Fire Prevention Plans and Strategies
Gain the knowledge and confidence to manage fire risk in waste and recycling facilities
Fire prevention and mitigation are essential to safe, compliant, and sustainable waste operations. Yet managing fire risk in environments handling combustible materials can be complex without the right knowledge and controls.
This practical training programme provides a clear, end‑to‑end understanding of fire prevention in the waste sector. You’ll learn how to apply fire safety principles, develop effective fire strategies, and implement control measures to reduce both the likelihood and impact of incidents.
The course also covers the Environment Agency’s Fire Prevention Plan (FPP), including how to prepare and submit plans in line with current guidance and reduce environmental impact.
Focusing on facilities such as waste transfer stations, material recovery facilities, and household waste recycling centres, the course explores a range of common combustible materials.
Course Details
Format: Online
Duration: 16 hours
Entry requirements: None
About this course
Fire prevention principles
Develop a clear understanding of the principles of fire prevention and mitigation, and how they are applied within waste and resource management facilities.
Legislation and responsibilities
Build knowledge of the key legislation governing fire risk, and understand your responsibilities within the waste and resource management industry.
Regulatory framework and guidance
Gain insight into the regulatory framework, policies, and guidance that shape fire prevention and mitigation practices across the sector.
Fire hazards and risk control
Understand how to identify fire hazards, assess risks, and apply effective control measures within waste and resource management environments.
This course is suitable for anyone responsible for safe operation of waste and recycling facilities.
It is particularly relevant for:
- Site managers and operational leaders
- Supervisors overseeing day-to-day facility activities
- Environmental and fire safety advisors
- Consultants supporting resource and waste management operations
- Professionals responsible for developing fire prevention plans
- Those implementing fire prevention and mitigation strategies on site
This course will provide practical guidance to support safe and compliant operations.
Course Structure
This course is made up of two parts: a self-guided e-learning module followed by a 3-hour virtual tutorial tailored to your requirements.
This session provides:
Legislation and guidance
Understand the key legislation and guidance that apply to waste and resource management facilities, and how these requirements shape effective fire prevention and mitigation.
The science of fire
Explore how fires start and develop by building your knowledge of heat, temperature, combustion, self-heating, exothermic reactions, and contamination — and how these processes relate to common waste materials.
Common causes and prevention
Identify the typical causes of fires in waste and recycling environments, and learn the practical control measures needed to reduce risk and prevent incidents.
This session provides:
Passive fire protection
Learn how site design and layout — including stack size, separation distances, and subdivision — can reduce fire spread, and how material type influences control measures.
Active fire protection systems
Discover how detection and suppression systems work, including the key technologies used across the sector and how they can be combined for effective protection.
Permitting and compliance
Understand how environmental legislation links to permitting requirements, and how these drive the need for fire prevention and mitigation plans.
Management systems
Explore how a written management system supports a risk-based approach to compliance and forms the foundation for effective fire prevention planning.
Fire prevention plans in practice
Examine the key requirements of fire prevention and mitigation plans, including common challenges faced by existing facilities.
Completing fire prevention plans
Learn how to complete and submit Fire Prevention Plans using the Environment Agency template, including the assessment process and responding to feedback.
Alternative measures and justification
Understand how to propose alternative measures and provide the evidence needed to demonstrate compliance.
A holistic approach to fire risk
Bring everything together to develop a comprehensive approach to fire prevention, including the use of fire strategies and safety cases to reduce the frequency and impact of fire.
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Contact us on 01604 620426 or email training@ciwm.co.uk for more information.