Tom Sutton

Does Not Harry's answer immediately above answer yours?

Very acceptable, once you are on the public thoroughfare you would be safe from a fire why would you want to return.

check out https://www.aico.co.uk/faqs/why-is-my-alarm-beeping/ may help.

I think this a complicated one and you need the advice of the local council or the https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/. If the building is an HMO can you turn a self contained flat into another HMO, a hmo within a hmo? Have you considered the lodger route, find out if you can you may find it more simple than a HMO.

Ideally it should be hard wired but it is not legally required but a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector is required by The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 . The http://privatehousinginformation.co.uk/site/files/LACORS RRO guide 08.pdf is guidance not law but if the premises is auditored by the Fire and Rescue Service they may ask for it.

Were the two lifts in a single shaft?

Of course. All doors that can be used by occupants to escape outside from a fire are fire exit doors but those not in normal use, have appropriate signs showing that the door can be used to escape from a fire and are fitted with securing devices that can be easily opened during the time the premises are occupied. Consequently all doors can be used for either escaping from a fire or normal ingress or exit depending on the door furniture.

There is no definitive list for a Premises Operational information (emergency packs) for the fire and rescue service, they could vary with each building but you will find useful guidance in BS9999 and BS 9991. You should consult with the local Fire and Rescue Services and I am sure they will be more than welcome to assist.

None.

You cannot tell much from the photographs you need the assistance of a fire safety assessor on site.

You need to find out which legislation is being enforced, is it The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 or the The Housing Act 2004 and why. I would contact a solicitor specialising in fire safety, but depending on the terms of your lease you could be required to contribute to the cost of such work.

The current standard (work in hand) states the manufacturer may recommend the use two hinges under special conditions, if experience allows to demonstrate adequate performance of the door. Consequently I would think you would need to study the documentation that accompanies the door or contact the manufacturer.

If it is to be locked then it will only be available to authorised personnel and I am sure they will be well aware of the dangers. Also I am not totally sure, but are sutch notice only required for high voltage equipment not low or medium.

What you are seeking is a simple answer to a complex question which does not exist, you need a FRA to get the answer which will have to take into account fire alarms installed, travel distances, plus other factors than need to be considered. Check out https://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-risk-assessment/ and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-risk-assessment-offices-and-shops

I think your problem is you cannot consider only your flat, the FRA should cover the whole of the building so you need to get the cooperation of all the owners who under the RR(FS)O are the Responsible Persons.

The guidance for hinges was, they must have a minimum melting point of 800 °C requirement. The hinges selected should be adequate in numbers and performance for the use category, size and weight of door to be supplied and be compatible with the fire resistance of door and frame and with any self-closing device that may be fitted. The current standard is BS EN 1935:2002 still doesn't mention the type of material only the 800O C but must be subjected to the test in the standard. So I would think the brass hinges were satisfactory when installed but may not be now, consequently I would think it is not necessary to change now, if they are still efficient, but if new fire doors are fitted they should meet the current standard.

I stand corrected, after a little research I realized definitions had changed in 2006 but also the RR(FS)O still applies to the common areas so my suggestions still apply. Check out with the local council and FRS to see if there is any agreements, if not, then the RR(FS)O may be the best route to go.

Just to clarify your submission "I would just need to get a carpenter to fit a closer and intumescent smoke strips" it should read intumescent strips and cold smoke seals both have differing purposes.

From what you have said you are not a HMO, however any common areas are subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the person/persons defined as the Responsible Person (RP) has a duty to conduct a Fire Risk Assessment amongst other things. You are using the correct guidance FIRE SAFETY Guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing. The owners of all the flats are most likely to be designated the RP and the have to co-operate with each other. Firstly you must establish your legal position by contacting a solicitor that specialises in Fire Safety and make the other owners aware of their duties. If they will still not cooperate get the local Fire and Rescue Service involved as they are the enforcement authority.

I do not understand what is "Fire health and safety service"I think you need to ask them a lot of questions, I have never heard of it. I think they need to give a full explanation what it is all about.

Ideally they should be left open but it all depends on the occupancy how many people are likely to be in the store after 10.00 pm, till all the doors are reopened, also it the means of escape (MoE) compromised, are any of these doors required as an alternative MoE. A Fire Risk Assessment should have been carried out to decide if closing the doors is acceptable and you would need more information before you could give a positive response .

As the freeholder of the building, consequently the owner, I think you are the Responsible Person according to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and subject to its articles. Article 14.-(1) states, Where necessary in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, the responsible person must ensure that routes to emergency exits from premises and the exits themselves are kept clear at all times. Because the infringement is caused by somebody else and you have done in your power to prevent the infringement, you have a defence and the other person is responsible. This is complicated situation you need legal advice from a lawyer who specializes in fire safety like http://www.safetylawyers.co.uk/fire-safety/ but I am sure there are others and I am sure there would be able to give advice how to proceed to resolve the matter. Check out Responsible Person (Duty Holder) in flats or maisonettes.

Too little information you do not even say the type of premises. You do not state the kind of fire escape you intend installing and why you are considering such a proposal. I does appear that it could be subject to building regulation and consequently you would need to discuss it with your local building control. You need to give a full description of the building and why you need a fire escape, also is any legislation involved. There may be further questions after that.

I think it is crazy for not complying for a piece of legislation that didn't exist without a means of complying, when it was later included, other than deposing of the items.

Internal and external doors is a description where a door is located not its fire resistance properties. A flat whose entrance door opens onto a common staircase, the door needs to be a FD30s fire door and in the case for a grade 2 listed buildings they cannot be modified without first obtaining Listed Building Consent through the relevant local planning authority, so they should be contacted.