5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Implementing BS9999 in Your Building
By following the guidelines set out in BS9999, building owners and managers can create safer and more secure environments for their occupants.
BS9999 is a British Standard for fire safety in commercial and non-domestic buildings. It provides guidance on fire safety design, management, and maintenance. However, implementing BS9999 can be a complex process. There are common mistakes that building owners and managers make that can compromise the safety of the building and its occupants.
Common Mistakes Made When Implementing BS9999
Here are some frequent mistakes to stay away from when adopting BS9999 in your building.
Not Conducting a Comprehensive Fire Risk Assessment
The first step in implementing BS9999 is conducting a comprehensive fire risk assessment. This assessment should identify potential fire hazards, evaluate the likelihood of a fire occurring, and assess the potential impact of a fire on the building and its occupants.
Unfortunately, some building owners and managers may not conduct a thorough fire risk assessment or may skip this step altogether. This can result in critical fire hazards being overlooked, leaving the building and its occupants vulnerable.
Failing to Involve All Stakeholders in the Fire Safety Plan
Another common mistake is failing to involve all stakeholders in the development and implementation of the fire safety plan. Building owners and managers should work with fire safety professionals, employees, tenants, and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive fire safety plan that takes into account the unique needs and challenges of the building.
Failing to involve all stakeholders can result in critical information being missed and the fire safety plan is less effective.
Not Providing Adequate Training For Employees and Occupants
Employees and occupants of a building should be trained on fire safety procedures and evacuation plans. However, some building owners and managers may not provide adequate training, leaving occupants unsure of what to do in case of a fire. This can result in confusion and delays during an evacuation, putting occupants at risk.
Neglecting Fire Safety Equipment Maintenance
Regular maintenance is crucial for fire safety equipment, including fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and fire extinguishers, to ensure proper functioning. However, some building owners and managers may overlook this maintenance, leading to malfunctioning equipment during a fire emergency.
Regular maintenance and testing of fire safety equipment should be a priority to ensure that it is ready to respond to a fire emergency.
Not Considering the needs of Disabled Occupants
Building owners and managers have a responsibility to ensure that all occupants, including those with disabilities, can safely evacuate the building in case of a fire.
However, some may overlook the unique needs of disabled occupants, such as providing accessible evacuation routes or equipment. Failing to consider the needs of disabled occupants can put them at risk during a fire emergency.
RAD Fire Sprinklers
At RAD Fire Sprinklers UK, we install all of our fire protection systems in line with BS9999 fire safety regulations. For over two decades, we have installed fire and water sprinklers to industry standards. Fill out this form if you’d like to find out more about the services we provide. Or, call us at 01892 680 090. As well, follow us on Twitter to stay up to date.
