Prioritising fire safety at public events

Fire safety – protective and preventive measures – is a legal requirement in all commercial premises and public areas. In events, fire is one of the biggest risks to prepare for and mitigate. For events hosting any number of people, whether they’re indoors or outdoors, there is a specific list of requirements that must be met in order to protect lives and property in the event of a fire. 

Here, we take a comprehensive look into fire safety at public events and discuss the importance of a fire risk assessment, as well as outline who is responsible and accountable for fire safety at the event.

The responsible person in event planning

A responsible person, whose duty it is to oversee all fire safety measures to ensure people’s safety in the event of a fire, isn’t simply chosen or the role allocated. The term ‘responsible person’ is legally given to the person who has control over the premises or, in the case of a workplace, the employer. In the planning and hosting of an event, this may mean there is more than one responsible person. 

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO) is the main piece of fire safety legislation for buildings in England and Wales. All events must adhere to the regulations stipulated in the Order.

It is the legal duty of the responsible person to ensure that attendees, staff, and visitors of an event can escape to safety in the event of a fire. These duties include (but are by no means limited to) conducting a fire risk assessment and identifying possible hazards and risks (and taking steps to mitigate them), installing appropriate fire safety equipment and ensuring it’s maintained and serviced, and providing and communicating adequate means of escape.

Prioritising a fire risk assessment

A thorough fire risk assessment must be conducted ahead of any planned event. There may already be measures in place following a recent fire risk assessment but the responsible person must be satisfied that those measures are applicable in their entirety to the specified event. An event’s fire risk assessment should review the competency of existing fire precautions and ascertain any requirement for further measures or additional equipment. Each event fire risk assessment will vary and must take into consideration marquees, tents, stairways, moveable structures etc. Fire hazards might include fuel used for cooking, generators, dangerous substances, or fireworks, for example. The responsible person is required by law to ensure appropriate measures are in place to minimise the risk of injury or loss of life should a fire take hold. 

An event’s fire risk assessment must also assess who will be at risk and make provisions for those people. Members of the public and staff, for example, could be at risk and of those, some may be vulnerable (those with mobility issues, the elderly or children). Fire safety must be accessible to all – a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) can be created for individuals who are unable to reach a point of safety unaided. 

Fire safety risk assessment: open air events and venues 

For large-scale outdoor events like music concerts, firework displays, race meets, or seasonal markets, the requirements of the RRFSO apply and are the responsibility of the responsible person(s). A fire risk assessment is again required in the first instance and should, as with all events, account for the safe evacuation of all event attendees, paying special attention to those with particular vulnerabilities. 

As with any fire safety risk assessment, open air events and venues require a crucial five-step process: 

• Identify fire hazards
• Identify people at risk
• Evaluate, remove, reduce, and protect from risk
• Record, plan, instruct, and inform
• Review

A fire risk assessment for an open air event may incorporate fire risk brought about by a great number of things, including bonfires, liquid petroleum gas (LPG) usage, sleeping accommodation (flammable tent material, for example), and firework displays. For a detailed understanding of the fire safety requirements for open air events, take a look at the government’s comprehensive guide, Fire safety risk assessment: open air events and venues.

Meanwhile, sports grounds and stadiums are governed by several pieces of legislation. These include the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, which applies to premises with space for over 10,000 spectators, and the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987, which was introduced for smaller-capacity grounds with seated or standing covered accommodation. 

Minimising impact in the event of a fire 

Appropriate fire safety equipment (based on the findings of the fire risk assessment) and clear communication of evacuation procedures must be prioritised. Fire extinguishers and other vital fire safety equipment are key here. Early warning systems, such as smoke detectors, should be considered – for larger events, the CommandAlert Site Alarm, with its 115dB alarm, can be heard in loud environments and across significant distances. Event attendees and any working staff must all be aware of the evacuation plan, and it’s the duty of the responsible person to ensure this. Fire escape routes, fire exits and fire assembly points can be communicated to all via fire safety signage. Take a look at the categories of fire safety signage in our handy guide. 

The type of event, its premises and the nature of the fire risks present will dictate which types of fire extinguisher are to be installed. Water fire extinguishers (that tackle wood, paper, and solid material fires) are commonly fitted, but other fire risks could mean various fire extinguisher types installed around the event. Class F fires pose a risk in kitchens or areas used for cooking, for example. Specialised MultiCHEM, water mist fire extinguishers from CommanderEDGE, and wet chemical fire extinguishers from Commander are required in settings that use cooking oils and fats.

To ensure fire safety at public events, particularly outdoor events in which the risk may prove to be ever-changing, a fire extinguisher trolley might be considered for mobile fire safety. Both our fire extinguisher trolleys and flat-pack construction stands comply with British Standards, providing compact storage and effortless transportation – all major benefits should a fire break out at a large-scale event. These products are perfect for events in which fire safety must be adaptive. 

Maintenance, servicing and regular review

Fire risk assessments, and therefore any fire safety equipment installed, must be reviewed regularly and certainly before each event. In ever-changing environments, particularly some outdoor events, it may be that fire safety requirements suitable for the last event are no longer relevant for an upcoming one. The number of people on the site may vary for different events and so all procedures and plans must be updated accordingly.

The responsible person must ensure that fire extinguishers are regularly maintained and serviced annually. If not, they must arrange for a competent and qualified person or organisation to service them. Among other things, a service will identify any damage or misuse, ensure a legible instruction label, and confirm it is the correct fire extinguisher for the risk. 

From festival fire safety to understanding the main causes of fire in hospitality, if you’re planning an event and looking to reduce the risk of fire, find relevant legislation and guidance in our resource centre. Alternatively, sign up to our newsletter for regular updates on legislation, as well as product and fire safety information.