Construction sites are at higher risk of fire due to the hazardous activities that are undertaken as part of construction projects. Activities such as hot work, plus the use of flammable materials and large quantities of fuel increase the likelihood of fires, which is why fire risks must be adequately managed to protect workers, the general public and property.

Although fatalities from fire on construction sites are rare, hundreds of construction site fires happen every year, putting people’s lives at risk as well as causing costly damage to materials and buildings. Some of the main risks include poor storage of combustible materials and ignition risks from hot work, electrical equipment and installations, smoking and arson.

Fire safety legislation applying to construction sites 

There are three main pieces of legislation for fire safety construction in England:

• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002
• The Construction (Design and Management 2007)

CDM Regulation 29 requires that "Suitable and sufficient steps must be taken to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, the risk of injury to a person during the carrying out of construction work arising from - (a) fire or explosion; (b) flooding; or (c) any substance liable to cause asphyxiation." CDM Regulation 30 requires that "Where necessary in the interests of the health or safety of a person on a construction site, suitable and sufficient arrangements for dealing with any foreseeable emergency must be made and, where necessary, implemented, and those arrangements must include procedures for any necessary evacuation of the site or any part of it."

Managing fire risks

The principal contractor has a responsibility to ensure that fire risk assessments are conducted in line with the fire safety regulations and any necessary measures are implemented to eliminate or manage risks. The fire risk assessment must consider who is affected by risks, including workers and nearby residents or general public who are in the vicinity of the site.

The measures that should be taken include:

• Providing fire-fighting equipment such as the appropriate fire extinguishers and for larger, high-risk sites fire sprinklers may be required.
• Developing emergency plans so that there are clear instructions for escaping a fire and what on-site workers should do in the event of a fire.
• Fire safety training for workers to educate them on best fire safety practices and to highlight the risks. Also, training on the use of fire extinguishers and other fire-fighting equipment.
• Displaying emergency signs to indicate emergency routes.
• Fire detection and alarms to quickly alert workers to the fact that there is a fire on the site.

Which fire safety equipment do we need?

Once you have performed a fire safety risk assessment, you should be in a position to identify the fire safety equipment that will reduce fire risks. You can download a fire risk assessment template from the HSE website to make sure that you cover every aspect of the assessment.

If your site has a large volume of fire risks, you may want to hire a professional fire risk assessor who will be able to provide expert advice on implementing the most effective fire safety measures.

The risk assessment will provide you with the information you need to identify which fire safety equipment is required. Using a supplier with a good reputation and who guarantees high quality products is essential for fire safety equipment.

FixFirm has a wide range of fire safety products that meet the required standards, and our technical team can advise you on the best fire safety products for your needs. Learn more here or contact our team today to discuss how we can support your projects moving forward.