Gypsy/Traveller sites - interim site design guide: supplementary material

5. Fire Safety

Local authorities involved in the demonstration projects were particularly aware of the importance of meeting the relevant spacing requirements between caravans and other buildings on site but were keen to understand how the needs of Gypsy/Travellers can be met without compromising fire safety. This information has been gathered from a Gypsy/Traveller, from local authorities and shared with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) for comment.

New sites and site buildings should comply with building standards in relation to fire safety. The Interim Site Design Guide sets out the relevant regulations and requirements in relation to fire safety on Gypsy/Traveller sites.

5.1 How Gypsy/Travellers use sites

A Gypsy Traveller told us about Gypsy/Traveller traditions and fire, and about how a family might want to use a site. These points may impact on fire safety:

• Gypsy/Traveller culture involves mixing the outside and inside all year
• many people stay on the same site for years - more like a street in a housing scheme than a holiday park
• in other cases people are staying for shorter periods/in transit – a few weeks
• amenity blocks include kitchen, bathroom, storage - some have living space which changes how they are used. i.e. family spends time there during the day rather than in the caravan
• residents will want to position caravans with a natural separation from neighbours on the next pitch
• older children have their own caravan, from 11-12 years, but supervision is needed - this means that parents may want caravans to be positioned with doors facing the parents caravan and as close as practical together
• residents will want their caravans as close as possible to the amenity block to limit the distance to the toilet - this can be a particular need for older people and children, particularly in winter

5.2 Gypsy/Traveller culture and fire

• fire is part of the culture - it is important in weddings and in funerals as well as daily social life
• traditionally caravans were burned at the funeral to set the soul free - not the case now but there is always a fire at a wake
• men would want to gather in smaller groups for chat around the fire in a communal area
• Gypsy/Travellers are likely to be aware of fire risk and carbon monoxide risk due to the risk attached to living in caravans

5.3 Designing a site with good fire safety

When designing a site it is important to consider fire safety at an early stage in the process. A pre-occupation appraisal of fire safety is recommended to ensure the site is fit for occupation and that appropriate physical fire safety measures are in place. Once the site is operational, this should be followed by a full Fire Safety Risk Assessment (FSRA) in accordance with Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The FSRA should be carried out by a competent person with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours.

5.4 Some things to consider at a planning stage:

• respecting the understanding that Gypsy/Travellers have of fire risk and understanding the implications of fire safety rules on their way of life can be a good starting point for engagement on this aspect of pitch design
• make sure that you have the right professional skills and experience in the project team to plan for fire safety from the start
• consider what sort of accommodation will be on the site at the end – if a fire occurs, caravans present different risks depending on the construction (e.g. a mobile home will burn in a different way to a trailer) and age
• how will pitches generally be used by residents, where will they spend their time and undertake activities such as cooking and what fuel will be used - should amenity blocks be classed as domestic or non-domestic
• access routes, fire appliances must be able to reach all areas of the site quickly - avoid any tight corners or height restrictions
• should plans include a communal area for celebration involving fire e.g. fire pit
• is visitor parking required

5.5 Mitigations in considering distances between caravans:

Guidance on caravan sites can be found at annex 3 of Practical Fire Safety Guidance For Existing Premises with Sleeping Accommodation which sets out benchmarks in relation to spacing:

• the distance between any two units of not less than 6 metres will provide safe separation in all circumstances
• the 6 metre distance between units may be reduced where caravan construction is inherently fire-resistant - under such circumstances, the distance may be reduced to 5 metres, reducing this safe distance further may allow fire to spread from one caravan to another
• where there is a mix of fire-resistant and non-fire-resistant construction, the 6 metre separation distance applies
• the distance from any part of a caravan to any site road should be not less than 2 metres and not less than 3 metres from any site boundary

Every site is different and must be considered on a case by case basis. There will also be differences between pitches in terms of combustibility of caravans provided by residents e.g. range of sizes, construction, materials, age and condition etc. These are all relevant when considering the reduction of safe separation distances in planning or managing a site. Where caravans/amenity blocks are of non-combustible construction it may be possible to reduce the distance between a caravan/s and an amenity block on an individual pitch used by the same household to 5 metres. Any reduction below 5 metres would need a technical justification. A change to separation distances must fully take into account any associated risks and be accompanied by appropriate mitigations.

Some examples of mitigating actions are:

• fire tenders can safely attend and manoeuvre throughout the site which should be confirmed by a vehicle tracking exercise – consider a procedure for any bollards, barriers or gates, particularly out of hours
• the fire hydrant should meet the relevant criteria and be conveniently located in centre of the site with the distance from the hydrant to each unit of no more than 100 metres
• all caravans to have interlinked fire detection with the amenity block of same occupancy
• gas bottle storage to be suitably located in secure cages that are strategically placed, guidance available from Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) suppliers – other options such as buried tanks can also reduce the risk while improving aesthetics
• elevations and roofs facing caravans of non-combustible construction or meet British Standard 476/EN13501-1
• elevations facing caravans to have limited opening to minimise the risk of fire spread
• the site to be supervised by a site manager seven days a week as well as frequent checks by council personnel outside of normal working hours
• the number of permitted caravans per pitch should be limited in line with fire spacing requirements
• ‘sterile ground’ between each pitch – use fire-retardant barriers or landscaping (e.g. gravel strips, mineral wool-lined fencing) between pitches to supplement sterile ground
• a secondary means of escape within amenity blocks – depending on size and design, in line with building regulations
• bollards to be used to control the parking and proximity between caravan-caravan and caravan-amenity block
• designated area or zone on the site for fire pit or BBQ facilities
• fitting domestic sprinklers in amenity blocks and residential mobile homes provided by the council
• a limit on the number of vehicles allowed on each pitch and how this is managed

5.6 Where to get help and advice

SFRS may be able to offer further advice on any of the matters detailed above.

Contact information for your local fire safety office can be found here.