Fire safety in the home office

Every year, 35 people die because their smoke alarm wasn’t working. It’s a sad fact and one that’s all the more at the forefront of our minds at CheckFire, as the UK adapts to the unprecedented measures and lifestyle changes in response to coronavirus.

As the nation makes the move to work from home, if this applies to you, it’s wise to make sure you’re familiar with the basics of fire safety at home – particularly in the home office.

Here, we consider where to start where fire safety is concerned and highlight what measures are required whether your home office is host to just you or a small team.

Who’s responsible for fire safety in the home?

Even before the pandemic hit, there’s been a steady increase of people choosing to work from home – whether self-employed or not. The home office can be a hive of activity and therefore comes with its hazards and risks just as any other work setting does. Fire safety should be considered as thoroughly as it is in the workplace – and regulations do apply. In a place of work, it’s the employer or premises owner who is classed as the ‘responsible person’ under the terms of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (2005) – and they have a duty to ensure the safety of staff and see that the building meets required legislation. For however many hours of the day you’re working, under fire safety law, your home is classed as ‘non-domestic’. Because of this, the same legal responsibilities apply to you that would an owner of a large business.

Start with a fire risk assessment

Identify hazards in your office and around the home, as well as consider who is most at risk. The importance of a fire risk assessment shouldn’t be underestimated – even if there’s only you working at home. If others work in your office, under the RRFSO, it’s your legal duty to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of fire and ensure anyone in the building can safely escape if a fire should take hold. A fire risk assessment is a detailed review of the premises (ie your home), assessing risk to put in place required preventative and cautionary measures.

If you’re joined by four or more staff in your home office, you’re legally required to document, review and regularly update the fire risk assessment in written form.

Planning a safe escape

Based on the findings of your risk assessment, you’ll be better-equipped to consider a plan of action in the event of a fire. It’s recommended that you have a smoke alarm on each floor of your home, although they shouldn’t be placed in a kitchen or bathroom. Once installed, smoke alarms should be tested every week. #testittuesday is a now-viral social media campaign created to remind everyone of the importance of smoke alarm testing every single week. #testittuesday and make sure your office and home is protected. Read more about why your smoke alarms shouldn’t be neglected.

From your fire risk assessment, you’ll also identify an escape route and emergency evacuation plan. As in any workplace, this route will need to remain easily accessible at all times and free of obstacles.

Fire safety tips for home office working

– Keep an eye on your electrical equipment – check for wires that are loose or broken and look out for hot plugs or those with dark marks.
– Don’t overload sockets. Take every step to reduce the chance of ignition where electrics are concerned – this is still a common cause for fires in the UK.
– Candles should be placed in a holder and kept away from anything that might burn – curtains or carpets, for example.
– Always make sure there’s nothing blocking any doors or windows and that keys are readily available.
– Smoking breaks should be treated as they would in any normal work environment – they should take place outdoors and cigarettes should be disposed of safely.

Working from home offers many benefits – as long as fire safety is regarded with the same importance as it is in any normal work setting. Contact us for more information about fire prevention in the home office.