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Tom Sutton

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  1. Tom Sutton
    Yes they are but are not subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Scotland has its own fire safety law The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006. For detailed info check out http://www.firelawscotland.org/. .
  2. Tom Sutton
    Yes it will compromise the integrity of the fire door. Timber will char at a steady rate. However, in the case of an arris, e.g. at the leaf edge, heat energy will be supplied in two directions simultaneously, resulting in rounding of the arris due to charring at a rate apparently greater than that of charring on a flat surface. This phenomenon is recognized in BS 5268 - 4.1. Hardwood is the normal material for door lippings because of its toughness and ability to resist wear and tear. Hardwood is generally denser than softwoods and therefore have a lower charring rate which is of additional value when considering fire exposure. Intumescent or heat activated fire seals and smoke seals may be fitted into door lippings. The thickness of the lipping will have to be sufficient to accommodate grooves that will accept the fire and smoke seals. Lippings of 8 mm minimum thickness are generally found adequate and these are normally butt jointed to the door core edge. To ease the door a maximum of 3mm each side may be removed from the lippings but none from the top. Test evidence substantiating the use of a particular form of construction when tested and incorporates lippings should not be considered to substantiate a similar form of construction where no lipping is incorporated.
  3. Tom Sutton
    First ADF states 10mm above the finished floor The 20mm above the floorboards is to allow for a carpet to be fitted leaving 10mm above the finished floor. Therefore the gap is 10mm. The guidance in British Standard BS 8214:1990 Code of practice for Fire door assemblies with non-metallic leaves, states the gaps around the door is 2mm to 4mm top and sides. The threshold should not exceed 8mm. However if the gap is 10mm I am reasonably certain it would be accepted.
  4. Tom Sutton
    Hi Dawn another guide which maybe a little advanced for your needs but worth a look. http://www.communiti.../pdf/150865.pdf
  5. Tom Sutton
    The first place to try is Fire Kills there is plenty of fire safety advice there. You could also try an internet search for "Fire Safety in Schools" I found a Scottish document Fire Safety in Schools which is a little out of date, consequently where it refers to Workplace Regulations insert The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. A more technical publication is Building Bulletin No 100 which maybe a little advanced for your needs but worth a look.
  6. Tom Sutton
    Sorry if the link didn't work try http://www.cieh.org/...guidance_08.pdf
  7. Tom Sutton
    I am not a legal expert but as a domestic premises you are not subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 but you are subject to other regulations checkout http://www.landlordz...rent-a-room.htm and see the section on Health and Safety. You also have a moral duty of care to your lodgers and I would suggest you implement the guidance in http://www.cieh.org/...guidance_08.pdf to ensure your premises meet a reasonable fire safety standard.
  8. Tom Sutton
    The Regulations apply to upholstered furniture (including beds) supplied with new caravans. The Regulations do not apply to motor homes/camper vans. However it should be noted that holiday caravan parks are similar to chalet hotels and therefore fall into a grey area. As a minimum it is recommended that the level of safety should not be less than that required by the Regulations and it is recommended that the operator seeks advice from a recognised expert. The Regulations do not apply to sleeping bags, bedclothes (including duvets), loose covers for mattresses (i.e. mattress protectors), pillowcases, curtains and carpets. However, it is important to note that these products are covered under General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR) The above statements are a direct lift from the guide Check out the FIRA flammability guide http://www.fira.co.u...ber-2011pdf.pdf it should tell you all you need to know. You could also check out an overview of the subject on our website http://www.firesafe....81989-and-1993/ but the FIRA guide gives a more in depth information. If you need expert advice contact FIRA.
  9. Tom Sutton
    Check out http://www.lacors.gov.uk/lacors/upload/21063.pdf you should find all you need in this guide.
  10. Tom Sutton
    Further to Harry,s comments the answer is yes, (if necessary) and it should have been considered when the premises were built. The relevant document is ADB, vol2 download from http://www.planningp...pp_Doc_B_v2.pdf You have to understand what is meant by emergency lighting it is divided in to, 1. Emergency escape lighting it is lighting provided for use when the supply to the normal lighting fails in the event of a fire and remains illuminate for short period, maximum 3 hours. The are further divisions if emergency escape lighting, they are escape route lighting, open area lighting and high risk task area lighting. 2. Standby lighting which is provided to enable normal activities to continue substantially unchanged and this is not required by regulation. Check out BS EN 1838:1999/BS 5266-7:1999.
  11. Tom Sutton
    If you require cold smoke seals then your fire risk assessment should have made reference to them. To be certain check up with the risk assessor who did your FRA.
  12. Tom Sutton
    Hi Charlie Harry answered your question for me and having the frame makes it much more compliant.
  13. 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
  14. Tom Sutton

    Exit width

    Tom Sutton replied to a topic in Fire Exits

    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.
  15. Tom Sutton
    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.
  16. Tom Sutton
    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?
  17. Tom Sutton
    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.
  18. Tom Sutton
    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/
  19. Tom Sutton
    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.
  20. Tom Sutton
    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.
  21. Tom Sutton
    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.
  22. Tom Sutton
    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.
  23. Tom Sutton
    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.
  24. Tom Sutton
    More technical information sheets you may find useful. http://www.ifsa.org.uk/guidance.html
  25. Tom Sutton
    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.
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