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Tom Sutton

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Everything posted by Tom Sutton

  1. I am not aware of any such guidance but the current guidance is clear Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats, if a new door has to be fitted it must be FD30s fire door to the current standards and fitted with an approved self closer. If an existing front door is a well fitting, of substantial construction with an approved self closer then it can be accepted also I would require all door furniture meets the current standards. Consequently I would think to replace individual doors as necessary depending on door inspections.
  2. The front door is subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and needs to be a FD30s fire door with an approved self closer fitted, when installing a new front door. The inside of the flat is subject to The Housing Act 2004 and may be subject to the Building Regulations, consequently most internal doors are FD20 Fire Doors or well fitting substantial standard doors with no self closers. There may be situations where a a FD30 fire door is required for a kitchen depending on layout.
  3. It is impossible to give you an answer with the details you have provided, it could be acceptable on the other hand it may not be acceptable. I would need the answers to many more questions, like the layout, travel distances and others, so I would suggest you employ the services of a fire safety consultant to look at your proposals.
  4. The beeping noise is used to alert you to unsafe CO levels. It is usually in the form of 4 beeps, a pause, then 4 more beeps. This pattern is repeated continuously until the CO level drops or until you press the “mute” button. So this would indicate it detected CO, but as it cleared after your actions, I would imagine that an unsafe level of CO did not remain and a spike had activated the detector which is now cleared. What I would do is monitor the detector and if any of your actions repeat the situation take appropriate actions to prevent the spike. If you have any doubts contact the gas board and seek their advice.
  5. Without knowing the layout of the premises and the fire action plan you cannot give a reasonable answer.
  6. Is regulations necessary, it is pretty obvious to me it should be securely fitted as common sense would dictate.
  7. Tom Sutton

    Mr

    Harry as answered this one and you responded.
  8. Its clear to me , that is what harry is saying.
  9. Tom Sutton

    Making a bespoke FD30

    New fire doors has to meet the latest standards which means installing fire door sets, this means the fire door including the frame. It should have documentation proving it meets the required standard, plus details on all the door furniture, also full installation instructions. This means if you should alter the door in any way the certificate would be null and void. All this is subject to the Building Control Officer/Authorised Inspector final inspection so you need to get their opinions first before you start or the owner may not get a completion certificate.
  10. You are subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which requires the Responsible Person (RP), as designated by the regulations, to conduct a fire risk assessment (FRA), and has been the situation for the last 12 years. In your case the the RP is the resident association company therefore all of you share the role of RP, as directors. Yes you can conduct the FRA yourselves if you consider yourself competent to do so and I am assuming you are purpose built flats therefore the guidance would be Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats. Again assuming you do not employ anybody you do not require to record the significant findings but it is best to, as it makes it much easier when dealing with solicitors and others. Check out https://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-risk-assessment/ it may be of help.
  11. I am not aware of any and most information like that is recorded in the fire check log or a label attached to the item involved. Check out https://www.safelincs.co.uk/fire-safety-log-book/.
  12. Is the door square with the stile and it is the floor that is sloping or the reverse.
  13. A new fire door should be installed as a fire door set, which is the door and frame with a test report giving full instruction how it should be fitted. It will also give details on the door furniture and it is possible to obtain items such as fire-rated letter box, integrated door knocker and spy hole and hinges that meet the require fire resistance. Check out https://www.safelincs.co.uk/?fga=true&msclkid=e937157661da1ce34cc049719aab745b&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SL Text%3A Safelincs&utm_term=safelincs fire&utm_content=Safelincs and https://envirograf.com/ there are many more.
  14. Without seeing the situation I cannot give a definitive answer but it appears the very small square of communal hallway is the communal area and that's the area that needs a FRA, the Responsible Person is required to conduct a FRA who is the owner/leaseholder. The two doors off this areas should be FD30s doors and separation between the two flats should be to at least 30 minutes. The flat passed your front door is not subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 but by The Housing Act 2004 and you do need smoke and CO detectors which should be supplied by your landlord, check out The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015.
  15. All doors are designed to be opened in a normal manner not slammed open which in this case appears to pulled out the hinges which is possible if the forces are severe enough. The problem could be that it is not possible to refix the door because of a damaged stile not allowing the screws to be inserted and a new door is required.
  16. The only person who can clarify the situation is the Responsible Person, who in your case will be the landlord and should have conducted a fire risk assessment, listing the significant findings, which will include the removing of your fence. Removing or reducing fire risks, is part of the FRA but I accept fence material is capable of igniting but what is going to ignite it? The only person who can resolve your problem is your landlord so you need to speak to him/her.
  17. The situation regarding pet beds remains unclear. Discussions with enforcement officers regarding these products have indicated that they are outside the scope of the Regulations. However, they would still be expected to comply with the General Product Safety Regulations and therefore the enforcement officers might expect any foam used in these products to be Schedule 1 compliant as detailed in the Regulations. However, it is important to note that only a court of law would be able to decide whether or not this is the case. You could contact the enforcing authority, Trading Standards and see what they have to say.
  18. You are quite correct and an emergency stairwell should be kept sterile, but that is not always possible and you should reduce the fire risk to as low as possible. Could they be replaced with a more safer type of heater, is there any flammable materials close that the heaters could ignite and could they be interfered with by passer by. As I have said if they cannot be removed make them a safe as possible also check out the Fire Risk Assessment maybe they have been considered a significant finding.
  19. You could build a single brick or block wall with double brick piers to the height and length you require, or check out https://www.fireboards.co.uk/enviroboards-oil-tank-kits their kits may be suitable or check out https://uk.answersite.com/search?q=oil+tank+fire+barrier&ts=b&agid=1339205226295928&kwid=kwd-83700378478401%3Aloc-188&n=o&qsrc=0&src=jo&gch=&au=11690998&tt=T0002404&clickid=04af4b3a7f611b4885d91738d334b735&mkt=gbr&dev=c&adid=83700338940663&qstr=60+minute+fire+rated+barrier+for+oil+tank&utm_source=b&utm_medium=bcpc&msclkid=04af4b3a7f611b4885d91738d334b735&jtUidc=127eef02-2b74-429e-91ce-ad66bc923583&jtSessionRedirector=98d3ef67-ea1c-4124-94b5-ba4cf1140b7a and surf.
  20. If it is just wood and no upholstery then the base is not subject to any regulations, if it is upholstered then I would recommended meets Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the contract and non-domestic sectors, but in both cases the mattresses should meet Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the contract and non-domestic sectors. This because your premises is subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
  21. Only one test is required which should be at the same day, during working time and at the same time each week which will allow the occupants to realise it is a test. The chances of a fire occurring at the exact time if very remote so not a major concern, because it will only last a very short time and not continue, then it should not be confused with a fire alert.
  22. You could try a piece of obscure plastic over the LED which would reduce the glow considerable but would still visible which is all that is needed. Recently I purchased a automatic wireless light switch which had a red and green indicator and was covered by the cover with no vision holes, but it still allowed you to see the indicators through the plastic cover.
  23. Fifty/sixty years ago, guides and the building regulation guides referred to FD20 fire doors and cross corridor, smoke stop doors, where FD20 doors, fitted with cold smoke seals. Consequently manufacturers produced FD20 doors but over time, less and less guides referred to FD20 doors, therefore manufacturers thought it made more sense and reduced costs to only test to FD30 standard, which of course can be used as FD20 door. Nowadays very few if any fire doors are tested to the FD20 standard its all FD30 standard. I would imagine any door tested to the FD30 standard which fails but passes the FD20 level could be termed an FD20 door but would it be economic to produce them as they are very rarely called upon.
  24. I do not know what fire sticky tape around the latch when it’s in the door means, what is fire sticky tape?
  25. As far as I am aware it used to say in old guidance was clear of the floor, which was interpreted as 6 inches or there about. Ideally you should not have curtains covering exits but were curtains had been used for many years, then it continued to be accepted with conditions.
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