When supplying for a new care home it can often be confusing to know what fire regulations need to be applied. Different sizes and styles of property may have differing requirements.
Due to this responsibility for the safety of the people in your care home, you should understand any necessary fire regulations.
Also, you need to know what to look out for when it comes to fire-retardant furniture fabrics.
Fire regulations come into two separate categories. Regulations that apply to domestic buildings and those that affect commercial buildings. Domestic regulations cover addresses of residential property.
Now, whilst care homes could be viewed as a residence they are in fact covered by commercial regulations.
Broadly this means that there are higher standards of retardancy needed to fit within regulations.
Due to the speed necessary in evacuating a care home as well as the greater use of electrical appliances care homes offer a unique set of risks.
With this in mind, extra measures are necessary to protect those in your care home.
Who is in Charge of fire regulations?
Whilst in domestic settings the responsibility for fire retardancy regulation falls on the manufacturer. In Commercial settings e.g. care homes, the owner and/or designated responsible person are charged with ensuring fire compliance, this also includes maintaining a full and updated fire risk assessment.
Care homes must comply with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) order 2005 (RRFSO), more details on this can be found here. Part of these regulations is that fire retardancy must include cigarette and match resistance and they are crib 5 certified.
Does your furniture comply?
The following British Standards should be sought when purchasing furniture and soft furnishings:
Furniture & Upholstery: BS7176
Mattresses: BS7177
Curtains: BS5867 part 2
What other ways can you reduce your fire risk?
- Keep fire doors clear and closed to limit spread of any fires
- Only purchase furniture or furnishings from suppliers that can prove compliance with British Standards. Remember that many high street retailers only cater for domestic properties so their products may not be compliant.
- Make sure any staff are suitably trained in the event of a fire. Also, check that all alarms, fire plans and systems are up to date and regularly tested.
- 13% of of fires come from smoking incidents. Encourage your residents to quit.
At Renray healthcare all of our furniture, beds and soft furnishings are compliant to all commercial British Standards, so you can be safe in the knowledge you and your residents are safe. For more info contact us today.
