Tom Sutton

Are talking about a dogging facility? A dogging facility is a means of holding the latch bolts retracted to permit free passage through the door until released when the door is then secured. The legislation BS EN 1125 specifies that for fire/smoke door assemblies the panic device shall not include any form of dogging mechanism. Therefore such devices can only be used on escape doors.

It does but only the common areas from the front door of the flat to the final exit to outside the building, the flats themselves are covered by the Housing Act. If replacement windows are fitted, then they are subject to the building regulations and Approved Document B (fire Safety) volume 2: Premises other than Dwelling Houses could apply which requires habitable rooms not more than 4.5M above the ground, to have emergency egress windows, check out page 22.

With one door you have an travel in one direction only which means the travel distance should not exceed 18M and the number of occupants must not exceed 60. Also you have created an inner room situation, the factory floor being the access room, so check out https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/14882/fsra-factories-warehouses.pdf page 73.

Depending on the size of th premises then the only fire alarm required could be a category M system, (manual call points) only if there is fire risks that could develop unseen, is there a need for AFD. Only with a survey is it possible to determine if a Category L system is required. Only with a detailed plan or a survey is it possible to determine if the means of escape is satisfactory and if the alternate MoE is acceptable.

As far as I am aware the shev system control is totally separate to the fire alarm system and why would you want to interface it with the fire alarm. Check it out with the Smoke Control Association and https://www.secontrols.com/en-gb/installations/smoke-ventilation/guidance-regulations/ it may help.

The Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home cover a number of soft furnishing in the home but to my knowledge, not faux taxidermy or decorative wreaths and if so they do not need to be labelled, check the guidance.

The only reason I could think of or treating the decking would be to reduce the flame of spread and I cannot think why it would be necessary. Ask the landlord, can you see the fire risk assessment, which may give some reason. Another point to consider is why the landlord is getting involved in fire safety as he/she is not the Responsible Person (RP) under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 but you as the employer. Being the RP you are required to conduct a fire risk assessment (FRA) under the RR(FS)O and this situation would be included in the FRA. The other thing to consider is any agreements between you and the landlord.

I would agree with you it is all about risk assessment, I know some require a total ban and some a more reasonable approach, I think I would take the more reasonable approach, but it is important the tenants know the necessary limits.

Providing not to much needs to be removed from the corner of the door you should be alright.

If there is nobody in the room when the door is locked there will be nobody requiring it as a MoE.

As I have said, I agree all the guidance clearly do not accept curtains across doors/escape routes and in a new build it is the right way to go. However its all about risk assessment and in an existing premises I would consider the possibility, and with a good fire procedure I would consider it, when colonel bogey plays on the tannoy all the staff go to their appointed locations, open the curtains/doors then prepare for the charge. Not ideal but could be acceptable in certain situations.

I cannot guarantee the BCO would accept it, but I think there is a good chance he would, as long as it is done well and it is likely you will have to use a bespoke FD30s door, ask him/her.

Only if it is required to be a fire door which is not common, the door in the image appears not to be a FD30 door which is the norm and it is quite acceptable to hold it open, the only concern would be security.

It would be subject to a fire risk assessment and because of the small numbers it is likely to be acceptable. Most fire safety requirements are not legal or illegal, the words necessary is used often, it is all about risk assessment.

Most storage is a fire risk unless you are storing non-combustible items.

Couldn't you use the key to enter from the outside and use the push bar to exit from the inside?

I would like to add these comments to the previous submissions. When dealing with domestic situations all upholstered furniture should comply with Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home - A Guide to the UK Regulations guide 2 but when dealing with non-domestic situations like school you should use Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the contract and non-domestic sectors but sometimes the FFFSR is used which is not necessarily wrong. When dealing with non-domestic premises I would use Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the contract and non-domestic sectors and both use labels to prove the items conform however if you lose the labels then it is very difficult to prove your case. Any testing uses total destruction testing to prove the covering or filling material meet the necessary standard and having it retested is impossible for obvious reasons. I suppose it is possible to contact the manufacturer and if he/she accepts the furniture as his/her he may provide a replacement label, but very unlikely. If you propose to use Fire Retardant spray then the manufacturer would have to provide documents that guarantees when applied as instructed the furniture will conform to FFFSR or contract furniture again pretty unlikely. Replacing labels on upholstered furniture or furnishings is very difficult if not impossible so when refurbishing make sure all upholstered furniture or furnishings have their label securely attached and never buy without labels.

Assuming the side gaps are 3mm +/- 1mm then you could raise the door and reduce the top gap to 3mm +/- 1mm. Then add a larger hardwood lipping to the threshold or fit an suitable, adjustable smoke seal, to the threshold.

The viewing distance is calculated using the overall height of the graphic symbol not the border and the luminance is also considered. Check out BS 5499-4:2000.

The cupboard most probably contains a fire risk so consequently the cupboard should meet a 30 minute fire resisting standard because it is in a protected route, this is why they are asking for a FD30 fire door. The cost/who pays will be up to the Responsible Person and/or tenant's agreement.

I cannot see any problems if the bedroom door is only locked when unoccupied but I think you should have a key to be able to check the room when your teenager is not available, if you suspect a problem. Also you will have to swear on the bible, to your teenager, you will not enter unless absolutely necessary.?

There is no way of conforming to Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home - A Guide to the UK Regulations guide 2 by spraying the furniture you need to find the permanent label. However treating the furniture to BS 7176: 2007+A1: 2011 Specification for resistance to ignition of upholstered furniture for non-domestic seating by testing composites and if the spray can achieve that, then I think it could be acceptable. It has to achieve a low risk level but all is explained in Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the contract and non-domestic sectors.

The Responsible Person for the school has a duty to ensure The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is complied with and he/she can have competent persons (fire marshals) to assist him/her. If I was the RP and not in attendance I would want a competent person, preferably in his/her employ, to look after their interests to ensure the RR(FS)O is fully complied with. I believe this legal duty cannot be transferred, so the duty to comply remains with the RP of the school, who could be the Authority, Head Master/Mistress or management company. I think the external companies and groups will have their own staff but must take heed of the competent person and I would have written into the contract.

I suspect this is all about The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which requires the Responsible Person to conduct a Fire Risk Assessment under article 9 and part of it is reducing or eliminating fire risk to prevent fire starting or spreading. Upholstered furniture is a fire risk and to reduce that risk appling the Furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/ would achieve that and the label would prove it meets the required standard. You could apply Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the contract and non-domestic sectors but you would still need the label, just a different label to prove it complies.

Without knowing the layout of the premises it is impossible to give an informed response. Ask yourself what would happen if any of these appliance went on fire would all the tenants be able to escape to outside the premises, and not been prevented by heat or smoke.