Outchester & Ross Holiday Cottages, Northumberland: Holiday Information

Visit Britain - Fire Risk Assessments

Address of Property Assessed
Holiday Cottages at Outchester & Ross Farms, Belford, Northumberland

Person Undertaking the Assessment
Mr JB Sutherland, Partner

Date of Assessment
24 February 2015

Fire Risk Assessment

Step 1 - Identify Fire Hazards and Fire Risks
1.1 Sources of Ignition

a) Electrical - Wiring and Appliances
Periodic inspection of electrical installations (due every 5 years) carried out in March 2015.
All appliances are subject to an annual inspection.

b) Cooking - Especially Deep-Fat Frying
1. Full Instructions for electric ovens and hobs are in folders on site.
2. The ovens and hobs are cleaned on a regular basis.

c) Smoking
All the cottages are subject to a strict no-smoking policy.

d) Candles
Candleholders are provided.

e) Heaters and Boilers
The three Coastguard Cottages are each heated by night-store heaters and the domestic hot water by electric immersion heaters. East and West Coastguard cottages each have an electric fire in the sitting room and are subject to an annual test. All the other cottages are heated by oil boilers for both central heating and domestic hot water. All the oil boilers are subject to an annual test, and there is an electric stove in the sitting room (covered under (a) above).

f) Open Fires
There is an open fire in Wagtail Cottage. A fire-guard is provided and all guests should use it.

g) Others
No other sources of ignition in the property.

1.2. Fuel Present
The oil tanks are all external and at a distance from the properties. The coal store at Wagtail is on the far side of the adjacent car park area. There is no other fuel.

h) Elements of Structure
The older cottages are all built of brick and the more recent ones based on timber frames were all constructed under the control of the Building Regulations in force at that time.

Furniture and Furnishings
The furniture complies with safety requirements.

j) Domestic Waste
Domestic waste is held in metal containers and emptied on a regular basis

k) Other items - e.g. petrol for lawnmowers, cleaning materials etc
No petrol or inflammable cleaning materials stored.

1.3. Activities that might cause a fire, including work processes / procedures etc.
Risk from cooking - but no more than normal.
Children playing with matches.
Candles left unattended.
Each of above depends on care exercised by guests.

Step 2 - Identify Persons at Risk
2.1 Number of guests
People in and around the premises. The cottages are equipped to sleep between two to six persons. Some may be small children or elderly.

2.2. Number of Staff / Employees.
No employees under 18.

Step 3 - Evaluate the Risks
3.1. Means of escape
a) Detail the type of property:
They are all holiday cottages.
b) Detail the number of exit doors and where they are:
There is one exit / entrance door at each cottage. Coastguard Lodge and each of the eight cottages at 7EB have an opening French window in the sitting room.

3.2. The fire alarm and fire detection
c) Describe what fire alarm and fire detectors have been provided:
Smoke alarms are fitted to all cottages.

3.3. Fire fighting equipment :
d) Detail what fire extinguishers/blankets are provided and where they are.
There is a fire extinguisher in the entrance hall.
There is a fire blanket in the kitchen

3.4. Escape lighting
e) Detail areas covered by emergency lighting (if any):
A torch is provided

3.5. Evacuation procedure
f) Describe the evacuation procedures:
In case of fire occupants must leave the building. Each of Skylark, Sandpiper amd Oystercatcher has a side hung window adjacent the bedrooms, as does Badgers in the double bedroom.
Having got all their party out of the cottage, guests should call 999 and give the farm address, and alert adjacent cottages and the owners.

Created: 24 February 2015

Address of Property Assessed
The Ducket, Outchester, Belford, Northumberland, NE70 7ED

Person Undertaking the Assessment
Mr JB Sutherland, Partner

Date of Assessment 24 February 2015

Step 1 - Identify Fire Hazards and Fire Risks

1.1 Sources of ignition
a) Electrical - wiring and appliances
New Installation. Installation Certificate signed by qualified electrical contractor - dated 13th June 2008.

b) Cooking - especially deep-fat frying
1. Full Instructions for Hotpoint Cooker in folder on site
2. Still as new - but will be cleaned on a regular basis.

c) Smoking
It is subject to a strict no-smoking policy.

d) Candles
Candleholders are provided.

e) Heaters and boilers
The property has underfloor heating - that and the domestic hot water are heated by a ground source heat pump.
There is one built-in electric stove in the sitting room - subject to an annual test .

f) Open fires
There are no open fires.

g) Others
No other sources of ignition in the property.

1.2. Fuel present
No fuel present.
.
h) Elements of structure
The walls are thick solid stone
The stairs are oak treads on a metal spine.
The floors are supported by steel beams, wooden joists with concrete laid over the underfloor heating pipes.
There is one wooden door - for the bathroom

Furniture and furnishings
The furniture complies with safety requirements.

j) Domestic waste
Domestic waste is held in metal containers and emptied on a regular basis

k) Other items - e.g. petrol for lawnmowers, cleaning materials etc
No petrol or inflammable cleaning materials stored

1.3. Activities that might cause a fire, including work processes/procedures etc.
Risk from cooking - but no more than normal.
No children accepted.

Step 2 - Identify Persons at Risk

2.1 Number of guests
Property is for 2 persons.
No children or babies
Property is not suitable for persons with disabilities

2.2. Number of staff / employees
No employees under 18.

Step 3 - Evaluate the Risks

3.1. Means of escape
a) Detail the type of property:
The property has first, second and third floors - with an extension to the library.

b) Detail the number of exit doors and where they are:
There is one exit & entrance door.
The bedroom has a window for exit as per the original planning requirements and a flexible fire escape ladder is provided in a box under the bed.

3.2. The fire alarm and fire detection
c) Describe what fire alarm and fire detectors have been provided:
Smoke alarms are fitted.
An automatic sprinkler system is installed.

3.3. Fire fighting equipment
d) Detail what fire extinguishers/blankets are provided and where they are.
There is a fire extinguisher in the entrance hall and another in the kitchen.
There is a fire blanket in the kitchen

3.4. Escape lighting
e) Detail areas covered by emergency lighting (if any):
A torch is provided

3.5. Evacuation procedure
f) Describe the evacuation procedures :
In case of fire occupants must leave the building.

Created: 24 February 2015