Document ReferenceSOP_8.15

Issue Number3

Issue Date01/05/2026

Next Review01/05/2027

Approved ByAaron Mason, Director

Controlled ByAaron / Leanne Mason · Sean Ashton

Fire Safety

ISO 45001:2018 Clause 8.2 · Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 · Fire Safety Act 2021 — Fire risk assessment, prevention and emergency response

Procedure overview

A M Water Services manages fire safety at the Northampton headquarters yard / office and at every operational site as a Responsible Person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (as amended by the Fire Safety Act 2021). The Fire Risk Assessment is reviewed at least annually and within 30 days of any material change (layout, occupancy, ignition sources, fuel inventory). Fire-fighting equipment is provided proportionate to the assessed risk and serviced annually by a BAFE-accredited contractor. Warning, evacuation and assembly arrangements are documented; trained fire wardens sweep their areas and report headcount at the assembly point. Hot work — cutting, welding, brazing, grinding — on or near combustible materials requires a Hot Work Permit issued by the Site Supervisor with a 60-minute fire-watch after work completion. Emergency arrangements integrate with SOP 5.4 Emergency Preparedness & Response and SOP 8.1 Incident Reporting. Records are retained per SOP 4.7.

Fire Safety — Process Flow

Responsible Person (MD) & HSQE

Aaron Mason (MD)
Sean Ashton (HSQE)

Risk Assessment

Designate the Responsible Person under the Fire Safety Order 2005

Conduct Fire Risk Assessment using HSE / Home Office 5-step method

Fire Risk Assessment

Identify hazards (ignition, fuel, oxygen) & people at risk (staff, visitors, contractors)

Evaluate, remove or reduce risks; determine prevention & protection measures

Risk acceptable with controls in place?

Implement additional controls before continuing operations

Yes

Record findings & issue Emergency Plan

Site Supervisor

Jason May
Site Team Leaders

Prevent & Equip

Segregate fuels & combustibles; store flammables in approved bunded area

Provide extinguishers proportionate to fire class (A, B, C, D, F, electrical)

Test detection / alarms weekly; service annually (BAFE contractor)

Sign & light escape routes; designate & communicate assembly point

Issue Hot Work Permit before any cutting / welding / grinding on combustibles — 60-minute fire watch after work

Hot Work Permit-to-Work

Appoint & train fire wardens; refresh annually

SOP 4.2 Competencies & Training

All Staff & Wardens

Operatives, office staff,
visitors & contractors

Respond & Evacuate

On discovery of fire: raise the alarm immediately

Call 999 (Fire & Rescue Service)

Fire small, escape clear, trained & safe to attempt?

Evacuate via planned escape route — do not fight fire

Yes

Use appropriate extinguisher; abandon attempt if fire grows

Assemble at designated point; wardens sweep areas & report headcount

Do not re-enter until Fire & Rescue Service authorises

Report incident under SOP 8.1; review FRA & controls

SOP 8.1 Incident Reporting · SOP 5.4 Emergency Preparedness

Process / Activity

Decision Point

Document / Cross-reference

Approval / Conformance

Rework / Issue

Fire-fighting equipment by class of fire (BS EN 3)

Extinguisher selection follows BS EN 3 class designations. Selection appropriate to the assessed risk is documented in the Fire Risk Assessment.

Class	Fire type	Extinguisher (BS EN 3)	AMWS context
A	Solid combustibles (wood, paper, fabric)	Water (red label) or foam (cream)	Office, paper records, packaging
B	Flammable liquids (petrol, diesel, oils, paint)	Foam (cream), CO&sub2; (black), dry powder (blue)	Yard fuel storage, vehicle engine bay, plant refuelling
C	Flammable gases	Dry powder (blue) — isolate gas supply if safe	Acetylene / oxygen for cutting; LPG for site cabins
D	Flammable metals	Specialist powder (yellow / specific metal)	Not typically encountered in AMWS work
F	Cooking oils & fats	Wet chemical (yellow)	Site-cabin kitchenette only
Electrical	Live electrical equipment	CO&sub2; (black) or dry powder (blue) — never water or foam on live electrical	Office equipment, plant electrical, generator faults

One-line rule: if the fire is bigger than a small bin, do not fight it — evacuate, call 999, account for people. Modern construction fires double in size every 30–60 seconds.

Hot Work Permit — mandatory controls

Hot work means any operation generating sparks, flame or heat sufficient to ignite combustibles — welding, oxy-fuel cutting, abrasive cutting / grinding, brazing, soldering or blowtorch use. Before any hot work begins, the Site Supervisor must issue a Hot Work Permit specifying: (a) combustible material removed or covered with fire-retardant blanket within a 10 m radius; (b) approved extinguisher to hand and tested; (c) ventilation adequate; (d) fire watch maintained throughout work and for 60 minutes after work completion; (e) permit closed only by the Site Supervisor after the final fire-watch is complete. Permits are retained per SOP 4.7.

Fire Safety

Fire Safety — Process Flow

Related Documents