Updated guidance on fire safety for construction sites has recently been circulated for consultation by the Health and Safety Executive.

The draft is a revision of the existing HSG168 document which seeks to provide comprehensive guidance in a single document. It is designed to help clients, designers, project planners and site personnel comply with their legal requirements and reduce the risk and consequences of fire. There are several thousand construction site fires in the UK each year.

The structure of the guidance has changed to reflect that of risk assessment guidance produced for other sectors by the Communities and Local Government department, and is divided into two parts:

• Part 1 concentrates on the fire risk assessment and how to carry it out, emphasising that it should be the foundation for all fire precautions on construction sites.
• Part 2 provides further guidance on fire precautions and is designed to be consulted during a fire risk assessment or when reviewing fire precautions. It includes sections on legislation and enforcing authorities, high risk buildings including timber frame, and multi-storey buildings.

The guidance is currently out for consultation with the construction industry advisory committee and other stakeholders. The deadline for comments to be returned to the HSE is 5 February and publication of the revised guidance is expected in the spring.

Last June, revised guidance for high risk construction sites such as timber frame projects or high rise buildings was published jointly by the Fire Protection Association and the Construction Confederation.