Tom Sutton

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is about Fire Risk Assessment and the order is drafted with this in mind. Article 13 which deals with fire alarms, which reflects this, it starts with "Where necessary" and 13 1b any non-automatic fire-fighting equipment so provided is easily accessible, simple to use and indicated by signs. So if it is necessary a sign should be supplied and if the lighting is very poor a luminous sign may be required, this will be decided by the FRA. However the lighting and emergency escape lighting should be of a standard that this situation does not occur.

We are talking about two separate issue here, the emergency escape lighting should meet minimum illumination in accordance with BS 5266 pt 1 2011 and this can be checked with a light meter. If fire signs are reducing the light level below the standard in BS 5266 the it should be removed or additional luminaries should be fitted. Illuminated exit escape signs tend to use the Euro-style sign which is still legal in accordance with Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 until it is amended in accordance with PR EN 7010 when it becomes a European Norm. Unfortunately for the moment we have to accept this. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-exit-signs/ and http://www.firesafe.org.uk/emergency-lighting/ and http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-safety-signs/

There has been changes to most of the UK government websites like Department of Communities and Local Government, which makes finding anything difficult especially statistics but http://www.statistic.../hub/index.html may help. You could also try posting on http://forum.fire.org.uk/

With regards to effectiveness of automatic sprinkler systems check out http://www.bre.co.uk/page.jsp?id=422 and Fatal Accident Inquiry report

3.4.4 Emergency escape lighting People in your premises must be able to find their way to a place of safety if there is a fire by using escape routes that have enough lighting. In premises of limited size/occupation, e.g. ground and first floor, with a small number of residents (up to four) who do not rely upon staff for assistance with evacuation, and where the escape routes are simple and straightforward, borrowed lighting from a dependable source, e.g. from streetlamps where they illuminate the escape routes, may be acceptable. In most care homes particularly those that are larger and more complex with more residents, a more comprehensive system of automatic emergency escape lighting should be in place to illuminate all the escape routes. Where people have difficulty seeing conventional signs, a ‘way-guidance’ system may need to be considered. Further guidance on emergency escape lighting is given in Part 2, Section 5. Check out https://www.gov.uk/g...ential-care.pdf or

All fire doors require a self-closing device to be fitted but if the self-closer causes problems and the door needs to be held open for access reasons then magnetic hold open devices can be fitted. They work as you have suggested check out http://www.firesafe....nd-ironmongery/ incidentally these devices should be tested regularly.

If this is a final exit door I see no problems with this arrangement, moreover if you need security from the outside then the self closer is required to achieve that. The means of escape from the premises is from the inside to the outside, through this door and using the push pad means you do not require the use of a key.

All doors in common use by the general public make ideal fire escape doors because the location in well known. Some people think that a door with a fire exit sign above are only for safe egress in the advent of a fire, this is not true. All doors used for means of escape in the advent of a fire, are fire doors, but those whose location is less familiar should be indicated with a fire exit sign including the escape route.

Stop, Wrap, Drop and Roll Fire services and police throughout the country recommend the 'STOP, WRAP, DROP AND ROLL' rule if they ever find themselves in the situation where they have to help someone whose clothing has caught fire - even themselves: STOP - means don't panic and run about, as it will make the fire worse WRAP - the victim in a rug, coat or blanket DROP - to the floor, and... ROLL - until the flames are extinguished Then, straightaway, pour cold water over the burn for at least 10 minutes but don't remove any clothing. You can remove any tight belts or jewellery that the injured person is wearing as burned skin tends to swell. Cover the burned area with a clean, smooth cloth or cling-film to keep out infection until it can be properly dressed. Unless it's a very small burn, take the injured person to hospital or dial 999, especially if they lose consciousness. Lastly, don't give the person anything to eat or drink in case they need a general anesthetic at the hospital. This will means as well as a blanket you need water to be available in fair large quantity and a means to apply it to the victim.

Tom how did you do your assessment if the two emergency lights are still functioning or were they disabled.

I have been retired some years and I am aware of the savage cuts to the FRS but if that is the present situation its a sad state of affairs and at a time when operation response has been reduced then domestic fire safety is more important. I only hope my FRS has not fallen to those levels. All I can say a firefighters role is far more than rescuing and extinguishing fires and if the training has fallen to those levels the senior management in your FRS needs to rectify the situation.

Hi green-foam it applies everywhere check out Gov-UK https://www.gov.uk/g...-bonfires-rules and before you say it 5th Nov bonfires are just extra large garden bonfires. :D

Martin you are absolutely correct the bolts should be removed during the time the premises are occupied. If we are talking about panic bar situation this can be achieved by removing the keep so the bolt can be removed and placed on board in the manager office. This will ensure he/she is aware that all the door with panic bars are available in the case of an emergency.

You can install fire resisting glazing into fire doors but it should be done by a specialist joinery firm, check out http://www.bmtrada.com/ and http://www.bwf.org.uk/ for suitable firms.

Green-foam firefighters are required to conduct community fire safety which means carrying out fire risk assessments, installing and maintaining domestic smoke detectors in the home. I know their training will be intensive and changing a battery is not what I would call mind blowing so I would consider using the fire station as a good move.

Green-foam check out http://www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1803.

Are you referring to a final exit door leading to outside the premises or an internal fire door?

You seem to think there is a book called Fire Regulations and it lists all the do's and don'ts, this is not the case, it is mostly fire risk assessment/common sense. A fire resistant door could be approached from either direction so, Keep Shut signs need to be fixed to both sides of the door, unless hold open devices are fixed. Fire Exit signs show you the safe route out of the premises so they will only be fitted one side of an escape door.

This is unusual, in most purpose built flats the front door of the flat is secured from the common areas. You are right you should be be able to escape without the use of a key check out last paragraph of page 26 of the DCLG guidance document Sleeping accommodation which is the appropriate guidance. There is a other guidance document "Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats" which says the same.

To my knowledge it doesn't exist, different timber will char at various rates hardwoods slower than softwoods and you may find such tables on the speed of char, but that is all. Check out http://www.trada.co....fire/index.html and http://www.woodspec.ie/sectionadesignguidance/a5fireperformance/

If it is subject to the building regulations then Approved Document B Vol 2 Building other than dwelling houses then check out page 37. It states for 60 or less persons, 750 mm width, normal door height, with some provisos. However in an existing premises risk assessment applies and it depends on the number of persons, the speed of exit required, the agility of those involved and a full assessment of the risk. For instance if it is for a couple of service engineers working in a plant room it could be acceptable but for an office full of office workers not acceptable. It is up to the responsible Person.

There are many different smoke alarms you need to start by giving the details of yours before anybody could advise you. You could go to your local fire station or ring them and I am sure they would help you. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/

Check out http://safe4autumn.com/bonfire-safety.aspx . As you can see by the advice you need to check out the construction, if it is not foam filled it may be difficult to ignite but once alight will burn. As for the fumes it will not be the only one giving off harmful fumes and under normal circumstances it will not be illegal.

I would suggest you check up on the appropriate DCLG guidance where you will find information on the need for emergency escape lighting.http://www.firesafe....ety-order-2005/ Quote from Offices and Shops guide. The primary purpose of emergency escape lighting is to illuminate escape routes but it also illuminates other safety equipment. The size and type of your premises and the risk to the occupants will determine the complexity of the emergency escape lighting required. Borrowed lighting may be suitable in small premises where the light is from a dependable source, e.g. street lamps, and it will adequately illuminate escape routes. Where borrowed lighting is not suitable, then a number of torches, in strategic positions, can be considered. Single ‘stand-alone’ escape lighting units may be sufficient in small premises and these can sometimes be combined with exit or directional signs (Figure 54). The level of general illumination should not be significantly reduced by the sign. In larger more complex premises a more comprehensive system of fixed automatic escape lighting is likely to be needed. This will be particularly true in premises with extensive basements or where there are significant numbers of staff or members of the public.

I would suggest you check up on the appropriate DCLG guidance where you will find information on the need for emergency escape lighting. http://www.firesafe....ety-order-2005/ Quote from Offices and Shops guide. The primary purpose of emergency escape lighting is to illuminate escape routes but it also illuminates other safety equipment. The size and type of your premises and the risk to the occupants will determine the complexity of the emergency escape lighting required. Borrowed lighting may be suitable in small premises where the light is from a dependable source, e.g. street lamps, and it will adequately illuminate escape routes. Where borrowed lighting is not suitable, then a number of torches, in strategic positions, can be considered. Single ‘stand-alone’ escape lighting units may be sufficient in small premises and these can sometimes be combined with exit or directional signs (Figure 54). The level of general illumination should not be significantly reduced by the sign. In larger more complex premises a more comprehensive system of fixed automatic escape lighting is likely to be needed. This will be particularly true in premises with extensive basements or where there are significant numbers of staff or members of the public.