Tom Sutton
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Everything posted by Tom Sutton
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Every year and at commissioning to test level of contents if more than 10% loss, replace or recharge.
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Since carbon dioxide is a gas at room temperature, in order for it to exist in liquid form, the gas must be stored at extremely high pressure. When the pressure is released from the extinguisher, the gas expands, cooling the air and shooting out a white cloud resembling snow. Because the gas is so pressurized, dry ice may stream from the extinguisher or form around the horn when in use. That is why you should never touch the horn it can take your skin off, nasty. :unsure: Because it is in liquid form that is how you are able to test the contents by weight. You have the net weight stamped on the cylinder, (weight of cylinder empty) weight the cylinder with contents, the gross weight, deduct one from the other gives weight of contents. Maximum weight of contents is also stamped on the cylinder. More than 10% loss then replace or recharge, usually replace. Read more: How Do Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers Work? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/...l#ixzz1nrMjUx4Q
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Do refurbished antique chairs need fire proofing label?
Tom Sutton replied to a topic in Passive Fire Protection
The guidance says " The Regulations do not apply to furniture intended for export and furniture manufactured prior to 1950." As the furniture was manufactured before 1950 I would say it is exempt from the regulations therefore I would suggest you download the guide to the regulations for domestic furniture and confirm it for yourself. Download the guide at http://www.fira.co.u...mability-guides -
No I am not saying that, fillings for seat pads are subject to the regulations and do need permanent labels, rented accommodation is also subject to the regulations, all I told Gemada was where the information is available. Go to http://www.fira.co.uk/publications/flammability-guides and download "Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home - A Guide to the UK Regulations" all you need to know you will find it there.
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Sara my understanding is you have a staircase at the rear of the building leading from the basement to, I assume the ground floor which opens onto a platform in the open air. From this platform another door opens into the main staircase which then leads to the front door. 1. When you get on the platform why can’t you disperse to the assemble point? 2. If you cannot disperse then how would an intruder get on the platform? 3. The door which apparently releases when the fire alarm goes off, is most probably fitted with mag-lock, why can’t the door into the main staircase be fitted as well. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/security-and-fire-safety/ it may be worth a read.
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Sorry Sara I cannot visualise the situation can you re-phase the question or can anybody help who is less thick than me.
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Are draught excluders allowed on fire doors?
Tom Sutton replied to a topic in Fire Doors and Accessories
If you use cold smoke seals they will make excellent draught excluders for sides and top. If it’s the threshold and there is less than 10mm between the door and the finished floor then I cannot see any objection to fixing a conventional draught excluder providing it doesn't interfere with the operation of the door. -
The sensors in a smoke alarm will degrade over time. This along with years of exposure to dust and contaminants will cause detector performance to falter. Thus smoke alarms should be replaced periodically in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations. Whether isolating a zone will up speed this process up is debatable and I would suggest you contact the manufacturer for their recommendations. As to isolating a zone this is not a good practice, you could be removing the protection of a concealed area. I would suggest you consider changing the affected detector heads with a more suitable head that is not sensitive to the smoke machines. Your fire alarm engineer should be able to assist you with this.
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The premises will most probably be subject to The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. You will be subject to RR(FS)O if you occupy the premises and you will need to conduct a fire risk assessment. Without a satisfactory means of escape to a safe place then you cannot complete a satisfactory FRA and will be in breach of the RR(FS)O. The landlord could also be in breach of the RR(FS)O therefore you need to discuss this matter immediately with him to resolve the situation.
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It has never been a requirement it all depends on your fire safety strategy and your fire evacuation policy. The most important consideration is that it works and should be tested by practical methods. (Fire Drills) Check out http://fire.org.uk/f...hp?topic=5132.0 for a discussion on this very matter.
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The appropriate British standard is BS 5266-1- 2011 Emergency lighting-Part 1: Code of practice for emergency lighting of premises clause 6 Emergency Escape Lighting Design. For an overview check out http://www.firesafe....gency-lighting/.
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The Responsible Person is the employer (art 3) i.e. the CEO or if it is a Limited company then it’s a corporate responsibility of the board. The RP is responsible for conducting a FRA (art 9) and guidance on written FRA can be found in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Guidance Note No. 1: Enforcement, which states, Clause 57 “The Order contains a requirement to record the “prescribed information” if five or more persons are employed in order to maintain consistency with health and safety legislation. The prescribed information comprises the significant findings of the risk assessment (including the measures taken or to be taken, e.g. training and maintenance, consultation and co-ordination) and any group of persons identify as being especially at risk. Under the Order, the threshold of five or more persons includes those employees who may work from or in another place away from the premises concerned, for example an employer with three shops, each of which has two staff would employ six people and thus be under a duty to record the risk assessment for each shop”
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I would suggest it depends on where the detector is and the type of detector. If it is in a clean area then it would be less likely to require cleaning than if it is located in a dusty area. A heat detector would require less attention than an optical detector. All BS 5839 pt1 says is it should be at pre-determined intervals and I assume its for you to determined what they are. You could check out manufacturers instructions which may help and I think it would be better to clean them at shorter than longer intervals.
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Hi June I would suggest you contact either the Trading standards, who are the enforcing authority or The Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) who may be able to advise you. The problem is a re-upholster running a business and charging a fee is certainly subject to the regulations. A DIY project is a different matter and I would expect s/he would ensure it conform s the standards for the sake of the users but when it comes to selling the item later that confuses the matter even more because without the permanent label it could be illegal. The Furniture Industry Research Association then go to FIRA Publications then Flammability guides and then Domestic Flammability Standards. Contact the local Trading Standards Department they should be able to help.
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A single dwellings is not covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and only the common areas of blocks of flats are covered. So in a single dwelling its up to the head of household and door mats are unlikely to cause a trip hazard to his neighbours. In a block of flats the commons areas are covered by legislation and a doormat in the common areas (escape routes) may cause a tripping hazard, causing a neighbour to fall. The guidance also says, Suitability of escape routes, should be free from any obstructions, slip or trip hazards. Check out page 66 General Principles, http://www.communiti...firesafetyrisk4 will explain it more fully.
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If the conditions are right then charcoal can be subject to spontaneous heating, it depends on which form the charcoal is involved, the level of impurities, method and quantities of storage, is the charcoal kept dry, is there a history of fires, I am afraid there is no simple yes/no answer. Method of fire fighting is strong jets to penetrate the stack, then deal with visible flames, and finally break the stack down. There is also specialist equipment that can be used, stack drags and bunker branches for instance. Check out good practice in charcoal protection and storage although not the same situation you describe it does give an insight into the transport, storage and distribution of loose charcoal.
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Check out http://www.nodj.co.u...e-machine.shtml Safety and usage information which says, The smoke can activate smoke detectors and this is something that you should check with the venue first. Many venues have more advanced smoke detectors that allow this type of smoke, but some don't and the venue staff will be able to tell you if it's OK to use a smoke machine. Which is pretty good advice, it all depends on which type of smoke detectors are being used, the type of smoke, the amount of smoke, the size of the room, and the potential temperature of the room. As I have said it all depends, even steam from a shower can activate a detector head if the conditions are right.
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I am not aware of an electrically operated door closer. The only door closer that could be described in those terms I would think, is a, Free swing door closer - The door can be opened without any resistance from closer making it ideal for applications where the doors will be operated by less able people. http://www.safelincs...penDoor-Closer/ Is that what you are referring to and you will also need to give a much fuller explanation of the circumstances regarding the need for the door closer.
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Doormats or flower pots are not usually a fire risk but could be a tripping hazard and in the event of a fire evacuation could be very serious risk. You can purchase fire rated uPVC fire door sets but to find out if a particular fire door is fire rated you would need to check for for any labels, documentation, or check with the manufacturer or retailer. It depends on the number of persons likely to use the doors if it is less than 60 then it may be acceptable to have an final exit door opening to the inside. Flotex I am not familiar with the product you should check with the retailer or manufacturer.
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Fire extinguishers at the hotels had not been tested for three years and was one of the 15 charges, that's why the RP was prosecuted under art 17. The service engineer was charged with conducting 2 inadequate FRA's, I suspect under art 5(3) 5(4) being a person having control. He did not service the extinguishers although that is what his company did.
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What signs are you referring to, is it "Fire Safety Signs" or is it "Escape Route Signing" check out http://www.firesafe....it-signs/#intro for an overview of escape route signing.
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certain type of special fire door needed
Tom Sutton replied to TomU's topic in Fire Doors and Accessories
You can purchase laminated fire resisting panels with instructions how to construct a fire door, check out http://www.buildingd...News-171110.asp I have no experience of this product but it may be worth a punt. You also may be able to fix smoke and intumescent seals to the fire door to increase its fire resistance and reduce the amount of smoke escaping. If the underside of the stairs is covered in plaster board and skimmed also with brick or studding walls, then it should achieve at least 15 minute if not more depending on the fire loading in the cupboard. Reduce the junk under the stairs to as small as possible. Any holes through the plaster board should be sealed and what to use, would depend on the size of the hole. -
sprinkler for 3 bedroom renovation project
Tom Sutton replied to a topic in Other Fire Safety Products
Check out http://www.firesafe....ial-sprinklers/ for an overview of the subject. The appropriate British Standard is, BS 9251:2005 Sprinkler systems for residential and domestic occupancies and you may be able to study a copy at your local reference library. -
As you can see I am not sure about this I have tried to solicit other opinions on this matter with little success. What I would suggest you do is contact the manufacturer and establish if s/he will confirm it conforms to BS EN 179 2008. Then approach the enforcing authority, if its an alteration or new build then contact the local Building Control and confirm it is acceptable to them. If it is an occupied building then contact the local Fire Rescue Service (Fire Safety Department) and see if it is acceptable to them. Maybe contact both, with 400 units you cant afford to get it wrong.
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Download the DCLG guide Factories and warehouses and if you need information on specific areas check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/ .