Fire safety audit is a fire-technical inspection measure carried out by specialists. It is necessary for checking documentation, premises, buildings. Be sure to determine the level of safety of buildings, as well as their compliance with the standards. If necessary, examinations, studies, calculation of the risk of fire are carried out .
Features of the work
An independent fire risk assessment determines non-compliance with fire safety requirements. Experts provide recommendations on eliminating defects in the production process, as well as specific objects.
Until 2008, there was no fire safety audit. This law came into force on May 1, 2009. According to the rules, only expert institutions to which accreditation of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia has been issued can conduct an audit. Such a company cannot perform similar work at an object owned by itself.
Why is this work necessary?
An independent audit is necessary for the owner of the enterprise because of the following advantages:
- obtaining information about fire safety;
- use of a remedial plan;
- there will be no control from the State Fire Inspection, since a document is issued;
- insurance payments are provided in case of fire;
- division of responsibility for the facility;
- cost savings due to reduced tariff;
- professional advice;
- 3 years without checks.
There may be another reason for conducting a fire safety audit. So, with full information from the auditor, the owner has the opportunity to plan the organization’s action program. The information will help to economically correct defects, improve security, and install the necessary systems.
If an independent fire risk assessment has not been carried out, the owner cannot know the present situation in his organization. Therefore, it has risks regarding the safety of the enterprise. In the absence of a conclusion, checks from the State Fire Inspection will be carried out.
What are the differences between inspector verification and audit?
It is believed that a fire safety audit is much better than a Fire Inspection audit. This is due to the following benefits:
- the auditor performs quality work with an individual approach to customers, carries out its activities carefully so that accreditation in the Russian Ministry of Emergencies does not happen;
- work is carried out in a timely manner prescribed in the contract; when compiling a document, the parameters of the object must be taken into account;
- auditors provide clear advice needed to improve and optimize fire safety;
- during the work, fire risk assessment, identification of violations, search for methods of elimination are performed;
- auditors cannot hold the owner of an enterprise liable for violations.
Fire safety audit establishes the real state of the organization, which reduces the risk of punishment from regulatory authorities.
Differences between Audit and Independent Evaluation
These concepts are interconnected, but also have differences. Risk assessment can be a major part of the audit, and also performed separately:
- in case of deviations from the norms adopted by law;
- for meeting documentation;
- when coordinating documents.
Fire risk allows you to identify the likelihood of a hazard, as well as its consequences for people and property. There are 3 types of it:
- acceptable: indicators are indicated in the documentation;
- individual: the consequences include death of a person;
- social: several people die.
A fire safety audit is carried out to establish facts without providing recommendations for correcting deficiencies. Risk assessment is carried out according to special techniques approved by the state. Conclusions include the ratio of normal values and deviations. The calculation of risk is indicated in the audit report.
Work stages
The decision to carry out an audit is made by the management of the enterprise. Then it’s important to choose the right organization to do this work. Audit firms review applications from customers.
If the parties have agreed to perform the work, then a contract for the provision of services is drawn up. It will spell out the rights and obligations of the executor, the customer. Using the contract, the activities of both parties are regulated.
Fire safety regulations
The audit firm creates an action program, organizes an expert group. Then the specialists visit the facility to assess the fire safety risks.
An important step in the work is the analysis of documents. A review of the regulatory framework and safety conditions may be performed. Be sure to take into account the results of recent inspections, no matter who they were.
After that, the fire-technical condition of the object is checked. In this examination, the territory, heating systems, water supply, alarm systems are examined. The quality of evacuation exits, protective equipment, primary elements for eliminating the fire is checked. After such work, a decision on fire safety is approved, violations are determined, the situation at the facility changes. The human factor is considered equally important, therefore, training of employees is required, who should be aware of the behavior in case of fire and the threat of its occurrence.
If required, the auditor performs an examination to determine the exact condition of the facility. To perform this work, professionals from various fields are involved. Such activity allows us to provide accurate recommendations on the maintenance of the premises.
After the audit, a fire license is issued. Specialists provide a conclusion about the condition of the facility, as well as compliance with the requirements. The rules for improving the security system that are necessary for the smooth operation of the enterprise are issued.
Making a fire report
The document is compiled on the basis of information on verification and risk assessment of the facility. The conclusion is issued when fire safety is at an acceptable level and the company has no violations that are dangerous to all activities.
If defects have been identified, then a conclusion is drawn on the non-fulfillment of security conditions. The expert institution performing the work issues a program to the customer with the necessary measures to remove violations.
The conclusion necessarily includes:
- details of the parties;
- details of the contract;
- data about the object;
- information about experts;
- work results;
- findings of compliance or violation.
The conclusion is created in 3 copies, which are signed by the heads of the examination. Documents also have stamps. Within 5 days, 1 copy is sent to the owner, the other - for registration in the UND GU GU EMERCOM of Russia. The third document remains in the firm.
Categories of premises
As a result of the check, the calculation of the fire category is performed, which allows you to determine the level of danger. Now there are five of them: A, B, C, D, D. The former are considered the most dangerous, and the latter are practically safe.
The category is set to select a fire extinguishing system, smoke exhaust, alarm. This work allows you to obtain the information that is necessary to perform emergency rescue operations.
Assigning a category is approved based on the following steps:
- departure of specialists of the company to inspect the premises;
- the information received allows the calculation of the category;
- calculations are transferred to the customer;
- the work is carried out by engineering and technical specialists;
- After that, the cost of services is determined.
The category of the room allows you to determine the level of danger, as well as install the necessary equipment. The building will be suitable for production tasks.