Tom Sutton

In principle The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is all about fire risk assessment and the above is just that. However the DCLG guidance on offices and shops ( download from this link http://www.firesafe....ety-order-2005/ ) provides the benchmark and requires all escape staircases to be full protected. If you could provide a safe alternative to this then it may be acceptable. Principles are one thing consider the practical issues, 1. How would you achieve this pre-alarm and give sufficient time for the building to be evacuated before the fire affected the staircase. 2. You must consider how long it would take to evacuate the building. 3. Have you considered the radiation risk from this door to people attempting to pass this door. 4. The costs between a new FDs 30 door and the additional systems you propose. Personally I think a new FDs 30 would be the best option.

You don't necessarily need a rear exit it all depends on the layout of the shop and the travel distances. Go to http://www.firesafe.org.uk/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005/ and download the guidance document on offices and shops the information you need will be found there.

What happens if the bike is knock over in the panic to escape what happens to width of the corridor? If this happened it would cause a serious obstruction and any calculations would be irrelevant.

Try http://fire.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5062.0 it may be of some use.

Try http://fire.org.uk/f...hp?topic=5062.0 it may help.

The smokers are not inanimate objects, if there was a fire and people were trying to escape then I am sure they would simple walk away so I don't see a problem.

True it applies to new or altered buildings but yours must have been new at some time. If it was before Building Regs the local bye-laws applied before that builder must have had a free reign. However if you apply modern recommendations this most probably the best guidance.

Study BS 5839-6:2004 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in dwellings you should find all your answers there. First establish which grade requires installing, if it is a grade C for example, then fire rated wiring is not required, as for sounders when the fire alarm operates the fire alarm warning should be clearly distinguishable from the sound produced by any other alarm system in the dwelling (e.g. an intruder alarm system or a carbon monoxide warning system). So it is a case of following the recommendations of the British Standard and designing the system accordingly. Go to http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-alarms/ for a link to the standard.

It all depends on the height and layout of you premises you would need to provide much more information to be able to give a considered response. You can checkout http://www.planningp...ocbvol1/volume1 and download the Approved document B Fire Safety Volume 1 the answer can be found under means of escape.

Article 17 of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 maintenance. Maintenance 17. (1) Where necessary in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons the responsible person must ensure that the premises and any facilities, equipment and devices provided in respect of the premises under this Order or, subject to paragraph (6), under any other enactment, including any enactment repealed or revoked by this Order, are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. Checkout http://www.firesafe....ety-order-2005/ for mor information.

First of all there is no such a thing as a FD20 fire door the lowest standard is FD30 fire door. I accept people still use the term but it was altered years ago. There are two types of fire door a certified and a nominal fire door. A certified door set has documentation to prove the specification has been subjected to BS 476 part 22 and/or part 31.1 and the paperwork is a form of guarantee. A nominal fire door is one were an assessor is thinks the construction of the door should prevent the passage of fire for the stated period. You cannot have a certified fire door it must be a fire door set ( door and frame) therefore anything else is a nominal fire door. It all depends on your customer and/or the enforcing authority to accept your assessment. A solid door 44mm thick should provide the necessary fire resistance the weak points are the gaps, therefore the installation is very important. The gaps between the door and frame should not exceed 3mm and because a door is subject to warping in a fire the need for intumescent strips on each jamb and the top of the door or frame is essential. The door furniture is also very important especially the hinges usually three steel hinges are required and if the intumescent strips are rebated in to the door intumescent material must be fitted under the hinges. All fire doors should be fitted with self closers and if the door is required to control cold smoke you must fit cold smoke seals. The testing of fire doors is not economical for a small run of doors and if you require a certified fire door set you should buy in. However your suggestion to veneer a fire rated door would most probably be acceptable because once the veneer has burned away you will still be left with the fire door. simples! If you require a more in depth information check out Architectural and Specialists Door Manufacturers Association and download the Best Practice Guide to Timber Fire Doors. You can also try http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-doors/

If you require a more in depth information check out Architectural and Specialists Door Manufacturers Association and download the Best Practice Guide to Timber Fire Doors and there is one on installation. Also "BS 8214:2008 Code of practice for fire door assemblies" is relevant. Try http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-doors/

In a kitchen there is likely to be steam or smoke from burnt toast which would most likely operate the optical sensor therefore I would stick to heat only. From the installation guidance accompanying the Ei2100 series, "The ideal system would consist of Multi-Sensor Fire Alarms installed throughout the dwelling apart from the kitchen which should have a Heat Alarm installed (Note: alarms should not be installed in toilets/bathrooms)."

Will a panic bar be compatible with a controlled entry system? Another thing I should have mentioned was if the mains electric should fail will it still be possible to exit though the controlled entry system door from the escape side?

I had one which was near its expiry date (10 years) and it kept going off, if I removed and replaced the batteries it was OK for about a week,then it started again. Finally I dumped it and got a replacement which funnily doesn't have an expiry date, but I still think the ten years life is still relevant.

Its a matter of common sense. Are there an problems under normal situations, can the door open fully so the opening is not restricted and if there is any doubts a fire evacuation drill should resolve the the matter.

You are required by law to provide emergency escape lighting if necessary see Art 14 (h) which states, emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in the case of failure of their normal lighting. Check The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and http://www.firesafe....ety-order-2005/ for more ionformation You have employed a fire risk assessor so are you doubting his/her competency because s/he is on your side?

It depends on the direction of the means of escape will anybody escaping from a fire have to pass through these doors from the secure side of the door or will they be able to simple operate a latch or handle to pass through the door? There are solutions regarding security check out http://www.firesafe....nd-fire-safety/ .

Try http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-emergency-evacuation-plan-or-fire-procedure/ for information on fire procedures. As for PEEPs if the emergency evacuation plan, for each person that require one, is identical then you only require one. The main emergency evacuation plan (FEEP) for the remainder of the relevant persons should make reference to the PEEP. It all depends on your fire strategy.

Go to http://www.firesafe.org.uk/furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/ then go to the FIRA website and register for free. Then to FIRA publications/Flammability guides and down load either the contract or domestic furniture. You will find all you need to know about the Flammability Regs.

The short answer is yes for more details go to http://www.firesafe.org.uk/furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/. I would download the FIRA guide, all have to do is free registration with FIRA the link is on the above website.

The Loss Prevention Council's guide to fire safety signs states they should be at eye level on both faces of each leaf of self closing fire door sets.

I would suggest you go to FIRA at http://www.fira.co.uk/ they will have the answer. If it is domestic try http://www.firesafe.org.uk/furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/.

A responsible Person was jailed for various offences including not testing his extinguishers another reason why you should test your extinguishers. Check out the link.

Emergency lighting is regarded as a generic term and is divided into a number systems and yours is most likely to be a standby lighting system. It is unlikely to meet the requirements of BS 5266 Pt1, Pt7 and Pt8 and therefore it cannot be consider meeting the standards as emergency escape lighting and/or escape route lighting system which is what you require. I agree with Garry, his solutions is most probably the best course of action and should employ the services of a specialist in designing emergency lighting systems to conduct a survey.