.
Objective
- To carry out a systematic, critical appraisal of all potential Fire hazards involving personnel, premises, services & operation method
- To ensure that occupational Safety & Health System fully satisfy the legal requirements and those of company’s written safety policies , objectives & progress
Scope of Work
a) Fire Hazard Identification
- Identifying all potential fire / explosion hazards / risks in the Premises and suggesting appropriate preventive measures
- Evaluate the Fire risk in each operation / area.
b) Fire Fighting System
- Evaluate the location of the Fire pump house and water storage tank to meet the Statute and standard requirements.
- Configuration of the pumps and valves for the hydrant and sprinkler system
- Checking the Adequacy of the sprinkler system, detection system, operating temperature /other parameter
c) Fire Detection & Alarm System
- Adequacy of the Fire detection and alarm (FDA) system with respect to relevant standards, positioning of the detectors with respect to ventilation system, beam depth, obstructions, etc.
- Checking the availability and adequacy of the backup power supply to FDA panel and other electrically operated emergency equipment’s.
- Type of cables used for emergency service.
d) Gas Suppression System
- Assess the requirement of Gas suppression system based on fire risk and criticality of the equipment’s / operations as per relevant standards.
- Assessing the location of the Gas suppression cylinders, routing of pipeline, location of manual release and emergency switches and panel, Standby power supply, etc.
d) Fire Extinguisher
- Checking the adequacy and deployment of the portable Fire extinguisher as per relevant standards.
- Accessibility to extinguishers as per relevant standards.
- Inspection and serving of the portable fire extinguishers
e) Passive Fire Protection
- Segregation of the facilities and utilities, requirement of fire partition walls and its fire rating
- Segregation of power cables and data cables and utilities lines
- Addressing the fire spread through vertical and horizontal openings meant for cable passes, utility lines, etc.
- Fire rating of the emergency exit doors, Fire lifts, etc.
- Fire rating of building construction, internal partitions and false ceilings.
f) Emergency Management & Life Safety System
- Availability of Emergency preparedness plan
- Adequacy of emergency exit based on occupant load / type of occupancy / type of exit
- Adequacy and availability of emergency lights and ventilation
- Segregation of the emergency exit from the remaining facility.
- Communication of emergency, Mutual Aid, etc.
- Access and egress to the building.
- Open space around the building.
- Adequacy of signage’s.
- Assess the requirement of passive fire protection system like cable pass sealants, etc.
- Assessment of fire safety training level of security staff, firefighting team and first aid team.
- Assessment of emergency plan, fire mockup drill records, evacuation plan and its adequacy.