Tom Sutton

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.

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/

The common areas are subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and you require an up to date fire risk assessment for those areas. The relevant DCLG guidance is Sleeping accommodation and for an overview check out http://www.firesafe....ty-order-2005/ and http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-risk-assessment/.

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/