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Fire marshal duties

Every workplace should have a designated fire marshal, and their day to day duties are put in place by governing bodies to increase the likelihood of preventing a fire, and to decrease the chances of fire risks in the first place.

However, as fire alarm specialists we believe that whilst most businesses understand the need for a fire marshal, few actually know what proactive day-to-day duties should be undertaken. It’s really important that we make people aware of what their duties are.

We often meet with clients who are baffled by the UK’s fire safety legislation, and what they should be doing to ensure that they are doing what they should be to ensure that their businesses are safe and relatively risk free, so we have created a simple guide which explains the most important things that a business’s designated fire marshals should be doing. Some of the most important fire marshal’s duties should include the following:

  • Keep it clear – all routes through, and around, a building must remain clear of obstructions, and available to move through at all times. Don’t forget to check the fire exits, inside and out.
  • Break Glass – call points should always remain visible and have a ‘break glass point’ sign and emergency fire action notice clearly posted next to, or above the call point.
  • Put it out – fire extinguishers need to be in the correct place, serviced, signed and stowed above floor level, and it is the designated fire marshal’s responsibility to ensure that this happens.
  • Sound the alarm – often, the most neglected fire safety equipment is the fire alarm. The fire marshal should be testing any alarm systems weekly. This check should also include checking that fire exits are clear, emergency lighting and exit signs are intact and working correctly too.
  • Clean it up – it is vitally important to ensure that paper storage and waste is controlled. Check that your waste areas are clear of any potential source of ignition.
  • PAT testing – whilst it may seem like an expensive outlay, PAT testing on all electronic goods that are used within the building need to be checked at least annually.

Whilst our list isn’t an exhaustive list of all fire marshal duties, and finalised tasks will differ from business to business, we believe that the above is the minimum that any appointed fire marshal should be doing to ensure a safe working environment for any business.

If in doubt, call a specialist in to help you ensure that you are being vigilant with your fire safety. At S2 Fire Solutions we are independent fire alarm specialists with extensive knowledge of obsolescent & fibre networking systems. With over 20 years in the fire alarm industry, we pride ourselves on our comprehensive knowledge of fire alarm systems.

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