FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR INTENDING CHILDMINDERS
IN THE COUNTY OF WEST SUSSEX

West Sussex Fire Brigade carries out fire safety checks of homes of intending chilminders on behalf of Social Services. If you want to know more then contact your local West Sussex County Council, Social Services Day Care Adviser . You can find their number in yellow pages.

Even if you are not considering being a childminder, if you follow the advice in this guidance sheet you will reduce the chances of a fire starting, making your home a safer place.

General Principles

Childminding in domestic premises does not normally present a high risk to life from fire and it is important that a homely and non-institutional environment is maintained.

In providing fire protection of any kind in dwellings, it should be recognised that measures which significantly interfere with the day to day running of the home may be unreliable in the long term.

The most effective standard of fire safety will be achieved by ensuring that you as a childminder follow sensible fire precautions and adopt good fire safety practices in the use of heating and cooking appliances and that means of escape are available and unobstructed.

ARE MY PREMISES SUITABLE?

If the premises were built after 1992, then the building is likely to be satisfactory as it should comply with:

BS 5588:Part 1:1990 and Building Regulations Approved Document B . There must be clear and easy access to the entrance door.

The same easy access to a rear door should also be provided.

All exit doors must be simple to open from the inside. Should it be necessary to leave the house by a back exit into a garden or yard, this area must have a door or gate to enable you to move away from the house to a place of total safety.

Kitchens & Cooking

Separation of cooking areas from the location children are to be looked after should, where possible, be provided by normal walls and doors. However, this is not always achievable. In this case, extra care needs to be exercised by the childminder.

Children should generally not be allowed in the kitchen area unless they are well supervised and constantly monitored. There should be no deep fat frying carried out during the time that the children are using this area.

Open plan areas

If you have an open plan living area and you are thinking of sleeping children on the upper level, you must ensure that the room that the children are to occupy has a fully openable window sufficiently wide and high enough from which to escape should it be necessary. There should be no obvious obstructions outside and below the window, ie glass conservatory.

REDUCING THE RISK OF FIRE

Remember, the best way not to have a fire is to remove or lower the risk so as not to allow it to start!

Heating

Portable heaters, using liquefied petroleum gas, paraffin or electricity, are not regarded as safe forms of heating for childminding activities and their use is to be discouraged. Where the use of a portable heater is unavoidable (eg power cuts etc) it should be securely anchored in a safe and suitable position away from draughts and enclosed in a guard constructed to British Standard 6778 securely fixed in position.

Solid fuel fires and heating appliances should be enclosed by a substantial guard constructed to British Standard 6539 securely fixed in position. No part of the guard should be closer than 200mm from the heat source otherwise the guard may get very hot.

Radiators using hot water from the domestic heating system, although not a fire risk can inflict severe burns, particularly to young children who have sensitive skin. Care should therefore be taken to prevent accidental contact. It is recommended that a suitable guard be fitted.

Gas taps are to be shielded or made secure to prevent them being tampered with by children.

Smoking Materials

Smoking materials hold a fascination for most children. Many wish to imitate adults or play with cigarette lighters or matches. Cigarettes, lighters and matches should always be kept out of sight and out of reach of children.

Foam Filled Furniture

Old foam filled furniture may not be fire retardant. Accordingly, furniture with damaged covers should be repaired or the furniture removed from the childminding areas and escape routes out of the building.

Electrical Wiring

Although it is considered excessive for a premises electrical system to be examined by a competent person, there should be no obvious defects in the electrical wiring system. Sockets and switches should be securely fixed to the wall and sockets should be of safety pattern. Flex to electrical appliances should not be run under carpets. Multiple adaptors should not be overloaded.

Fuses should be correctly rated for the appliance in use:-

up to 720 watt - 3 amp fuse;

720-1200 watt - 5 amp fuse;

1200-3120 watts - 13 amp fuse.

PORTABLE FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT

A fire blanket conforming to BS EN 1869 is to be provided and maintained readily available for use in the kitchen. The blanket should be sited away from the main cooking area with the fire blanket container positioned so as to allow the blanket to be withdrawn quickly and easily.

Fighting any fire is dangerous and should only be undertaken when a fire is in a very early stage .

Remember

If in doubt get the children out

Get yourself out

Raise the alarm

And stay out

The minimum standard in a normal 2, 3 or 4 bedroom house when using the ground floor only with no minded children being allowed to sleep in any room in the property is a single smoke alarm

Siting of Alarms (Entrance Level)

• Smoke alarm(s) conforming to British Standard 5446: Part 1 must be installed, normally in the ground floor hallway. In the case of a very small entrance hall or lobby with one door opening from the base of the stairs to a lounge, it may be preferable to install the smoke alarm on the lounge side of the door to the circulation area.

• Where accommodation is provided at ground floor level to sleep minded children, a smoke alarm must be provided in each room used by the children.

Use of upper or lower floors

• In addition to smoke alarms at ground floor /entrance level, where accommodation is to be used on more than one level to sleep minded children, then smoke alarms must be provided at the head of all stairs and in all rooms children are likely to occupy.

Note the use of basements provides particular hazards in respect of means of escape and they should not be used.

• Where more than one smoke alarm is installed they must be interconnected so that detection of smoke by any one unit operates the alarm signal in all of them. The manufacturer's instructions about the fixing and siting of smoke alarms must be complied with. They should have a standby battery supply and must be connected to the mains electrical supply by way of a separately electrically protected, regularly used local lighting circuit. The wiring installation should conform to the IEE Wiring Regulations (BS 7671).

Tamper-Proof Alarms

N.B This information sheet details the minimum standard of smoke alarm coverage to comply with the requirements for childminding in domestic dwellings. For maximum protection, the provision of additional smoke alarms to cover all rooms (except kitchens and bathrooms) would enhance the fire protection of property.

Self-Contained Smoke Alarms – Maintenance

Smoke alarms should be regularly tested and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. This will usually require a gentle vacuum using a soft brush attachment once a month to remove any dust from the cover.

FIRE PROCEDURES

In the event of fire, evacuate all children to a safe place closing all doors behind you.

Call the Fire Brigade by dialing 999.

Do not attempt to extinguish the fire until all the children in your care are in a safe place nor if the fire has reached such proportions as to endanger your life - only attempt to fight the fire if safe to do so.

Make Your Plan

When making your plan this should follow the principles set out in the leaflet’ Make Your Plan. Get Out Alive’

It must include identification of the fire risks within your home and a plan of the escape routes.

You should practice your plan to see if it works!

Complete the questionnaire on the next page to check that you have looked at all the possible hazards in your home and, where necessary, taken the appropriate action to lower the risk.

It is important to ensure that all the necessary fire safety measurers are in place. Remember the Fire Brigade will be asked to check your risk assessment and to ensure that the premises are suitable for childminding purposes.

Tick either yes or no below