| |
| Access room
Room that forms the only escape route from an inner room
(see 1.58) |
| Action plan
Measures, including management procedures, identified in the course of a fire risk assessment that need to be implemented to ensure that the required level of fire safety is achieved or maintained |
| Alarm receiving centre (ARC)
Continuously manned premises, remote from those in which a fire alarm system is fitted, where the information concerning the state of the fire alarm system is displayed and/or recorded, so that the fire and rescue service can be summoned. |
| Alternative escape routes
Escape routes sufficiently separated either by direction and space, or by fire-resistant construction, intended to ensure that should one be affected by fire the other will still be available |
| Automatic door release mechanism
Device that can be used for holding a door in the open position, against the action of a door closer, and automatically releasing under specified conditions. |
| Available safe egress time (ASET)
Time available between ignition of a fire and the time at which tenability criteria are exceeded in a specific space in a building
NOTE: To ensure the safety of occupants, the escape time (see 1.21) needs to be shorter than the ASET. |
| Class A fires
Fires involving solid materials, usually of an organic nature, in which combustion normally takes place with the formation of glowing embers.
NOTE: These are normally carbonaceous fires. |
| Class B fires
Fires involving liquids or liquefiable solids |
| Class C fires
Fires involving gases |
| Class D fires
Fires involving metals |
| Class F fires
Fires involving fats and cooking oils |
| Combustible
Capable of burning in the presence of oxygen |
| Compartmentation
Subdivision of a building by fire-resisting walls and/or floors for the purpose of limiting fire spread within the building |
| Competent person
Person, suitably trained and qualified by knowledge and practical experience, and provided with the necessary instructions, to enable the required task(s) to be carried out correctly
NOTE: The relevant fire safety legislation requires nomination of various competent persons to carry out a number of different defined tasks. |
| Dead end
Area from which escape from fire is possible in one direction only, or in directions less than 45 degrees apart that are not separated by fire-resisting construction |
| Dry fire main
Water supply pipe installed in a building for fire-fighting purposes, fitted with inlet connections at the fire and rescue service access level, and with landing valves at specified points, which is normally dry but is capable of being charged with water, usually by pumping from fire and rescue service appliances |
| Emergency escape lighting
Part of the emergency lighting that provides illumination for the safety of people leaving a location or attempting to terminate a potentially dangerous process before doing so. |
| Emergency lighting
Lighting provided for use when the supply to the normal lighting fails. |
| Escape route
Route forming part of the means of escape from any point in a building to a final exit |
| Escape time
Time from ignition until the time at which all the occupants of a building, or a specified part of a building, are able to reach a place of safety |
| Evacuation lift
Lift that may be used for the evacuation of disabled occupants in a fire under the direction of management or fire-fighters |
