Tom Sutton
-
Posts
3,641 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Everything posted by Tom Sutton
-
The visual alarm signal should be clearly distinguishable from any other visual signal used in the premises. Visual alarm signals should be white or red in colour, unless use of another colour is necessary to distinguish the signals from other visual signals. Check out BS 5839-1:2002+A2:2008 - 17. Visual alarm signals
-
The purpose of this concept is to allow you to understand the basics of means of escape and not how to design a means of escape from fire. There are many considerations, in planning means of escape, but it will give insight in how a means of escapes are designed. It is based on the old prescriptive concepts but understanding these principles will help in understanding the modern risk based methods. Discharge rates. In a real life-threatening situation, this obviously causes more rapid response. Discharge in conditions where the crowds are not in immediate danger and are well disciplined may not show great urgency and can lead to low discharge rates. Many assessments of this rate of flow have been made following tests, (particularly those using Paris firemen in 1938 and 1945 and the London underground). The generally accepted rate is 40 persons per minute per unit exit width. It should be noted here that the figure of 40 per minute was an average figure while the actual figures varied between 20 and 170. Unit Widths. The width of a unit corresponded to the average shoulder width and was determined at 525mm. Two units of 525 (i.e. 1050mm) were required for 2 people to travel through, shoulder-to-shoulder. However, due to overlapping effects, further units of width required were found to need only another 450mm. Hence, 3 units of 525 + 525 + 450 = l500 mm and 4 units of 525 + 525 + 450 + 450 = 1950mm. Units greater than 4 units wide were considered to slow flow rates down, and so the maximum width of an exit is 4 units or 1950mm. Another consideration is the average widths of people today compared with 1938 and 1945, it is most probably wider another reason one should use modern day guides.
-
Service hatch between plant room and service corridor
Tom Sutton replied to a topic in Fire Doors and Accessories
Mann McGowan sell fire resisting laminate called Palusol® SW which is a ready made laminate board that can be used to manufacture flat and raised + fielded-fire resisting panelled doors. Check it out it may solve your problem. -
Hi Chris The only doors that require self closers are fire doors protecting the means of escape. If the front door of the apartment was left open and there was a fire in your apartment and consequently the staircase was filled with smoke, would the people using the stairs be trapped upstairs, in other words is there common areas in the block of apartments?
-
I think the same situation that applies to Rob applies to you, there is good advice on the website "Fire Kills" and consider home checks by the Fire Service. Also there is the fire service websites, see details above http://www.firesafe....rvices-details/ , they usually include a section on domestic premises.
-
I am not aware of any such obligation but is it necessary to evacuate outside the premises immediately have you considered horizontal evacuation? Horizontal Phased Evacuation In hospitals, and care homes the floor maybe divided into a number of fire resisting compartments and the occupants are moved from the compartment involved in fire to the adjacent compartment and if necessary moved again. Depending onto the fire situation. Because of the extra time this type of evacuation takes, other fire precautions maybe be required. These include: voice alarm systems, fire control points, compartmentation of the premises using fire-resisting construction. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-emergency-evacuation-plan-or-fire-procedure/
-
Prisons are subject to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the guidance document is "Fire Safety Risk Assessment - Healthcare premises". Prisons were previously included in “Other sleeping accommodation” but are now included in the “Hospitals” category as the fire frequency in prisons is more similar to that of hospitals. The figures for these two categories have therefore changed. Youth Offending Institutes and Immigration Detention Centres should also be included in this category. Check out page 54 of the guide, Textiles and furniture, the first line states “The use of flame-retardant bedding and furnishings will substantially reduce the fire risk”. The Responsible Person (Prison Service) has used this guidance in there fire risk assessment. They cannot use the domestic standard because a prison is a none-domestic premises so they have used the contract standard. For more information on this go to http://www.fira.co.uk/ , register with them, it’s free and download the “Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the contract and non-domestic sectors A Guide to the UK requirements” for more detailed information.
-
Christine are you talking about a domestic premises where a carers attends a member of the family or a domestic dwelling where a number of vulnerable people live with carers employed to look after them and not a family situation.
-
When you close a door it closes against a stop to prevent the door continuing through the frame. On most doors this stop is usually 12mm deep providing it it isn't a double swing door and this 12mm stop is known as the rebate. Many moons ago this rebate was increased to 25mm on fire doors but since the introduction of intumescent strips 12mm is adequate.
-
It should have been installed by a corgi register fitter in accordance with the Gas Regulations and the Building Regulation - Approved Document J. I would suggest you check out page 24 and 25 http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADJ_2010.pdf it appears there is some anomalies. I am no expert on BR but it looks like it should have been enclosed as shown in Diagram 13, you need to take advice from Building Control.
-
What you are proposing will require Building Regulations approval and as the result it will be up to the building control officer what him/her will accept. I am assuming you are not fitting a certified fire door set therefore it is almost certain you will need intumescent seals and maybe smoke seals. As the result you will have a nominal fire door which is fully explained in http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-doors/ and for more information on intumescent seals try http://www.ifsa.org.uk/guidance.html Providing the frame has a 12mm rebate and the the fire door is well fitted, then it shouldn't be necessary to do anything to the frame.
-
More technical information sheets you may find useful. http://www.ifsa.org.uk/guidance.html
-
Checkout http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-doors/ it is usually 10mm for FD30 and 20mm for FD60 fire doors for more detailed information go to http://www.ifsa.org.uk/pdf/Information%20Sheet%20No1.pdf it is important to check the manufacturers data sheets, there may be variations.
-
Most fire legislation works on the principle, a man's (or woman) home is his castle and he will protect his family therefore there is little he is forced to do. Outdated I know but the only option left is persuasion and the best website is Fire Kills there is plenty of ideas to assist you. Another suggestion is to make it a condition that before you attend a fire check from the local fire service has completed. They are free and if a fire alarm is required that is also free. Check out http://www.firesafe....rvices-details/
-
The best guidance on fire doors is Architectural and Specialists Door Manufacturers Association the Best Practice Guide to Timber Fire Doors. The guidance on installation is http://www.asdma.com/pdf/installationlflt2.pdf . It depends on what you means by undercut, if it is the lipping on the side of the door that should not exceed 3mm on each side, you cannot touch the top side and the threshold you will have to contact the manufacturer as it depends on the construction of the door. If you are talking about the gaps around the door that is 2mm to 4mm top and sides. The threshold should not exceed 8mm. Check the British Standard BS 8214:1990 and the above guides.
-
To be totally sure the holes should have been filled with an intumescent material and if you contact Envirograf I am sure they will give the best advice.
-
The common areas are subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and maybe as the result of a fire risk assessment the findings was to install a hard wired smoke alarm and emergency lighting in the common areas to protect you and your neighbours. Quite often it requires the installation of a heat detector in each flat to give early warning instead of waiting for the smoke to enter the common areas or when the flat is empty. For more information download HOUSING – FIRE SAFETY Guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing which is the guide for these types of premises.
-
Fire door regulation for plant rooms and wood fuel stores
Tom Sutton replied to a topic in Fire Doors and Accessories
Yes there are the building regulations, Approved documents J and B volumes 1 and 2. ADB states they are considered places of special fire hazard and consequently the DCLG guidance says they will need to be enclosed in fire resisting construction in non-domestic premises and the level of fire resistance will depend on the location. In dwellings you will need to discuss it with building control it appears there is no requirement to enclose it maybe because of the size of the boiler and the fuel is usually stored away from the premises? Check out http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/approveddocuments/ and the guides at http://www.firesafe.org.uk/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005/ -
Persons who supply second-hand furniture in the course of business or trade (e.g. auctioneers, charities) are covered by the regulations and should have a label attached. However The Regulations state that the simple distribution of second-hand upholstered furniture and furnishings by a charity in pursuance of its charitable objectives to needy persons, either free of charge or at a nominal amount only, is not considered to constitute a supply in the course of business and hence is exempt from compliance to the Regulations. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/
-
It depends on which type of cooker is being installed, if it is gas, the gas regulations apply http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2451/regulation/26/made if it is electric then the wiring is covered by the electric wiring regulations. http://www.diyfixit.co.uk/safety-and-regulations/electrical-regulations.html As you said the the prescribed distances should be provided, with a gas cooker I cannot see a corgi installer not abiding by the safety rules as he/she has to sign it off when completed, as for an electric cooker only the wiring appears to be covered by regulation. http://www.callde.co.uk/safety_regulations.asp
-
Paul you haven't given sufficient information about the building. You need to describe the whole building and the compartmentation. Where is the dwelling located and are there any other occupancies in the building. You haven't mentioned manual call points there just isn't sufficient detail to make a decision whether it should be a part 1 or part 6 system installed. Check out the DCLG guide Offices and shops which requires a part 1 system in the offices, if required, and part 6 system in the dwelling is also acceptable.
-
Which doors are you referring to, the doors in your apartment or the fire door leading from you apartment to the common areas and the staircase.
-
Service hatch between plant room and service corridor
Tom Sutton replied to a topic in Fire Doors and Accessories
If you can get a 1hr fire door of those dimensions then you could use it, also it would not require a self closer, providing its kept locked when not in use and the appropriate sign displayed. You could try a bespoke fire door manufacturer or have you considered a fire shutter similar to the ones used on serving hatches. -
Further to my previous post if you check the small children's home guide http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4021209.pdf it is very similar approach OFSTED uses to the child minder guidance. There is no specific fire safety guidance on small children's homes, therefore the the link I provided you, to the guidance based on the OFSTED/CFOA (Chief fire officer association) guidance for child minders is the best available. The lacors guidance is relevant as it deals with domestic premises and is more specific on fire alarm standards.
-
If it is a fire door then it most likely part of your escape route therefore it is not a good idea to increase the fire loading in that location. As to whether a screw will affect the integrity of a fire door is open the debate and the only way to find out would be to test the door which will never happen. I would suggest you find a safer place to store your coats.