TEIGNBRIDGE businesses planning to re-open with new social distancing measures have been urged to consider how any changes made to the way their premises operates may impact existing fire safety arrangements.

The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has released fire safety advice to help businesses to comply with their legal fire safety obligations whilst adapting their premises to make them Covid-secure.

The new advice about re-opening premises is available on the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service website (www.dsfire.gov.uk)

Key things for businesses to consider before re-opening

1. Have you made internal changes to your premises? You must keep your fire risk assessment up to date.

Where you have made changes to make your premises Covid-secure, you must review your Fire Risk Assessment. Any changes must not impact negatively on fire safety requirements.

2. Has your layout changed? Run through your fire escape plan.

If the fire alarm sounds, it is essential that everyone on your premises knows how to evacuate the building safely and through the appropriate escape routes. You may have introduced new one way systems, or blocked off certain areas – you must assess how these changes have impacted on fire safety.

Whilst social distancing measures may be compromised during a fire evacuation, the priority must be to get everyone out of the building quickly, calmly, and safely.

3. Are you propping fire doors open to reduce the spread of infection? Check your building is still safe and compliant.

Fire doors play a significant part in limiting the spread of fire and smoke in buildings.

Many businesses are now choosing to prop doors open to reduce the spread of infection, but this creates a serious fire risk. Businesses may choose to invest in devices which hold the door to open, but automatically close the fire door in the event of the fire alarm activating.

Businesses should make an assessment (carried out by a ‘competent person’) before allowing doors to be propped open to ensure they are not required to be closed to support the fire safety strategy of the building.