Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Offices, Shops and Similar Premises

Revised February 2008

The guidance in this document has been jointly produced by the Scottish Government's Police and Community Safety Directorate, HM Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland, the Scottish Building Standards Agency and the Health and Safety Executive.

Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Scope
Chapter 3: What the Law Requires
- Who Must Comply with these Duties?
- Who Enforces the Fire Safety Law?
Chapter 4: Fire Safety Risk Assessment
- What is a Fire Safety Risk Assessment?
- How is a Fire Safety Risk Assessment carried out?
- Step 1: Identify People at Risk
- Step 2: Identify Fire Hazards
- Step 3: Evaluate the Risk and Decide if Existing Fire Safety Measures are Adequate
- Step 4: Record Fire Safety Risk Assessment Information
- Step 5: Review of Fire Safety Risk Assessment
Chapter 5: Managing Fire Safety
- Fire Safety Policy
- Emergency Fire Action Plan
- Fire Safety Information and Training
- Fire Drills
- Maintenance of Fire Safety Measures
- Recording Information and Keeping Records
Chapter 6: Reducing the Likelihood of Fire
- Housekeeping and Storage
- Storage and Use of Dangerous Substances
- Safe Use of Equipment
- Electrical
- Smoking
- Managing Building Work and Alterations
- Particular Hazards in Escape Routes
- Fire Raising
Chapter 7: Restricting the Spread of Fire and Smoke
- Fire Compartmentation
- Doors
- Smoke Control
- Fire Separation
- Fire Spread through Cavities
- Ventilation Systems
- Fire Spread on Internal Linings
- Fire Spread on External Walls
- Fire Spread from Neighbouring Buildings
Chapter 8: Means of Escape
Chapter 9: Ensuring that Means of Escape can be Used
- Escape Route Lighting
- Emergency Lighting
- Signs
- Notices
Chapter 10: Means for Detecting Fire and Giving Warning
- Fire Alarm Features
- Linked Operation
- Remote Monitoring
- Reducing False Alarms
Chapter 11: Means for Fighting Fire
- Fire-Fighting Equipment for Use by Persons
- Automatic Life Safety Fire Suppression Systems
Chapter 12: Fire and Rescue Service Facilities
- Fire and Rescue Service Access
- Water Supply for Fire and Rescue Service Use
- Fire-fighting Shafts and Lifts
- Smoke Ventilation
- Fire-fighters' Switches for Luminous Tube Signs
- Dry and Wet Rising Mains
- Information Arrangements for Fire-fighters
- Communication Systems

Technical Annexes

Supplementary Annexe

14.1: Fire and Rescue Service Access and Water Supplies

Definition of Terms

Definition of Terms Used in this Guide

Reference Material

Reference Material