Fire Risk Assessments

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the Order) applies to caravan/mobile and park home sites.

It applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including certain types of caravan sites:

All sites with common or shared parts (which are most sites), and
Individual caravans which are holiday-let type for example they are rented out

On these sites the licence holder has a duty to undertake a fire risk assessment and decide what prevention and protection arrangements are appropriate and adequate to mitigate the identified risks.

There are some sites around the country which do not need a fire risk assessment. These include single unit sites and those sites which are occupied by single family groups.

The Communities and Local Government website contains a range of helpful information on fire safety and the requirements of the Fire Safety Order

This is a Health and Safety Checklist for reference when carrying out your risk assessment / assessment review to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Typical hazards associated with caravan, park/mobile/home and camping sites and example control measures.

(Please note: the following provides examples, it is not intended as an exhaustive list of areas to consider or a list of all potential hazards and controls relevant to your site. It is provided as an aide and information source to refer to when carrying out your site specific assessment.)

Static park, mobile homes or caravans

Topic Area	Example Hazards	Example control measures
Siting and removing of static caravans	Fatality/serious injury Musculoskeletal disorders	Plan for siting / removing caravans/homes Staff training and supervision Agreed procedure with contractors, including risk assessment Exclude members of public from work area (ideally move caravans when site is closed)

Site layout

Topic Area	Example Hazards	Example control measures
Layout of: Holiday lets Owner occupied Touring Caravans Camping Pods Tents	Fire risk	Adequate separation between units - Including controls on the construction of decking between units according to site licence conditions and fire risk assessment No combustible sheds or other structures within the separation distance No combustible storage beneath caravans or decking Vegetation kept cut back Fire hose reels and extinguishers provided in accordance with site licence conditions Maintenance regime for fire fighting equipment, including frost protection

Topic Area

Example Hazards

Example control measures

Layout of:

Holiday lets
Owner occupied
Touring Caravans
Camping Pods
Tents

Fire risk

Adequate separation between units - Including controls on the construction of decking between units according to site licence conditions and fire risk assessment
No combustible sheds or other structures within the separation distance
No combustible storage beneath caravans or decking
Vegetation kept cut back
Fire hose reels and extinguishers provided in accordance with site licence conditions
Maintenance regime for fire fighting equipment, including frost protection

Camping pods

Topic Area	Example Hazards	Example control measures
Use	Carbon monoxide (CO)	Notices within pods that no gas heaters, naked flames or BBQs allowed within pods Advice given to pod users at booking and on arrival, advice displayed on site and at retail point where BBQs sold. For further information see links below

Tents or caravans

Topic Area	Example Hazards	Example control measures
Use	Carbon Monoxide (CO)	Advice displayed on site and at retail point where BBQs sold of dangers of Carbon Monoxide

Site services (for park, mobile home or caravan sites)

Topic Area	Example Hazards	Example control measures
Electrical installation and equipment	Electric shock and burns	Regular visual checks for damage to installations, including hook ups and equipment Electrical testing and inspection reports up-to-date, in compliance with site licence conditions Work undertaken by competent person conversant with statutory requirements e.g. NICEIC or ECA contractor Isolation of abandoned pitches Regular Residual Current Device (RCD) checks
Overhead electric cables	Electrocution	Overhead lines insulated, anti climb devices fitted Warning notices displayed Advice given to site users
Gas	Gas leak/explosion Carbon monoxide poisoning	Replace old or perished gas hoses Annual gas safety checks of site boilers, water heaters etc and equipment in holiday lets by Gas Safe Installer registered to work on LPG on caravan sites

LPG

Topic Area	Example Hazards	Example control measures
LPG storage	Gas leak/ explosion/fire	Compound for storage of new and used gas cylinders: Suitably sited - away from buildings and drain gullies Kept locked Free from overgrown vegetation Adequate size to meet site requirements (no stacking of cylinders) No cylinder storage outside the cage Warning signage displayed No smoking

Topic Area

Example Hazards

Example control measures

LPG storage

Gas leak/ explosion/fire

Compound for storage of new and used gas cylinders:

Suitably sited - away from buildings and drain gullies
Kept locked
Free from overgrown vegetation
Adequate size to meet site requirements (no stacking of cylinders)
No cylinder storage outside the cage
Warning signage displayed
No smoking

Roadways and footpaths

Topic Area	Example Hazards	Example control measures
Pedestrian safety	slips and trips collision with vehicles	Maintain access roads and footpaths in good repair Speed limits imposed Pedestrian routes clearly marked Provide handrails to steps Lighting of footways as necessary Clearly marked road system Separate pedestrians from vehicles where possible
Traffic routes	Vehicles - collision	Clearly marked traffic route, no obstructions Speed limit applied Adequate road width or one-way system in place
Winter conditions	Icy/snowy conditions	Treatment of road and footpaths as appropriate Signage

Amenity blocks

Topic Area	Example Hazards	Example control measures
Floors	Slips/trips	Slip resistant flooring Adequate cleaning procedures Signage for wet or slippery floors
Water temperature	Scalding from hot water	Thermostatic control valves at water outlets Warning signage
Legionella	Legionella risk	Boiler maintenance according to manufacturers instructions Run all showers and other fittings weekly to avoid water stagnating Dismantle and clean shower heads at least quarterly Remove redundant pipe work Keep water cisterns covered, insulated and free of debris
Laundry room	Electric shock/physical injury	Ensure safety of electrical equipment Interlocks fitted to washing machines, dryers etc.

Leisure

Topic Area	Example Hazards	Example control measures
Play Areas	Slips, trips and falls	Regular safety checks of equipment and surrounding area Suitable floor surface material, replaced or repaired as necessary Safe access route to the playground Exclusion of animals Safety signage displayed e.g. supervision by parents, age restrictions and zones
Spa Pools / Hot Tubs	Legionella Risk of other infections	Staff training in pool management Effective water treatment Water sampling programme Instructions to users

Asbestos

Topic Area	Example Hazards	Example control measures
Asbestos containing material	Asbestos related disease	Find out whether there are any materials containing asbestos on the site and, if so, where it is and what condition it is in. If in doubt, materials must be presumed to contain asbestos assess the risk make a plan to manage that risk and act on it

Grounds maintenance

Topic Area	Example Hazards	Example control measures
Grounds Maintenance	Chemical poisoning	Safe use of grass cutting and other equipment Trained staff Equipment maintenance
	Physical injury	Safe use of grass cutting and other equipment Trained staff Equipment maintenance

Conflicting site uses

Topic Area	Example Hazards	Example control measures
Conflicting site uses	Collision or accident	Other activities kept separate from the caravan site

Possible other site features

Topic Area	Example Hazards	Example control measures
Steep slopes/ sudden changes in level	Slips trips and falls	Fencing as appropriate Warning signage Advice to site users
Watercourses	Drowning Flood risk	Fencing as appropriate Warning signage Advice to site users
Ticks	Lyme Disease	Information provided on site.