Tom Sutton

The disclaimer appear to be the company covering their backs, I am not aware of any requirement in the fire safety legislation. Check out The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. As I have previously said, there is no exceptions for "Article 21 Training" which means the traders should be taking part in training and fire drills.

Why don't traders carry out their training/drills outside trading hours, being late occasionally would be worth while if it helped to safe their lives in an emergency. This would mean you would not need to sign any disclaimers and you would be within the fire safety law, there is no exceptions for article 21 training.

Although your kiosk is likely to be small you are still subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and will need to conduct a fire risk assessment but you will not be required to record it. The hospital fire officer will be very interested in you proposals and I am sure she/he will help you. Check out http://www.firesafe....y-order-2005/ Offices and shops and http://www.firesafe....isk-assessment/

It does appear by the size you quote that the main entrance would be all you require for means of escape. However without a psychical inspection or a sight of a plan I could not be definitive. Never the less you are subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005/ and http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-risk-assessment/

Nev If your escape from fire is impeded it is most likely to be heat or smoke and a Portable Fire Equipment will not be effective in that situation. All you are doing is making your escape more difficult by having to lug an extinguisher around with you and worse if you should drop it this could create tripping hazard for your colleagues.

If the fire risk assessor has produced a satisfactory means of escape then you shouldn't meet a fire en-route when escaping. If you do then I would suggest, in your terms, a tactical withdrawal is in order as there should be an alternate means of escape. Fire extinguishers are provided to deal with any fires you discover providing they are in the early stages and within you capability. Your training should highlight which fires are suitable to be tackled and when its time to escape, if in doubt get out! (item 3)

In general all front doors in a tower block need to be FDs and fitted with a self closer or a flat on fire could risk the lives of everybody in the block. Most of these will be standard type self closer but there are free swing self closer available which will allow the door to open and close freely until a fire detector in the flat actuates the self closer, and then it operates like a standard self closer. So talk to your landlord and have a free swing self closer fitted which means you will not be an absolute prison. http://www.arrow-architectural.com/DDA%20BOOKLET%20July%2006.pdf http://www.safelincs...g-door-closers/

You are subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and article 21 Training require you to carry out fire safety training which includes fire drills. The relevant DCLG guidance is Educational premises and is all risk based assessment so you will not get definitive times it all depends on your situation.

It depends on circumstances but if the doors are final exit doors why shouldn't they be standard doors. They should be easily openable from the inside, without the need to use a key and if the relevant persons are unfamiliar with the doors they may need exit signs. If you wish to complain the enforcing authority is the local Fire and Rescue Service.

BS 8214:2008 Under-door (threshold) gaps should be in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions for the particular doorset design. When fitted, smoke seals should give an even contact with the floor but should not exhibit significant increased frictional forces that could interfere with the closing action of the door.

Whether or not they are mandatory, I would think they are essential, as you cannot see the detector how would you know which detector has operated when the system goes into FIRE.

You are subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and article 13 requires you to provide where necessary fire firefighting equipment also article 21 training how to use it.

Check out http://www.fira.co.uk/publications/flammability-guides download the domestic flammability guide and all you need to know is on page 28.

I most probably agree with you green_foam but without a physical survey who can tell what is needed, that is why I added " a fixed bell or gong providing it is suitable for purpose and provides an acceptable fire alarm". I was thinking about a ships watch bell maybe in a glass fronted box to prevent tampering or a rotary fire alarm gong.

Check out Guidance on fire safety provisions 14. Requirements for escape windows. page 16 providing you meet the requirements of that document you should be fine.

On the outside of the fire exit door fix a a mandatory sign indicating " NO PARKING FIRE EXIT KEEP CLEAR" or similar working and on the floor create a crossed hatched area. If it this doesn't work contact the local Fire and Rescue Service and report your concerns.

All doors used to escape form a fire in your premises are fire doors, front, back and side doors, those that are not in regular use are required to be signed with a FIRE EXIT sign. The main front door may not be indicated with a FIRE EXIT sign but it is still a fire door and needs to be easily opened from the inside without the need to a key. All final exit doors needs to be easily open-able without the need to resort to a key and panic bars are one method but there are others. The door you are concerned with, because it is inward opening, will be limited to 60 persons and if this is the situation then a method not using panics bars would be acceptable check out http://www.firesafe....nd-fire-safety/

All fire safety equipment need to be ready and available when require for use. How do you guarantee the school bell hasn't gone on walkies when required, it is my experience when you require something you can never find it no matter how careful you are. I would suggest you use a fixed bell or gong providing it is suitable for purpose and provides an acceptable fire alarm. Check out DCLG guide http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/fire/firesafetyrisk2 step 3. (3.4.1.) and section 2

Hi LeeEdge could you get back to us and tell us the layout of your premises and is the "fire escape doors" the only doors into your premises. I would suggest that many people believe "fire escape doors" have to display a fire exit sign which is not correct please let me know.

You need to contact the HSE for information regarding this, they are the experts. http://www.hse.gov.uk/ Have you discussed your concerns with the company carrying out the test?

This will be determined by the test (BS 476 part 22), the test uses a fire door set which is the door and frame and the frame should be a similar specification as the test frame. However nowadays it is usually 12 mm rebates, the 25 mm rebates were under the part 8 test which is now redundant. Check out any documentation that accompanied the fire door.

British Woodworking Federation and TRADA have approved contractors but I would imagine most fire doors are fitted by competent joiners. Providing it is fitting and not alterations then most good joiners who knows what they are doing could meet the necessary standard. Instruction should be included with the door set but I would suggest you download ASDMA Best Practice Guide to Timber Fire Doors which is the the bible regarding fire doors.

You are not required to do a 6 monthly test, daily monthly and annually who ever told you ask them to check the latest British Standard, BS EN 50172:2004 BS 5266-8:2004. Check out http://www.firesafe....gency-lighting/

Yes providing they are easily opened from the inside without the need of a key, when the premises is occupied and are kept clear of obstructions. Are you saying you only have one entrance, all doors are fire doors if you are to use them to escape from fire?

Has he tried http://www.envirograf.com/ who are the leading experts in this area. There is also fine grade steel wool, wet and dry and chemical varnish remover because trying to find a practical alternative is going to be extremely difficult.