When I carry out fire risk assessments in Glasgow commercial properties, I often find the same problems. Most are not major structural faults. Instead, they are everyday issues that have been missed or left unresolved.
Good commercial fire safety in Glasgow depends on clear escape routes, working fire doors, reliable equipment and trained staff. However, small management failures can weaken these measures.
Common examples include blocked exits, damaged fire doors and missing test records. Staff may also be unsure about what to do during an emergency.
Here are five common fire safety failures I find in Glasgow commercial premises.
The fire risk assessment is missing or out of date.
Most commercial premises need a suitable fire risk assessment. It should reflect the building, the people using it and the work taking place.
A common issue is an assessment that no longer matches the premises. The layout may have changed, staff numbers may have increased or new equipment may have been installed.
I also find generic assessments that could apply to almost any building. These documents often miss important details about the actual escape routes, fire doors and risks within the premises.
A suitable assessment should identify how a fire could start. It should also consider who may be at risk and whether the current precautions are adequate.
The action plan is just as important as the assessment itself. Any recommendations should have clear priorities and realistic timescales.
Businesses should review the assessment after significant changes. This includes building work, layout changes, new equipment or changes to how the premises operate.
Escape routes are obstructed or final exits are difficult to use.
Escape routes should remain clear whenever the premises are occupied. However, they can quickly become convenient storage areas.
Stock, deliveries, furniture and cleaning equipment may reduce the available width. Even a small obstruction can make evacuation more difficult.
This is especially important in older Glasgow commercial properties. Many have narrow corridors, basement areas or converted layouts.
Final exit doors should also open easily from the inside. Staff should not need to find a key or move stock before they can leave.
The area outside the final exit must remain clear as well. People need enough space to move away from the building safely.
I recommend checking all escape routes during the normal opening routine. Staff should confirm that routes are clear and final exits open correctly.
These checks only take a few minutes. As a result, small problems can be corrected before they create a serious risk.
Fire doors are wedged open or do not close properly.
Fire doors help restrict the spread of smoke and fire. They protect escape routes and can provide additional time for people to leave safely.
A common issue is a fire door that has been wedged open for convenience. I also find doors with damaged closers, missing latches, large gaps or objects preventing them from reaching the frame.
A door that does not close fully cannot provide the protection expected from it. Fire doors should be checked regularly to confirm they close from any position, fit properly into the frame and are free from obvious damage.
Where a door needs to remain open during normal use, an appropriate automatic hold-open device connected to the fire alarm may sometimes provide a suitable solution. An ordinary wedge is not an acceptable replacement.
Staff should understand why the door is there. When people know that it protects their escape route, they are more likely to report a defect rather than continuing to work around it.
Testing and maintenance records are incomplete.
Many Glasgow businesses have fire alarms, emergency lighting and extinguishers in place but cannot show when they were last tested or maintained. Equipment being present does not confirm that it will operate correctly during an emergency.
Routine checks should be recorded in a fire safety logbook or another clear system. Records may include fire alarm tests, emergency lighting checks, extinguisher maintenance, fire drills and any faults or repairs.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service may review these documents during a fire safety audit. It may also look for evidence that fire detection, emergency lighting, firefighting equipment, electrical wiring and portable appliances have been tested by a competent person where appropriate.
Responsibility can become unclear in rented or shared properties. A landlord may maintain the communal alarm and emergency lighting, while an individual tenant manages equipment and procedures within their own unit.
These responsibilities should be agreed and recorded. Businesses should also keep copies of relevant certificates rather than assuming the landlord or contractor will always be able to provide them quickly.
Staff have not received suitable fire safety training.
A good fire alarm and clear escape routes will only go so far if staff do not know what to do. Employees should understand how to raise the alarm, where the exits are, where to assemble and who is responsible for checking that areas have been evacuated.
Training should reflect the actual workplace. Staff in a nursery, retail unit or restaurant may face different risks and evacuation challenges from those working in a small office.
Fire drills help confirm whether the arrangements work in practice. They can identify issues such as staff using the wrong exit, assembly points being unclear or nobody taking responsibility for visitors and contractors.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service may speak to employees during an audit to check their awareness of the procedures. It may also examine training and drill records, including who received training, when it was completed and what was covered.
New staff should receive fire safety information when they start. Refresher training should then be provided regularly and when procedures, layouts or risks change.
Keeping Glasgow commercial properties safe.
These five problems are common, but they are often straightforward to correct. Regular checks, clear responsibilities and an up-to-date fire risk assessment can stop small issues from becoming serious failures.
I provide practical fire risk assessments, fire safety training and consultation for commercial properties across Glasgow. Each service is tailored to the premises and the people who use it.
To arrange a commercial fire risk assessment, staff training or a fire safety consultation in Glasgow, get in touch with AMC Fire Safety.