The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a revised version of its Fire safety in construction (HSG168) document.
Several years in the making, the latest (third) edition contains guidance explaining the need to eliminate, and or mitigate, fire risks during the design phase (where practicable).
It also examines how to prevent site fires from starting and ensuring people’s safety if they do.
It is aimed at all those involved with construction projects who procure, design, develop and manage construction sites, including clients and designers.
The aim of the document is to enable construction professionals to achieve good fire safety management and compliance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
Details of this publication is stated as following:
The third edition explains how everyone involved in construction projects can comply with their legal duties relating to fire risks. It is aimed at all those who procure, design, develop and manage construction sites, including clients and designers. It is relevant to all construction projects.
The main changes to this guidance relate to elimination, and or, reduction of fire risks at the pre-construction stage as required by the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. We have also added a glossary.
Each year there are estimated to be hundreds of fires on construction sites, potentially putting the lives of workers and members of the public at risk. Fire safety in construction is about eliminating fire risks during the design phase (where practicable), preventing fires from starting and ensuring people’s safety if they do.
This guidance does not reference the findings of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 because the fire did not occur while the building was being renovated or constructed.
