FIA

The HSE has recently issued for consultation updated guidance on fire safety on construction sites, HSG 168.

It is a substantive revision but does not greatly change long standing standards for fire prevention and protection in construction.  It seeks to provide a comprehensive guidance in a single document to assist those who have to comply with the legal requirements.

The HSE has changed the structure of the guidance to mirror the format of the fire safety risk assessment guidance produced for the Fire Safety Order and is now divided into two parts.  Part 1 explains what fire risk assessment is and how to go about it while Part 2 provides further guidance on fire precautions.

One of the areas on which the HSE has not been able to provide definitive guidance is in compartmentation, particularly for high risk methods of construction.  The HSE is considering research into this but did not want to delay publication of HSG 168 until such time as more quantitative guidance can be provided.  Therefore, any suggestion as to workable 'tules of thumb' would be especially welcomed.

Any comments that the fIA has must be provided by 5 February 2010.  If you are able to contribute please provide these to Dave Smith or Graham Ellicott by 29 January 2010.