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Opening onto escape routes would potentially indicate a need for smoke seals as well as intumescent. As a new installation they should be to current standards so seals would usually be expected

I'm sure for the appropriate fee and seeing the premises a competent person will advise. Whilst on paper this may not sound a bad number the layout of the routes and their proximity to each other could change which are considered the largest & must be discounted, worst case is there are two exits not 4 based on location and separation. I assume they all open in the direction of escape and where not in normal use have panic fastenings

You won't get much in guidance beyond "Rooms and cupboards containing electrical intake or electrical distribution equipment should have fire-resisting doors that are either kept locked or are self-closing" as it leaves the detail up to the Responsible Person and any external competent advisor - this could be anything from changing boards to metal, using a metal over sleeve, uprating existing construction with intumescent materials or lining boards up to complete new stud and board walls and new fire doors

I am considering going into business selling club fender seats made from wood with an upholstered seat. From what I have read the upholstery must meet fire standards but the wood is not covered by the legislation. As the piece of furniture is designed to be placed close in front of the fire what are the relevant regulations I should be aware of as a seller/maker and what are their conclusions? Thank you in advance for your help.

The law only requires that a carbon monoxide detector be installed in any room with any fixed-combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers) in privately rented homes and social housing, it doesn't mention the flue run. You can read the government document if you Click here

Hello there I am helping with a licensed event feasibility study and am trying to calculate the safe capacity of the venue. This will help determine if the event is financially viable. The room proposed is approx. 700sqm and located on the lower ground floor of a former high street shop. The lower ground floor has one 1900mm final exit door and one 750mm final exit door, both lead directly outside; both doors are relatively close to each other along the same side of the room There are two more 750mm exits which lead upstairs, where there is one 1900mm and one 750mm final exit doors, both again lead directly outside. I am veering towards a safe capacity of 300, which assumes one of the 1900mm doors is inaccessible but unsure if the split levels plus the proximity of the 750mm final exit door to the 1900mm final exit door in the lower ground floor are important considerations. Would someone be able to advise if 300 is a sensible maximum capacity?

We have flues to gas boilers in the common area riser cupboards in our block of flats. The flues lead to the boilers within the flats. Do we need to install carbon monoxide detectors in the common areas where the cupboards are located? Thanks.

Thanks. Thats really helpful!

Hi - now changing the middle two doors in attached photo to fire doors - do they require intumescent strips to be fitted as well as fireproof lock and fire hinges? Only the middle section houses the meters and nothing stored elsewhere in cupboard. Many thanks, a really good source of information!

May I ask if this issue is mentioned in any guides, it is mentioned in 'Guide to making your small block....' I'm referring to low-rise 2 storey if there is anything available. Thank you.

Your fire risk assessor should have really covered this for you - the guidance for these blocks only require one protected stair & final exit so the exit near the external exit is not required to be a means of escape - as such the external flat front door would not need to be passed in order to escape, therefore it need not be a fire door. Also in a 70's low rise block there is a fair chance you don't need to replace internal fire doors if original & in good order, beyond possibly new self closers, they ay be possible to retain or repair - again the FRA should have addressed this. The Government recognises too many management companies are feeling pressured into and leaseholders made to pay for excessive fire safety work (sometimes at the expense of needed measures overlooked in poor FRAs) and their guidance shows that a pragmatic approach is legally compliant - no wholesale replacements unless genuinely required

The person / contractor should be able to demonstrate sufficient competence to be able to complete the job. Make sure they have the necessary SKEB, see https://www.citb.co.uk/standards-and-delivering-training/training-standards/competence-frameworks/ If you are unsure you could appoint an independant inspector to sign-off the work https://afdi.org.uk/

Hi. We manage a purpose-built 1970s three-storey block of concrete/masonry construction. 10 flats are accessed via the main communal entrance and internal common areas. We are in the process of ensuring the front doors to these 10 flats are 30-minute fire doors. An additional flat (part of the same block) has its entrance door directly opposite the main communal entrance in a covered passageway area. The door to this flat is not fire-rated (and neither is the communal entrance door). The covered passageway is open at one end but is probably only about 20-30% of the area of all the wall area of the passageway. The flat door is located about 2m away from the main communal entrance door. The 11 other flats have access to another dedicated fire escape at the other side of the building. Should the door to this flat be replaced? We have considered it as low priority as the other flats have access to another fire exit. Please provide references as we will need to back up our decision.

Hi We are looking to replace 50+ fire door closures on residential front doors in an apartment block. As long as the installer follows the manufacturer's fitting instructions, is there a requirement for the installer to have any accredited competency training and standard, or can any regular skilled trades do it? Thanks

For most fire doors, the performance certification requires the wall to be at least 70mm thick. I am yet to see one where such a thin wall is suitable.

Yes it can, but you may need to make the stop lath wider to get a secure fixing.

Sarah, David asked the question in June 2020, he only made 2 posts (3 weeks apart) he has never been heard of again, so it is very doubtful that he will reply to you. Best not to reply to old posts (on any forum)

The size and layout may be such you need both exits in which case the ramp should be repaired - after all escape windows can't be used. Also you would be making access to the premises less compliant than when first built or altered which is usually not accepted.

Strictly speaking yes, but if at no point in the riser there are no meters, DNO fuses or distribution boards or anything liable to be an ignition source then you could make a case for tolerating it. Is it an open shaft or just with holes punched through floorboards or pipes & cables?

Hi David, I am going through the same as you, needing 2200 and as you mentioned Eclisse do not do a fire-rated door to suit the size. May I ask the brand of the pocket door system you used and if you have found it to be good and robust? Sarah

We have a holiday home which is disabled friendly with a ramp to the front door, level access to the back door. Both doors are double doors and wheelchairs can easily pass through. The ramp is very long (has a resting space in the middle) and in need of repair. Do we need a disabled fire exit out of both doors or can we replace the ramp with steps leaving one fire exit for the disabled. The holiday let is a bungalow and sleeps 8 in 4 double bedrooms. Advice appreciated

Cheers muchly

Hi Neil, Thanks for the reply. They are indeed IG Doors after I reached out and messaged them. They have a conventional overhead closer. However an email 'confirming' they are fire rated isn't worth anything. I'm looking for some tangible evidence these are fire rated. We have nominal/notional fire doors in other blocks but they are of a hardwood variety as retain similar characteristics of a typical fire door. These don't really share the same characteristics due to the foam injection and steel clad construction. Appreciate the work you do on here Neil.

No - just three cables

Thanks AnthonyB - that's a great help. Kind Regards Jo