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Waste Fire Prevention Plan Guidance

Waste Fire Prevention Plan Guidance

Fire Prevention Plans (FPP) are required for waste sites which store combustible waste. The fire prevention plan must set out all the measures you will put in place to reduce the risk of a fire breaking out at your permitted site.

Key Points

When you need an FPP

Fire Prevention Plans are a prevention tool against Fire at your permitted waste site. The plan must be put in place and followed if you store and/or treat combustible waste.

Combustible waste includes (but not limited to)  wood , rubber , paper , cardboard , textiles , metals , plastics , RDF , SRF , compost , mixed waste containing combustibles and WEEE.

New and existing permits

You will need to provide an FPP to the Environment Agency when making a new permit application , varying a permit , transferring a permit , after a fire incident and if the EA deem your site to be at a risk of a fire incident.

Enforcement

The Environment Agency may take enforcement action if you do not put in place and use your Fire Prevention Plan measures. If you are unsure whether you need a Fire Prevention Plan , you can contact us for advice.

Fire Prevention Plan objectives

Fire Prevention Plans (FPP) are a requirement when storing and treating combustible waste.

The 3 main objectives of a Fire Prevention Plan are to:


  • minimise the likelyhood of a fire happening
  • aim for a fire to be extinhuished within 4 hours
  • minimise the spread of fire within the site and to the neighbouring sites.


The highest priority objective is to minimise the likelyhood of a fire to prevent environmental harm.


The Environment Agency have published Fire Prevention Plan Guidance which can be used to create your plan. However , FPPs are also a service which we offer.

Who needs a Fire Prevention Plan?

Waste site operators who store any amount of combustible waste will need to have a Fire Prevention Plan in place.

You will need to provide a Fire Prevention Plan for approval when applying for an Environmental Permit if you intend to store combusitble waste.


Sectors the Fire Prevention Plan guidance applies to include:

  • waste metals (ELV and scrap metals)
  • non-hazardous waste
  • WEEE (both hazardous and non-hazardous)


The guidance will also apply to the below sectors , but not all activities may not have to be included in the FPP :

  • agriculture (intensive farming only)
  • biowaste treatment (open windrow , in-vessel composting , and dry anerobic digestion)
  • cement lime and minerals
  • combustion
  • incineration
  • paper and pulp


Key takeaways

Fire Preventions Plans should be a standalone document which is part of your site Management System. All staff must be able to easily find and refer to it.

If safe to do so , you should show your Fire Prevention Plan to the Fire and Rescue Service.

Staff must be trained to fully understand the Fire Prevention Plan and what they must do to prevent a fire and during a fire if one breaks out.

Information which you need to include in your Fire Prevention Plan (FPP)

This a summarised list of information which you need to include in your plan. It is important that the full guidance provided by the Environment Agency is followed.

  • Details of activities you carry out at your site (where they are , how you do them and machinery used) . This should be all activities which could be a fire risk.


  • Site Plans drawn to scale where items can be clearly identified. The site plan needs to include (but not limited to) - building layouts , hazardous and flammable material storage , permanent ignition sources , areas where combustible waste or non-waste combustibles are treated or stored , separation distances , storage location of combustible liquid waste , main access routes for emergency vehicles , perimeter access points to assist fire fighting , hydrants and water supplies , drainage , waste storage pile dimensions and fire walls , fixed and mobile plant locations , location of spill kits and quarantine area(s).


  • Sensitive Receptor Map , showing sensitive receptors within a 1km radius which could be affected by fire. Sensitive receptors include (but not limited to) - schools , hospitals , nursing and care homes , residential areas , workplaces , protected habitats , watercourses , groundwater , boreholes  , well and springs , roads , railways , bus stations , pylons , utilities and airports.


  • Measures to manage the common causes of fire including - Arson , plant and equipment , electrical faults , discarded smoking materials , hot works , industrial heaters , ignition sources , batteries , leaks and spillages , build up of loose dust and fluff , reactions between wastes , hot loads , hot and dry weather.


  • Measures to prevent self combustion of waste including - Management of storage times , temperature control , bale store , ELV bales.


  • Management of waste piles - showing the waste will be stored to meet Environment Agency Guidance or reasoning behind why your activities do not meet the criteria.


  • Measures to prevent a fire spreading - including details of separation distances and / or fire bays and walls.


  • Quarantine area - details of where you can store burning waste or unburnt waste. Details should include where the area is and how you will make sure this is free at all times.


  • Fire detection procedures - including equipment used to detect fires during operational and out of hours.


  • Fire suppression systems - Details of what the system is and whether it is automated or manual. Fire suppression systems should be able to extinguish a fire within 4 hours.


  • Firefighting Techniques - Details of how the design of your site will allow for a fire to be extinguished within 4 hours through active fire fighting. Techniques can include applying water to cool unburnt materials , separation of unburnt materials from the fire and seperating buring material from the fire. You will also need to show you have adequate resources including plant machinery to move waste around , staff , water supplies and finances.


  • Access to water supplies - details of adequate water supplies to be able to extinguish a fire within 4 hours.


  • Management of fire water - details of how fire water will be contained on site to prevent environmental harm and how the fire water will be disposed of.



  • Contingency measures during and after a fire - including diverting incoming waste to other sites , how you will notify those who may be affected by the fire , how you will clear and decontaminate the site and steps which will need to be taken to become operational again.



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