Tom Sutton

It does appear that many schools fitted with fire sprinklers do extend them into toilets and there has been fires extinguished by them. However this would be up to the sprinkler design engineer to decide the layout and if they are required in toilets. https://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030337104

As far as I can see it depends on the temperature of the room, if you study the links above I am sure you will find the answer.

You do not require an escape window if you have a protected escape route (protected staircase enclosure) to outside the premises. As for the size I cannot help you there check with planning or building control.

I think it is sufficient to know that fire will spread upwards, sidewards and downwards, fastest upwards, slower sidewards, even slower downwards but will spread in all directions depending on the construction. If you want a more scientific approach then google "research on downwards spread of fire" I am sure someone will have researched it. For a new flats development, an architect would use ADB or BS 9991 or an engineered solution, I know ADB or BS 9991 requires 60 mins separation between every dwelling which I think would not be achieved by a double layer of plasterboard, but I would need to research that.

First of all what type of fire door are we discussing a FD30 or FD30s fire door. If it is a FD30 door then intumescent air transfer grill could be acceptable and to do what you suggest I would contact the manufacturer to obtain their advice.

It looks like the staircase is open to the dining room which would not be acceptable, again a proper drawing is required and I would not try to give any suggestions without it.

I cannot make sense of the drawing, you need a proper architects drawing with measurements and what is half hour fire resistant.

I cannot see why not the fire inspector will take the responsibility and I suspect he/she will be calling you back if you do not get it right.

No requirement for full 30-minute protected route all doors should be FD20 fire doors. However well fitting sound conventional doors/construction are acceptable, also the travel distance should not be excessive. All except the door to the internal garage, which remains a garage until you convert it to a habitable room, should have full FD30s fire door and be fitted with a approved self closer.

If the sign is indicating to use this door, it sounds you do not have an option however I would ensure the upwards point arrow is next to the door, next to the pictogram, next to the lettering.

All through the fire safety legislation it emphasizes the need to be a competent person and if you are not, then you could be in trouble but if you wish to consider installing fire stopping products then become a competent person. It's a matter of training and self study, I would start with http://asfp.org.uk/ and check out their publications.

All sounders should be tested weekly on the weekly test and 12 month period, if any occupant doesn't hear the alarm or has difficulty in hearing the alarm should report it, the management/service engineer who should then investigate it. I cannot see how a two person team could test the sounders without a great degree of disruption with the sound continually going off.

If you have a lock with a removable key then it should be available for use if required, mine I keep in the lock. I would imagine the height is based on what is considered a high window cill (bathroom for instant) but once set, do you allow a tolerance, which ADB doesn't, then it is left up to the enforcing officer and some, I am afraid, are code huggers.

They are arbitrary figures and if you convert them to floors less than 18m is about 6 floors reaching about halfway up the 7 Floor, above 18 m will be 8 floor so dealing with fractions of a metre is not called for. Also fighting a fire in an a building eight storeys or more, has to be fought from inside the building, because the availability of ariel appliances and their capability are limited and I believe the extra protection is needed.

This is a security problem check it out with a security firm/forum and I am sure they will be able suggest suitable doors which will also meet fire safety standards.

This sounds like an inner room situation and is not acceptable in Approved Document B (fire Safety) volume 2: Premises other than Dwelling Houses see page 21, 34, and 36 also check out the index.

It should be acceptable if you fit intumescent pads on the lock and hinges see the following video https://www.labc.co.uk/news/how-to-install-fire-door-properly. If you have to satisfy an enforcement office check with them first.

If the curtain interferes with the opening of the fire door then it is not acceptable and your fire risk assessment is likely to have it removed.

I do not have the current BS 5266 pt 1 I only have the 2011 version therefore I am not sure whether I should respond to this submission but I will, however you must consider my response with caution. In my copy of BS 5266 it states batteries for self contained luminaires should have a declared life of 4 years and notes that the full specification can be found in 60598-2-22. So to conform to BS 5266 you need batteries having a declared life of 4 years. So when you purchase the luminaires check the battery to see if it conforms and/or contact the manufacturer to check which standards the luminaires conform to if it does not appear in the tech information. Consequently if at a later date, you are challenged you can prove you have done everything possible to conform to the standards. There are no local authority regulations regarding EM lighting, they use the same guidance you have access to, it is all about interpretation and enforcement officers may differ from your interpretation. There is about twelve references to BS EN 60598-2-22 in my edition of BS 5266 and you would need to have the BS EN to check them out, unfortunately I do not have access to a copy.

Can't you use your standard template and extend it to cover inside the flats or are you after a tick box thing.

No prob!

As long as it is readable it should be fine but you may get some suspicious glances from inspectors but you will be able to explain yourself.

The dictionary defines it as a two-storey building or two floor building. The description of floors vary between us and over the pond, we say ground floor, first floor and second floor, their ground floor in 1st floor.

Check out https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-in-support-of-functional-provisions-for-healthcare-premises it varies to the DCLG guidance and it may be worth speaking to Building Control as construction is involved.

Looking at Approved Document B (fire Safety) volume 2: Premises other than Dwelling Houses page 23 both are acceptable depending on layout and travel distances, however who did the means of escape (MoE) must have considered that the kitchen needed a fire resistant enclosure which meant fitting a fire door. Assuming this is a converted premises then HOUSING – FIRE SAFETY Guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing applies and it appears they are using domestic smoke and interlinked heat alarms to secure the MoE. Like all these situations the internet can only help and you cannot give a definitive answer you need to do a physical inspection as there are many things to take into consideration.