Tom Sutton

The arrow up means straight on which is the same convention that you would interpret from an arrow or direction information anywhere else. That is an understood convention. Check out arrow signs on traffic lights and road signs. The Standard BS 5499 Part 4 2000 is so simple and is replicated worldwide within ISO 7010 and ISO 16069 Safety Way-Guidance Standard. A possible solution could be if you put the sign on the floor like map it would point through the door, if you then raise it up to 90 degrees it points upwards, could it be why the upward arrow has been accepted for straight on.

I would ask him what guidance requires this and chapter and verse. If you get an answer lets know.

Being a charity bears no consideration and you are required to comply with the regulations.Check out Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home - A Guide to the UK Regulations and you will find, An amendment to the Regulations made in 1993 requires that all furniture supplied within rented accommodation (including those classified as ‘fixtures and fittings’) needs to meet the full requirements of the Regulations. These include holiday homes and residential furnished accommodation (such as houses, flats and bed-sits) which are let in the course of business, and affect persons who let such accommodation as a business activity. Furniture purchased since March 1990 should satisfy the Regulations and be permanently labelled. However, furniture purchased prior to this date will not necessarily satisfy all of the regulatory requirements. Furniture manufactured prior to 1950 is outside the scope of these Regulations. My interpretation would be any furniture which includes upholstered beds bases and mattresses bought between 1950 and 1993 cannot comply, therefore does not meet the requirements of the FFFSR therefore would have to be changed. First check it out with your Trading Standards. https://www.firesafe.org.uk/furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/

I must clarify that my response assumes the fire doors are fitted with intumescent strips as well as inch door stops, if not, then I do not recommend the breaking the continuity of the inch door stops for any distances.

Fire resistant glass must only be used as part of a fire resistant glazed system – which includes the glass, the glazing seal, beads, fixings and frame. All essential components of such a system must be compatible under fire conditions, and the performance must be referenced to appropriate and relevant test evidence. I do not think fitting FR glass to the back of existing glazing is sufficient and as Neil has said make sure it is a FD30s fire door. Check out http://www.lorientuk.com/products/fire-resistant-glazing-systems/

BS EN 13501 is an EC standard for the Fire classification of construction products and building elements. Classification using test data from reaction to fire tests, which in my opinion is not for door mats and BS 5287 Specification for assessment and labelling of textile floor coverings tested to BS 4790 is the relevant standards. In my opinion fire properties is not that important, what is more important is if it is a tripping hazard and cannot see any reasons why you cannot use a standard non slip door mat providing it is not a tripping hazard.

In the 1970's fire doors were tested to BS 476 part 8 and required an inch (25mm) doors stop to pass the test. Later that decade intumescent strips (IS) were introduced to improve the fire resistance and it was claimed the inch stops prevented the heat getting to the IS making it less effective. By the time BS 476 part 22 was introduced the inch rebates had been removed and the fire doors passed the new test, which was more demanding, indicating that with IS you didn't require inch rebates. Consequently I would suggest providing the lock doesn't break the continuity of the IS the fire doors integrity will not be reduced.

Not enough information it would depend on the layout of the flat, travel distance and the height of the building. It is very likely you are subject to the building regulations and should study Approved Document B (fire Safety) volume 2: Premises other than Dwelling Houses and check out B1 section 2.

The purpose of testing the alarm is to test some of the components and ensure the alarm s working, also to allow all relevant persons to hear what the alarm sounds like and ensure they can hear the alarm. It should be tested at the same time each week so relevant persons realise it is most likely a fire alarm test. Consequently the Responsible Person is not carrying out the recommended procedure.

I think you are addressing this query to the wrong forum you are more likely to get a better reply from a website like the RSPB. Check out https://www.pigeoncontrolresourcecentre.org/html/reviews/kill-pigeons-pigeon-traps-killing-pigeons.html and you are not the only one I have problems with the beasts.

It all depends on the fire risk assessment and what level of fire resistance is needed. It is likely it would need to meet the medium hazard when tested to BS 7176: 2007 Specification for resistance to ignition of upholstered furniture for non-domestic seating by testing composites and carry the appropriate label or equivalent. You would most likely need to have documented proof to establish any claims made. You should study Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the contract and non-domestic sectors to see how complicated it is.

If the lock suggested by AB can be fitted then it is made of stainless steel and should not be affected by the elements with good maintenance, I would need to know a lot more details to give a complete answer.

Further to my response above I would suggest you have the front doors assessed to see what needs to be done to achieve the required standard, http://fdis.co.uk/ may be able to help.

You need to speak to the building control officer but he may accept a hardwood lipping to the bottom of the door within 3mm +/- 1mm of the normal floor level with a similar gaps on all other gaps.

I cannot give a definitive answer without seeing the full layout, but no, a hallway smoke alarms will not provide adequate fire safety and all front doors need to be updated to FDs fire doors.

Before you start considering signage you need to look at means of escape, how far do people have to travel to get to a place of relative safety. Check out https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-risk-assessment-factories-and-warehouses.

How many people are involved, how wide is the exits, what is the travel distance and are they true alternatives?

Mark not strictly true the building is designed to prevent a fire in the flat of origin spreading to any other flat in the building for a minimum of 60 minutes, which should allow the fire and rescue service to get to the premises and extinguish the fire before anybody has to leave the building.

Firstly what is a Q key for dry riser outlets I though they just used standard yale rim locks. You could check out https://www.easylocks.co.uk/fb-fire-brigade-keys and see if they can help.

I think the first thing to consider is, the FRA is not always recorded, it depends on the number of persons employed by the Responsible Person and if it is recorded I cannot find anywhere, the RP is required to make it available to anybody except an inspecting officer. So as far as I can see it is up to the Responsible Person (RP) who he provides with a copy of the FRA, (if there is one) other than the inspecting officer. Check out The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

I think the first thing to consider is, the FRA is not always recorded, it depends on the number of persons employed by the Responsible Person and if it is recorded I cannot find anywhere, the RP is required to make it available to anybody except an inspecting officer. So as far as I can see it is up to the Responsible Person (RP) who he provides with a copy of the FRA, (if there is one) other than the inspecting officer. Check out The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

I cannot imagine why not but you would need to consider the means of escape scheme for the whole building and why you would wish to erect a costly external escape staircase?

The same applies to Approved Document B (fire Safety) volume 2: Premises other than Dwelling Houses look up the section, "main changes in the 2006 edition".

It is impossible to say without a fire risk assessment you need to study the appropriate guidance for The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which can be found at https://www.firesafe.org.uk/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005/. As for the kitchenette the guide for factories state, Particular hazards in corridors and stairways used as escape routes Items that are a source of fuel, pose an ignition risk, or are combustible and likely to increase the fire loading or spread of fire, should not be located on any corridor or, stairway or circulation space that will be used as an escape route. Such items include: • portable heaters, e.g. bottled gas (LPG) or electric radiant heaters and electric convectors or boilers; • gas cylinders for supplying heaters; • cooking appliances; and • unenclosed gas pipes, meters, and other fittings. However, where more than one escape route is available and depending on the findings of your risk assessment, items such as those below may be acceptable if the minimum exit widths are maintained and the item presents a relatively low fire risk: • non-combustible lockers; • vending machines; • small items of electrical equipment (e.g. photocopiers); and • small coat racks and/or small quantities of upholstered furniture which meets BS 7176 or the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.

Cotton is not fire retardant unless it is treated, so search the web to see how this can be done. Next samples have to be made and tested by an approved testing station to BS 5852 and if they pass, all cushion inserts made to that specification would meet the requirements of the Furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/. Then all that needs to be done is fit the appropriate label in accordance with the regulations.