Book Description

This guide provides practical information on assessing the risk of fire and enhancing the security of places of worship of all faiths. It is aimed at everyone who is responsible for the care and safety of those who worship and those who visit, whether they are employed or volunteers, as well as their property and the place of worship’s assets. It identifies the important issues, and encourages an approach in which good fire safety and security practice become familiar and normal to the team. All places of worship have to comply with fire and health and safety legislation and, with responsibility for premises becoming more and more onerous, doing nothing is no longer an option.

From the Foreword: This publication will be invaluable to all those who have responsibility for the care, not just of the fabric of places of worship, but also for the safety of those who worship in them, visit them, and work in them as employees or volunteers. & As the leading faith insurer in the UK, Ecclesiastical strongly recommend that all those with responsibility for places of worship follow this guidance.

Pages: 96

Format: 246 x 189 mm, paperback

Illustrations: 6 line drawings, 45 colour photos

Contents
Foreword by Chris Hawkings, Ecclesiastical Insurance
1 Introduction
Aims of this guide. Places of worship and the law (Fire safety regulations. Security regulations)
2 Fire safety
How fires start and spread (Common causes of fire. Materials that fuel fire. How fires spread and what kills). Fire safety management (Fire safety tasks). Fire risk assessment. Fire safety training (Minimising the risk of fire. If a fire occurs). The Fire Emergency Plan. Communicating the fire-safety message. Fire-safety features (Passive fire protection. Active, or automatic, fire protection. Fire fighting equipment). Escaping from fire. How safe is your place of worship? Fire safety checklist
3 Security
Security and understanding crime (Terrorist activity. Assault. Robbery and armed robbery. Theft by those who use your building. Theft of property by the team. Theft from team members. Burglary. Vandalism. Arson. Computer crime). Organising security in order to reduce crime (Your role in the management of security). The walk-through (What is a walk through? Carrying out the walk through). Responding to the findings of your walk-through (Improving the local environment. CCTV and the law. The exterior - deterring criminals. The interior - the importance of training; security inside the building). Special considerations (Addressing the threat of terrorism. Tackling arson). Security management - a suggested approach (Who manages security? Crime review. Security risk assessment. Security emergency plan). Security checklist (CE marks and certification marks)
Sources of specialist help, advice and training. References