Tom Sutton

Firstly it depends whether you need a FD30s fire door, does it opens into a common area or does it open to fresh air. Secondly I would question the price, it seems a little high, I would be asking for a least three quotes.

Bulkhead emergency lights would be suitable providing they provide the required levels of illumination. When you test the EL system you should follow it up with an inspection to ensure the batteries are fully charged, no broken bulbs and they are relatively clean which should be done by a competent person and could be done in house. A person is to be regarded as competent for the purposes of this article where he has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable him properly to assist in undertaking the preventive and protective measures. Check out BS 5266-1.

The common areas of your premises and any shops are subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Responsible Person's (RP's) should have conducted a fire risk assessment.(FRA) The RP's are the employers and/or the owner/freeholder/managing agents of any common areas that are not a commercial premises. The “lack of adequate fire separation and fire safety arrangements” is far too general you need a detailed description to make any comments. You should contact the person who made the comments and see if he/she could be more explicit or check out the FRA which should be able to help. Check out and study the above regulation or you could obtain the help of a fire risk assessor.

Assuming the fire alarm is a grade A system to a L1 standard with a guarantee of adequate maintenance it looks like the first AI accepted the fire alarm as a compensatory factor for the deviation from the ADB but the second BCO did not. The Building Regulations are functional requirements which means if you can find an alternative acceptable solution to the ADB requirement the AI/BCO may accept it. You can negotiate with the Local Building Control and if you do not get satisfaction you can appeal, but if you do you should get assistance from a building regs expert. check https://www.gov.uk/guidance/building-regulations-appeals--6.

Looking at the image I can see why you are concerned but without detailed plans of the premises or/and a physical survey I cannot give an acceptable response and as you should know without a large amount of information it is irresponsible to try. If this area is part of the building, not an add on, then compartmentation should be consider and if the means of escape could be compromised the that needs serious consideration as this floor has little fire resistance,certainly not the minimum 30 minutes.

You may, you should speak to your local Building Control they could consider it a material alteration.

Yes as the Responsible Person and have a communal area then you do need to complete a FRA. Check The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

If you consider it a trip hazard then you should deal with it.

Are you familiar with the the construction of the floor/roof as the decking would have to be laid on a more substantial construction.

It is best answered by an electrician who should be familiar with theThe 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2018) as it is unlikely to be covered by BS 5266-1.

There is no specified clearance as long as the door can be opened to its full width and it doesn't cause a restriction of the width of the mean of escape.

Not necessary treat them as cupboards in accordance with AB response above.

You would have to find a way of communicating with the fire marshals or nominated persons who would initiate the evacuation in their designated area by maybe radio or even mobile smart phone. Maybe in small premises word of mouth would be satisfactory. During the maintenance the engineer maybe able to still monitor the detectors and activate the sounders manually. I think this query would be better dealt with by http://firealarmengineers.com/forum/index.php I am sure most engineers will have had such a problem during their career.

Does he cook for himself or is he classed as a lodger and how many are there in the house. Taking into account his inexperience and lack of training I would suggest you invest in a 1ltr Water Mist Fire Extinguisher which should deal with any small fires he is likely to get involved with, with worrying if he is using the correct extinguisher, as it will deal with ABC and electric fires providing he follows the guidance of the manufacturers. Check out https://www.firesafe.org.uk/types-use-and-colours-of-portable-fire-extinguishers/ and https://www.safelincs.co.uk/1-litre-water-mist-fire-extinguisher-ultrafire/.

It is impossible to give a definitive answer without a intimate knowledge of the premises without plans or a survey of the premises it is impossible to conduct an acceptable means of escape design. Your sketchy description is nowhere enough.

Being a private domestic premises you are not subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 but are to the Building Regulations and I would suggest you use Approved Document B (Fire Safety) Vol 1 as a guide. It is usual accepted that any escape doors catering for less that sixty persons can open inwards so double hall doors will not have to open the direction of exit. To your three questions, 1. the door between the utility room and hall corridor - does this need to be a fire door? There will be a door to the garden from the other side of the utility. No , as the utility room does not need to be a fire resistance construction and there is an alternate means of escape, providing you can get from the garden to the public thoroughfare. 2.the double doors at the bottom of the stairs - these need to be fire doors. Can they be glazed? Yes providing they meet a full 30 minutes fire resistance as these doors require to be FD30 fire doors also the cupboard under the stairs need the meet a full 30 minutes fire resistance. 3. do bathroom and shower room doors on the first floor need to be fire doors? No, providing there are no sources of ignition in either. Has your plans been passed if they have I am surprised these points were not raise with you. Without having a intimate knowledge of the premises I cannot be definitive but I am sure these points will be raised when visited by the BC/AI if not discussed at planning stage.

Article 14 (b) of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states in the event of danger, it must be possible for persons to evacuate the premises as quickly and as safely as possible, so if a dangerous event should occur then the Responsible Person would be guilty of an offence under the order and it would be up to the Fire and Rescue Service to prosecute him/her. However if the occupants are not in danger, then the RP is not guilty of an offence however the RP should be informed so he/she should formulate a procedure to rectify the situation for the future.

The notice that fell off, was it a display label or a permanent label. Check out Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home A Guide to the UK Regulations FIRA

Is this a single domestic dwelling because will dictate the guidance to used and a architectural drawing or a single line drawing would be much better, also showing the whole of the floor area.The plans you submitted to building control would be ideal.

Hinges for fire doors need to conform to BS EN 1935 and it states " It shall not be possible to remove the hinge pin or separate the hinge element of the door assembly without the use of special tools " as rising butt hinges cannot achieve this, they are not suitable for fire doors. Check out https://www.firesafe.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/docs/guide1935.pdf and BS EN 1935 : 2002

Is the luminaires self contained or central batteries and is the cabling fire resistance is doesn't need to be MICC cable there are other fire resistance wire.

Have you tested the unit by pressing the test button and holding it for 10 secs. This will also reset the detector and the green led should show and the red led should blink every 40 secs. If this doesn't happen contact Ei electronics.

I am afraid the British Standard doesn't cater for solar panels only the normal electric supply or generators, therefore guidance on many items concerning solar panels are not dealt with, like the size of batteries for instance. Check out Fire Industry Association they may be able to help.

What is fire rating of the doors are they FD30/60 or FD30/60s doors and is the glazing fire rated?

Trying to detect a false alarm is extremely difficult and the first port of call is to determine if it is a faulty unit by replacing the unit also checking the electrical wiring. Therefore I would suggest you contact the council, bager them if necessary, to have it replaced and the wiring checked. As a safety consideration you could purchase a grade F2 detector (battery only) fixing it with double sided sticky tape, until your system is repaired, or contact the local Fire Service to see if they can help. Check out https://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/.