Caring for vulnerable adults doesn’t stop at food and comfort; the safety of the premises must also be considered to prevent emergencies. The effects of fire can be especially devastating.
Fire Safety Regulations in Care Homes?
That’s why government fire safety regulations for care homes provide an important framework to create effective fire safety strategies to help both staff and residents stay safe and sound.
So, what are care home regulations? And how can they help you create an effective fire safety strategy?
Care Home Regulations Act 2001
Guiding good practice in care homes is the Care Home Regulations Act 2001 (amended in 2003). This piece of legislation is a comprehensive exploration of many subjects including: appointment of managers and registered persons, conduct of care homes, resident health and welfare, complaints and admin, fitness of employees.
It also lays out regulations for fire safety, a vital element of safeguarding vulnerable residents, who will often need special attention and care during fire emergencies.
According to the Care Home Regulations Act 2001, a registered person should:
- Consult with a fire authority for advice
- Take adequate precautions against fire risk
- Make arrangements for the detection, containment and extinguishment of fires through provision of recommended fire safety equipment
- Ensure the regular maintenance of fire safety equipment
- Be responsible for the training of care home staff, and the appointment of competent fire wardens for the premises
- Organise regular fire drills to practice evacuation procedures; all drills must be recorded, as should any equipment testing
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
This major piece of legislation describes fire safety standards for non-domestic premises (of which nursing and residential homes fall under). Broad-reaching and invaluable, this document covers essential matters such as fire risk assessments, fire detection, risk reduction, training, enforcement, and duties of staff.
It also highlights the extreme importance of carrying out a fire risk assessment, keeping it up to date, and adjusting the document if any changes arise in the care home e.g. change of building layout, change of fire door locations and assembly points, change of materials and liquids on the premises.
A full government guide has been produced specifically for the employees and managers of care homes (found here), describing how to approach and deal with situations of fire emergencies.
Lives depend on your expertise, so make sure you’re clued up in order to give your premises the best chance of survival.
Read the next Part: Fire Evacuation Procedure in a Care Home
Keep your care home fire safe with the experts at Fire Action. Since 2001, we have provided specialist fire safety equipment and training for clients across the South East region. Our wealth of industry experience gives us the ability to work with a vast range of clients in both the domestic and commercial sectors, including care homes, providing the fire safety essentials you need to meet regulations. Get in touch today to find out more about our services.
