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Welcome to the EuroPris Knowledge Management System. The table below shows questions and responses from European National Agencies. Select a question for more information or use the filters on the left to narrow down questions based on Agency or Category.
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Introduction: The Ministry of Justice, DG for Prisons and Detention Houses, are conducting a research on innovative practices for fire incidents taking place in prisons. They intend to learn about the relevant systems implemented in European countries. Thus, it is requested that you answer the questions specified below.
All prisoners are given fire safety awareness induction as part of the committal process. Prisoners are also subject to disciplinary charges and in some cases court proceedings; Prison issue bedding material is source 7 compliant were appropriate; Prison made furniture is coated with intumescent paints or varnishes; Supplied furniture’s is to Home Office standards; The accommodation blocks are subject to annual fire evacuation fire drills. Any accidental fire within the prison environment is dealt with by the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service. Alarm raised and transmitted to the Emergency Control Room, seat of fire evacuated and Brigade escorted in to deal with incident local fire officers can offer limited assistance.
What kind of warning system do you have when a fire breaks out in prison?There is smoke detection systems fitted to the cell arrangement either in the ventilation ducts or directly outside cell doors; There is a large number of accommodation blocks now fitted with sprinkler system this is now a standard feature on all new builds the activation of the sprinkler system also acts as an alarm; There are good sight lines and lighting in all accommodation blocks that enable the staff to spot smoke coming from under cell doors at an early stage.
What are your fire extinguishing systems and intervention practices in place when a fire breaks out in prisons?The fire alarm will sound either by the smoke alarm being activated or the sprinkler system being activated. The Emergency Control Room will automatically call the Fire Brigade and task the local Prison Service Fire Precautions Officer if on duty; In the event of an in cell fire which is the most common occurrence the staff will don Cell Snatch Rescue Sets (CSRE) and then remove the inundation bung from the centre of the cell door and inundate with the fire hose; The CSRE sets are purchased from SEMCCO and have been developed in liaison with Health & Safety Executive, National Offender Management System and Irish Prison Service. They are also deployed in these jurisdictions; Once the fire is brought under control or if there is an imminent threat to life the cell door is carefully opened and the prisoner invited to step out if the prisoner threatens violence then the door is secured until there are sufficient staff to extract them. If the prisoner is unconscious then 2 members of staff wearing the CSRE sets will go into the cell and extract the prisoner.
Is there any institution with which you cooperate on intervention to fire in prisons, or else does a prison have its own equipment(tool)?We would liase with our local fire authority which is the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS). They would be invited on to our sites in order to familiarise fire crews with the Prison environment. On attending a fire scene they would be escorted from the prison gate to the scene of the fire their Fire Crew Commander would attend our Emergency Control Room; We have our Civil Service Architectural Services, Fire Safety Unit who advise on requirements for new builds or change of use. They also provide us with Fire Risk Assessments on an annual review for accommodation units, a 3 year review for office accommodation and 6 year review for plant room and boiler rooms; We can also bring them in for a detailed report to a fire incident should it be necessary.
Is there a team composed of the staff of a prison in order to search-rescue in natural disasters such as earthquake, flood and fire?There are dedicated local fire officers at each establishment their duties include staff training in the use of the CSRE sets and procedures for fighting an in-cell fire. As trainers they are revalidated every 2 years by SEMMCO the CSRE supplier; That means that every member of our discipline staff is trained in fire safety procedures they normally get refresher training every 2 years; Contractors deal with the maintenance and response to faults in our Fire Panels and also Smoke Detection and Sprinklers Systems under our Facilities Management Contract.
If a prison has its own team, how are the training and certification procedures of team members?The other duties of the local fire officers include the maintenance checks on fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, fire hoses, fire hydrants, smoke detectors and the CSRE sets they also maintain the local fire orders for each establishment; The local fire precautions officers at each establishment also assist hose management in the completion of local fire incident reports which are then reviewed by the Northern Ireland Prison Service Headquarters Health and Safety Adviser who has also attained the qualifications set out below. He can also call on the expertise of the Civil Service, Architectural Services, Fire Safety Unit if required; The training for these functions includes a Service & Maintenance for Fire Extinguishers 1 day course, the NEBOSH Fire Risk Management 5 day course, the SEMMCO Train the Trainer course (every 2 years). In line with these qualifications they are all members of the Institute of Fire Prevention.
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Prevention of fires results from the legislation on the fire protection in the Slovak Republic, mainly observe requirements of fire safety when manipulating with flammable substances and flame supporting substances, with technical means containing flammable substances or flame supporting substances, as well as when laying and storing them, observe technical means and requirements of fire safety when installing fuel appliances, electro-heat appliances and central heating appliances and in case of construction of chimneys and flues, ensure regular cleaning and control of chimneys, ensure training and examination of knowledge of employees on protection against fires, carry out preventive fire inspections and remove the deficiencies and the like.
What kind of warning system do you have when a fire breaks out in prison?Prison objects are equipped with fire detection and fire alarm system appliances with automatic fire detectors and push-button fire alarms. Technical means (hooter, communication system) or a determined person shall inform on fire and possible evacuation.
What are your fire extinguishing systems and intervention practices in place when a fire breaks out in prisons?Fire alarm instructions are processed that regulate the acting of a person when observing fire in a prison and steps that are to be taken, namely way of notification on the fire to the fire-alarm, how to extinguish fire, take necessary measures for rescue of persons, animals and property, contacts of the sections of the Integrated Rescue System of the Slovak Republic (police, fire brigade, rescue service), assistant service (gas-office, power station, water supply). Fire evacuation plan is processed on the evacuation of persons, animals and property. Training fire alarms take place once a year in prison objects and at least once a 5 years common fire trainings with the Fire and Rescue Brigade take place where the processed procedures are evaluated as well.
Is there any institution with which you cooperate on intervention to fire in prisons, or else does a prison have its own equipment(tool)?The Corps of Prison and Court Guard cooperates with the Fire and Rescue Brigade and other sections of the Integrated Rescue System of the Slovak Republic. The Corps disposes of its own trained and equipped workers for settlement of extraordinary situations.
Is there a team composed of the staff of a prison in order to search-rescue in natural disasters such as earthquake, flood and fire?Yes
If a prison has its own team, how are the training and certification procedures of team members?Training and certification procedures of the fire crew members result from the internal legislation. The elementary professional training of the fire crew members - once a month 8 hours; specialized professional training of the fire crew members – in cooperation with the Fire and Rescue Brigade in the extent 40 hours a year usually in the simulators of the Training centre of the Fire and Rescue Brigade in Lešť.
Control measures: Control of ignition sources i.e. restricted or no access to cigarette lighters, Portable Appliance Testing, Fixed Electrical wiring tests, heat generating processes, maintenance. Control of fire loading i.e. restrictions on quantities of combustible materials, fire retardency requirements for cell bedding and furnishings, controls on internal and external fire spread in accordance with the Building Regulations, fire sterile escape routes, control of waste products in and adjacent to buildings, housekeeping. Control of oxygen cylinders and oxidisers. Arson reduction strategies Sanctions for fire starting including referral to Police for prosecution.
What kind of warning system do you have when a fire breaks out in prison?Prisons in England and Wales are equipped with a mix of fully automatic addressable fire detection and warning systems augmented, if necessary, by standalone smoke detection devices. A series of manual fire alarm call points are positioned within buildings. Automatic fire detection is interfaced with other life safety systems such as smoke ventilation. In addition, each cell is fitted with a 'cell call' device which enables the prisoner to alert custodians in the event of an emergency, i.e. such as a fire.
What are your fire extinguishing systems and intervention practices in place when a fire breaks out in prisons?Prisons in England and Wales are equipped with pressurised watermist equipment which is the primary medium for manually tackling cell fires safely though an inundation port in the cell door. A 'defend in-place' fire fighting strategy. Fire tests conducted with BRE Global Ltd have proven the exceptional performance of watermist in suppressing cell fires whilst maintaining tenability in the fire zone. An assessment of hazard to life and health from fire has indicated that watermist must be applied to a cell fire within 5 minutes of fire being detected to ensure exposure doses for cell occupant(s) to heat and toxic gases (fire effluent) do not exceed accepted FED/ FIC limits. Interventions practices for cell fires are encapsulated in the Cell Fire Safe System of Work- underpinned by the requirement for all operational staff to undertake cell fire training at least once per annum. The training includes; first on scene, raising the alarm, dynamic risk assessment, use of respiratory protective equipment, inundation with water, safe removal of occupant(s).
Is there any institution with which you cooperate on intervention to fire in prisons, or else does a prison have its own equipment(tool)?The Building Research Establishment (BRE) Global Ltd Health and Safety Executive Laboratories Fire and Rescue Authorities
Is there a team composed of the staff of a prison in order to search-rescue in natural disasters such as earthquake, flood and fire?Fire- all operational prison staff are trained in the Cell Fire Safe System of Work which includes safe entry to cells using respiratory protective equipment.
If a prison has its own team, how are the training and certification procedures of team members?Annual fire training recorded on a national training data base.
For the purpose of fire prevention, the Prison System of the Republic of Croatia conducts permanent training in fire protection of prison officials and prisons and for that purpose a series of measures and instructions were adopted. Prisoners have metal beds. Prisoners can posess lighters which are allowed while executing their sentences, but are detained when executing special measures to maintain order and security and disciplinary measures. Criminal bodies that have workshops in which flammable substances and things are used, have officers who are obliged to take fire-fighting measures and to take care of of fire-fighting equipment.
What kind of warning system do you have when a fire breaks out in prison?Criminal bodies have fire alarm systems and officials in prisons which constantly monitor facilities and areas where prisoners live, work and move. Indicated obligation is one of the fire-fighting measures.
What are your fire extinguishing systems and intervention practices in place when a fire breaks out in prisons?The fire extinguishing system consists of fire alarm devices, fire extinguishers and hydrant networks with fire extinguishers. In cases of fire in criminal bodies, the primary task of a officials is to detain prisoners and officials at the fire place and start firefighting, and if necessary, to call a professional firefighting unit.
Is there any institution with which you cooperate on intervention to fire in prisons, or else does a prison have its own equipment(tool)?Prisons and penitentiary have their own firefighting equipment as already mentioned in answer to Question 3, but in case of more complex fire and fire recovery it is necessary to call a professional firefighters.
Is there a team composed of the staff of a prison in order to search-rescue in natural disasters such as earthquake, flood and fire?A special team of prison staff involved in search and rescue in the event of natural disasters such as flood, earthquake and fire does not exist.
If a prison has its own team, how are the training and certification procedures of team members?Fireproof beds and curtains in the cells. The departments are equipped with fire extinguishers and fire hoses.
What kind of warning system do you have when a fire breaks out in prison?Fire alarm system plays an alarm sound.
What are your fire extinguishing systems and intervention practices in place when a fire breaks out in prisons?In new prisons there are sprinklers and in old prisons fire extinguishing equipment mentioned above.
Is there any institution with which you cooperate on intervention to fire in prisons, or else does a prison have its own equipment(tool)?Initial fire extinguishing happens in prison by the staff and local fire department continues from that as they arrive.
Is there a team composed of the staff of a prison in order to search-rescue in natural disasters such as earthquake, flood and fire?Only what is mentioned above.
If a prison has its own team, how are the training and certification procedures of team members?-
In Norway, we follow the standard fire safety advices for fire prevention in prisons. This means advices concerning use of electricity, open fire (candles) and smoking. The prisons have flame retardant bedding and curtains. Furthermore, the amount of personal effects are restricted.
What kind of warning system do you have when a fire breaks out in prison?We use different kinds of smoke detectors, both optical and ionization.
What are your fire extinguishing systems and intervention practices in place when a fire breaks out in prisons?In the Norwegian prisons there are all kinds of fire extinguishing systems, also sprinkler systems in our newest prisons. Furthermore, evacuations plans are in place and regular trainings, which include prisoners, are mandatory.
Is there any institution with which you cooperate on intervention to fire in prisons, or else does a prison have its own equipment(tool)?All the prisons have a cooperation with the local fire department. To what extent there are fire extinguishing equipment in the prison will depend on different factors, as type of the prison and the prisons distance to the local fire department (response time).
Is there a team composed of the staff of a prison in order to search-rescue in natural disasters such as earthquake, flood and fire?There are teams in some prisons with light oxygen mask, but there are fire-breathing apparatus in one prison only. This due to time of response.
If a prison has its own team, how are the training and certification procedures of team members?The local Fire department facilitate the necessary support.
Regarding the decorative items and the furniture, in most cases, the furniture is made of wood and in some prisons, it is made of metal and is permanently anchored in the walls and the ground of the cells. The heat load of the cells often varies greatly from one prison to another but sometimes it can be very high, especially in the case of inmates who were sentenced to long prison terms. Indeed year after year they gather a larger number of items that they inevitably store in their cell. Regarding bedding items, the following standards are applied in most Belgian prisons: Blankets (flames, cigarettes and combustion) EN ISO 12952, 1-2-3 and 4 (2010) or M1 (old standard still applied by some suppliers and fire-testing laboratories). Caution: materials that fall under the division M2 are not suitable for the prisons cells. Pillows: BS 6807 part 2 – Crib 7 (1990) High Hazard or BS 5852 part 2 – Crib 5 (limited smoke release – Medium Hazard). Caution: the pillowcases must meet the same standard as the pillow’s core. Mattress (non-ignitable types TB 603/16 CFR 1633): BS 7175 (1989) Crib 5 or EN ISO 12952, 3 and 4 (1998) Crib 7 or BS 6807 part 2 – Crib 7 (1990) (non-fire and blowtorch). Caution: Crib 7 is a standard a lot more well-functioning than Crib 5. Actually the power of the ignition resistance is 8 times superior for a Crib 7-tested mattress than for the Crib 5-tested one. The Crib 7 therefore falls under the High Hazard division. The purchasing procedures for that equipment have been imposing the suppliers to achieve those standards for several years now. When price offers are asked, the non-fire lab tests certificates in compliance with the standards are requested from the suppliers. The cells are considered to be private spaces. Therefore, the inmates are allowed to smoke and to light fires in their cells. Several times a year, fires start due to the smokers’ recklessness or because the inmates themselves commit arsons.
What kind of warning system do you have when a fire breaks out in prison?In the new prison facilities, all the cells are equipped with a smoke detection system that transmits alerts to the prison’s information central station and that enables manual pre activation of the sprinklers system. The other prisons are either only provided with a smoke detection system in the hallways and in some common rooms or with no smoke detection system at all.
What are your fire extinguishing systems and intervention practices in place when a fire breaks out in prisons?Every Belgian prison organizes it as it thinks fit. It depends mostly on the structure of its buildings, on their location on the prison site and on the penitentiary system applied within the prison facility in question. The prison staff present on the spot (cellular) will always be the first to intervene until the members of the “firefighting internal unit” (service interne de lutte contre l’incendie – SLCI) come to the scene (they are also members of the staff who volunteered). If the fire requires a massive intervention and additional means, the local fire department having territorial jurisdiction is immediately called upon. A reception procedure (file/firefighter folder) and an assistance procedure for the firefighters (intervention file) exist. Obviously the members of the staff escort the external firefighters to the fire site so that they can intervene without any inmate being around. The sprinkler systems set up in the prisons are: automatic systems: sprinklers (only in the new prisons), extinguishers suitable for cooking oil fires (collective kitchens), for oil-burner fires (boiler room) and in exceptional cases for the hydraulic compressors of the oil-hydraulic lifts; non-automatic systems: fire-hose stations, indoor and outdoor hydrants, outdoor fire stations (only in large complexes with several separate buildings), hand or portable extinguishers, portable pumps or portable trailer-mounted pumps, firetrucks, etc..
Is there any institution with which you cooperate on intervention to fire in prisons, or else does a prison have its own equipment(tool)?Depending on the fire hazard analysis, the fire protection equipment is determined and wisely set up in the common rooms and spaces of the prison. Therefore each prison has a sufficient quantity of extinguishers, fire-hose stations, indoor and outdoor hydrants, fire stations, and even firetrucks for some prisons. Some of the new prison facilities are also equipped with a smoke detection system, a sprinkler system with a water tank (200 m3), well pump systems, a smoke and heat exhaust system, compartmentalized areas... That equipment is either on a lease that includes maintenance or set up on site and maintained by a competent person who is a member of the prison staff or by a specialized company chosen in according to the criteria of the policy on the public procurement of goods and service within the Belgian federal public services. That equipment is implemented either by the members of the staff or by the members of the “firefighting internal unit” (SLCI).
Is there a team composed of the staff of a prison in order to search-rescue in natural disasters such as earthquake, flood and fire?There is a fire response team and one or more PE leaders. That team is responsible for the evacuation and the PE leader’s task is to guide the rescue services that need a blueprint of the prison. (Prison school (CFPP) Marneffe) There is no rescue team and the debris are not removed from the Belgian prisons in the event of natural disasters of fire (the Belgian regulations do not even impose it). It is one of the tasks of the fire public services having territorial jurisdiction. The employers, such as the prison directors, must provide a “firefighting internal unit” (SLCI) in compliance with the Codex on well-being at work, Book III, Title 3 that is only competent to fight against fire and to put the staff and the inmates in safety. The fire public service is competent for any other intervention or bigger fire.
If a prison has its own team, how are the training and certification procedures of team members?(Prison School (CFPP) Marneffe). The staff receives a one-day training (theory and practice) from a company certified by the Federal Public Service for Employment. Moreover, they also receive a 4-hour refreshment training each year (minimum required by law). Finally, the PE leaders can organize internal exercises in collaboration with the Fire Prevention Unit (SIPP). The training for the PE leaders lasts three days. New training schemes for 2018: a first day (theory and practice) just like the basis training and two mostly theoretical days of training from the Fire Prevention Unit (SIPP). (Prison School (OCPP) Merksplas). Every prison has a First intervention Team and train them to extinguish incipient fires (Codex on Well-being at Work, book III, Title 3, article III.3-8 and attachment III.3-1). The goal of a First Intervention Team is twofold: supporting fire prevention efforts and responding quickly and effectively to incidents. Every member of the first intervention team gets a one day training. During this training they learn what their role and tasks are and get a lot of practical exercises. After the training they get a certificate. We also have also a training for the leaders of the First intervention Team. This training takes 3 days. After the training they get a certificate. Those two trainings are regularly refreshed. Beside this training every First intervention Team do exercises in their own prison. No rescue team or removal of debris in the event of interventions or natural disasters, flood or other (fire) is required by law. Only the fire public services and Civil protection are competent for this.
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Systematic fire protection work (sba): in Sweden there is a requirement to work with fire prevention. The prosecution has clarified how this should be done in its own guidelines. Education: We train all staff about fire and how they prevent fires. Building Fire Protection: Building rules require fire cell division, amount of combustible, surface and long distance walking distance to the nearest fire cell. Extinguishing equipment: The systematic fire protection system controls which and where the extinguishing equipment is placed. The staff are practiced to extinguish the gear. Mattresses: fireproof mattresses are required.
What kind of warning system do you have when a fire breaks out in prison?There is a fire alarm requirement. The employees receive the alarm via the guard, pager and Tetra system.
What are your fire extinguishing systems and intervention practices in place when a fire breaks out in prisons?At new locations there are sprinklers. In all other activities there are hand fire extinguishers and center rollers.
Is there any institution with which you cooperate on intervention to fire in prisons, or else does a prison have its own equipment(tool)?In Sweden there is municipal civil protection service. When building a facility, building rules take into account how fast (distance) to the rescue service. SPPS has only extinguishing equipment according to item 3, otherwise the emergency service takes part.
Is there a team composed of the staff of a prison in order to search-rescue in natural disasters such as earthquake, flood and fire?All staff are trained to handle crises.
If a prison has its own team, how are the training and certification procedures of team members?-
We are equipped with smoke detection systems in both the cells and different points of the prison, we also offer the internal fireproof mattresses and we monitor that the volume of fuel in cells such as clothes or newspaper papers does not normality surpasses.
What kind of warning system do you have when a fire breaks out in prison?The smoke detectors give an alert warning to our Operational Control Center where two officials are guarded, these would be responsible for giving the alert message to firefighters and emergency services. Penitentiary agents in different areas have also received training when and how to give an alert message.
What are your fire extinguishing systems and intervention practices in place when a fire breaks out in prisons?We are equipped with extensible water hoses (BIE), and extinguishers of Powder and CO2, we also have Dry Columns for the maneuver of firefighters inside the prison, each plant we are equipped with three autonomous breathing equipment ( ERA) and we have two graduates in France (ENAP) in salvation and fire that form and recycle biennial to penitentiary agents.
Is there any institution with which you cooperate on intervention to fire in prisons, or else does a prison have its own equipment(tool)?Sporadically we impart practices and training in conjunction with the Andorran Fire Service. We do not have own equipment for intervention in fire.
Is there a team composed of the staff of a prison in order to search-rescue in natural disasters such as earthquake, flood and fire?We do not have our own equipment for natural disasters.
If a prison has its own team, how are the training and certification procedures of team members?No
We are equipped with smoke detection systems in both the cells and different points of the prison, we also offer the internal fireproof mattresses and we monitor that the volume of fuel in cells such as clothes or newspaper papers does not normality surpasses.
What kind of warning system do you have when a fire breaks out in prison?The smoke detectors give an alert warning to our Operational Control Center where two officials are guarded, these would be responsible for giving the alert message to firefighters and emergency services. Penitentiary agents in different areas have also received training when and how to give an alert message.
What are your fire extinguishing systems and intervention practices in place when a fire breaks out in prisons?We are equipped with extensible water hoses (BIE), and extinguishers of Powder and CO2, we also have Dry Columns for the maneuver of firefighters inside the prison, each plant we are equipped with three autonomous breathing equipment ( ERA) and we have two graduates in France (ENAP) in salvation and fire that form and recycle biennial to penitentiary agents.
Is there any institution with which you cooperate on intervention to fire in prisons, or else does a prison have its own equipment(tool)?Sporadically we impart practices and training in conjunction with the Andorran Fire Service. We do not have own equipment for intervention in fire.
Is there a team composed of the staff of a prison in order to search-rescue in natural disasters such as earthquake, flood and fire?We do not have our own equipment for natural disasters.
If a prison has its own team, how are the training and certification procedures of team members?No