Tom Sutton

If you use double swing hinges and not pivot hinges how do you fit an automatic door closer, to the full 180 degrees, also which standard, covers them, because they are not single axis hinges?

Since July 2013, CE Marking is mandatory for construction products covered by harmonised European Standards (hENs), when placed on the market. So it appears CE marks where not required when the initial fire doors where installed, all the guidance said, there should be 3 and be made of material with a melting point ln excess of 8000 C. Installation of fire doors have improved over the last few years and chippy’s like your self are far more knowledgeable than before. I think you should do those things you are contracted to do and if you see other things you consider should be attended to, and then advise the Responsible Person.

Check out http://www.toxicsofa.com/

You need to seek advice from an expert on building regulations and you would need check to see if your proposals would be considered Material Alterations. If it is not, then to my understanding it will not be subject to building regulations but you need to confirm this with an expert. Check out page 8 of https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/485420/BR_PDF_AD_B1_2013.pdf

Creating obstructions across means of escape routes is not acceptable and there are solutions to the reasons why obstruction are used. For example vulnerable persons using the fire exit at inappropriate times, the door can be fitted with devices that allow people to egress but warns those in charge that the fire exit is or been used. If you leave the fire exit open for ventilation purposes and vulnerable people may use it, then sort out the ventilation.

As it is most likely to be an existing premises, as AB said, you should be using the appropriate DCLG guides. so check out https://www.firesafe.org.uk/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005/ If you are carrying out work that is subject to the Building Regulations then you should be using one of there three guides that was used during contruction and do not cherry pick, use only one guide for the whole of the building. Check out https://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-risk-assessment/ and https://www.firesafe.org.uk maybe useful.

It sounds like the detector, detected CO or other gasses, above the trigger point and gave a warning, but it dissipated quickly, which can happen. I would suggest you have the appliance, the CO detector is protecting, check out and tell the engineer what happened. I have heard of situations where exhaust fumes from a nearby road has been blow though a vent and actuated the CO detector inside, keep an eye on it.

When you say, "Communal door to block of flats" do you mean the final exit door to the public thoroughfare.

I think no green light would indicate no mains supply and the flashing red light would indicate low battery, if this is correct, then you need an electrician to check the mains supply to the detector base plate.

Have you carried out the maintenance guidance in the user manual that came with the detector and if that was not sucessful return to Sprue Safety Products Ltd under the warranty. Check out FireAngel ST-750 Manual.

If this door is required for means of escape then it needs to be accessible at all times, from the inside, the building is occupied, it could be fitted with an alarm to tell the tenants that some person has opened it, so it could be investigated.

The staircase, as it stands, does not meet the minimum width of ADB therefore reducing in more, is unlikely to be acceptable. If this is is about evacuating any disabled person then you need to look at other solutions and I see this as a problem in all blocks of flats.

ALL exits from the building are fire exits and if in constant use do not need to be indicated with fire exit signs, those that are infrequently used should have a fire exit signs to indicate this is a route to ultimate safety. The means of securing the final exit doors will depend on the occupancy and the numbers likely to use them. Which door you use as the main entrance is irrelevant and you should produce a drawing of your proposals to submit the Building Control, also to allow a Fire Risk Assessor to check out the means of escape.

Firstly I assume we are talking about England or Wales. What do you mean by using building regulations, do you mean, Approved Document B, BS 9999 or BS 7974 and what do you mean by building standards?

I am not aware of any guidance on that particular situation, however BS 9990 says it should be fitted on an external wall and in most buildings I have had dealing with, they usually located in a reasonable large protected lobby. In my opinion the refuge is irrelevant, as the refuge is for a short term stay and should be cleared before the arrival of the FRS. If the management fail in their duty then the first fire crews will remove ant disable people before the dry riser is used.

Any covering across the exit route that inhibits the means of escape, needs careful consideration, for instance door curtains in theatres or cinemas are not recommended, (places of assembly). However it is about fire risk assessment and you have to decide to what degree the MoE will be inhibited and what degree of hazard will exist. Without seeing the door and as you say "the signage being out of sight and the blind blocking the exit in a panic situation" it appears not acceptable. Is it not possible to cover only the window itself?

It is recommended by BS 8214 that overpainting be limited to a maximum of five coats of conventional oil-bound paint or varnish.This applies to intumescent seals but I believe it would also apply to the door in general. When preparing a frame for redecorating, the use of heat or chemical strippers should be avoided if intumescent seals are incorporated. If seals are damaged by either of these processes, they should be replaced. If glazing beads have been painted with intumescent paint, it is essential that they be repainted with a similar paint. Consequently if you stay within the above guidance and if you strip the door first I would imagine you could easily achieve these recommendations.

Fine

Being cynical is a good trait for a fire risk assessor in the past I have trusted those in control of the money and been let down, worst of all, if things had gone pear shaped, I know who would have been hung up to dry. I am not sure about the smoke detector in the cupboard, what type of system are you going to install, it could be fraught with problems. Although fire safety checks would be ideal to my knowledge it is not common, and the FRS inspecting officers rely on regular FRA's to maintain standards.

Furniture within chalet hotels and holiday apartments is a grey area. Whilst holiday apartments and houses are specifically covered by the FFFSR, hotels are not and are covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which governs the fire safety of non-domestic premises. Some areas such as holiday camps and chalet hotels straddle both sectors and it is, therefore, difficult to give clear guidance. As a minimum it is recommended that the level of safety should not be less than that required by the Regulations. It appears it is subject to the FFFSR so check out Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home - A Guide to the UK Regulations guide 2 page 20 so cushion pads for domestic purposes would be acceptable.

Check out https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/8079/Determination_on_the_suitability_and_sufficiency_of_a_fire_risk_assessment_in_a_hotel....pdf and Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats says a similar situation could apply to flats. (page 98, 62.17)

I am assuming you want to fit a piece of plywood in the space above a fire door and the ceiling, I suppose to use as a sign. Has the caretaker explained why it is against fire safety rules?

Not very long ago a landlord and a fire risk assessor was jailed for not producing an adequate FRA I would suggest you include in your FRA all items you consider a significant finding, if the RP considers them not to be, it is up to him/her to ignore it. Deciding if a fire door meets the required standard is not easy, if you do not have written documentation, you could conduct research in this area, or get a FDIS inspector to provide it, but unfortunately it will cost. Because of the location of the meter cupboard it should be enclosed to a FR standard and the fire door fitted with a lock, with appropriate signs fitted. If the tenants keep leaving it open then explain to them, the dangers of arson and the possibility their escape route, in a fire, could be impassable, try to educate them.

Since 1987 and the introduction of BS 476 p 22 and 3, FD30 fire doors have required intumescent strips and FD30s fire doors require strips and cold smoke seals. Prior to that they did not require strips/seals but they did use inch/25mm rebates and are considered acceptable today providing they are substantial, well fitting in good order. However if they are in a poor condition they should be replaced with fire doors meeting the latest standard.

I was woke up in the early morning, by a low battery warning from my smoke detector in the hall the other day, got up and removed the battery and pressed the hush button, but the warning continued, so I looked in the front room and found a CO detector singing merrily, changed the batteries and went back to bed happy. I was convinced it was the smoke detector in the hall.?