Tom Sutton

The fire alarm test is detailed in https://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-alarms/ and the weekly test is done by operating a manual call point to ascertain if the fire alarm is working and everybody can hear it. The building could have a stay put policy therefore may not be a fire alarm it could be there to operate the automatic opening vents. (AOV) Without more information I cannot give you a more definitive answer.

You are correct but it is possible to get thinner doors which meet FD30 standard, but unusual, if you cannot get any documentation to prove they are FD30, then stick with the 44mm rule.

Depends on its location, the glass panel could be a vision panel in an inner room situation and would be required. In most cases it is a health and safety matter, to prevent an accident, if two people on opposite sides of the door try to open it at the same time. You can decorate it anyway you choose providing you keep the require signs and do not increase the spread of flame to high levels, (usually no more than 4 or 5 coats of paint or vanish).

Are you the owner/freeholder of the building as he/she is the Responsible Person and it is the RP who has to conduct FRA who has to make the decision on any fire safety matters. Also the managing agent usually takes on the role of RP for the owner and any decisions should be theirs? A fire alarm may have been required because of poor compartmentation between the flats and the common areas resulting in a fire in a flat spreading to the common areas.

I am afraid I am a sassinak and Scotland has its own building regulation, which I am not up to speed with, hopefully somebody who is, may respond.

PS. The above only applies to those resident in the UK.

All persons who supply upholstered furniture/furnishings are subject to the regulations and should ensure the appropriate labels are fixed the items supplied. All consumers, except those that are in the business of upholstered furniture/furnishing, are not subject to the regulations. If you have two or less persons living with you, having free run of the house, they are lodgers and the premises do not subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 therefore it is a domestic dwelling not a business. Based on this reasoning, if the above facts are correct, I would think your relative is subject to the regulations and you are not. You need to get legal advice and contact the local trading standards. Go to FRFree's profile and check out his latest submissions. Check out https://www.firesafe.org.uk/furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/ aswell.

I understand Amazon claims they do not sell the furniture they only act as agents for the seller and trading standards have been on their case with little success. Go to FRFree's profile and check out his latest submissions. Check out https://www.firesafe.org.uk/furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/ aswell.

Keith you need to be sure it is the smoke alarm causing the beeping, I would suggest you you get up before 0700 and remove the smoke alarm from the base plate, then wait to 0700 to see if you hear the beeps. This will establish if it is the smoke alarm because there is no electronic equipment in the base plate only connection to the mains supply. Replace the smoke alarm and wait until next day, then get back to us with the results.

I do not think this is the best forum for technical question on fire alarms you should try http://firealarmengineers.com/forum/.

A office in your home, because it only forms a small part of the premises, which is primarily a domestic premises therefore all upholstered furniture or furnishings is is subject to The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations. I assume you reside in the UK, consequently subject to the regulations and if you wish to pass on any items, subject to the FFFSR, you would be defined as a supplier requiring you to ensure the upholstered chair meets the regulations. Germany is not subject the the regulations therefore the chair will not meet the required UK standards and without a permanent label issued under the UK regulations you have no proof that it meets the standards, if you pass it on to a charity you will be in breach of the law. Anyway it is unlikely the charity would accept it without a permanent label because they could be in beach of the law as well. In the future I would suggest you ensure that all upholstered furniture or furnishings you acquire has a permanent label attached, for your own safety and if you wish to pass it on. Check out https://www.firesafe.org.uk/furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/ there is plenty of links that you may find usful if you wish to research it further.

If they are private balconies then they do not form part of the common area therefore are not subject to the RR(FS)O.

The external staircase could be located on the side of the building but any doors should be FD30 self/closing and any windows be FRG fixed shut if within a specified distances of the staircase,(see Approved Document B (fire Safety) volume 2: Premises other than Dwelling Houses page 54/55). The problem with this, there could be a need for escape windows but without having an personnal knowledge of the premises especially the flats internal layout and construction it is impossible to give a satisfactory answer. Also there could be problems with ventilation so you need the services of a fire consultant and building regulations approval.

As it isn't 6mm wired glass, do you have proof that it is FR glazing you should have a certificate or the glass is acid etched with the trademark and the British Standard it was tested to, either way if it is cracked then it needs replacing. As you have said it shouldn't have cracked as it did which would indicate it wasn't fitted correctly.

Are these balconies private or are they used in common.

Drop bolts are acceptable during the time the premises is unoccupied but they should be withdrawn during the time the premises are occupied. A major problem is they are sometimes not opened during the time the premises are occupied resulting in the Responsible Person committing an offence. Consequently we used to require the RP to remove the stop that prevents the barrel from being removed, so the bolt could be hung up on a board, we used to call a chain/bolt board in easy view, this ensured the RP was not committing an offence.

According to Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellinghouses you do not require self closing devices, except if you have a fire door between the house and an integral garage, it has to be fitted with a S/C device. If you have a completion certificate you have met the guidance when the loft conversion took place 15 years ago and you are within the law, until you carry out any further building work. If you have any doubts you should seek guidance from your local building control department.

Is it possible to use the lock AB suggested above?

I am afraid cladding buildings, no matter what size is a hot potatoe, in light of the grenfell tower situation, everybody is covering their backs. I suspect you will not get a satisfactory response from the internet, I would contact the building control or the BCO/AI who who will be doing the job and get their guidance, as they are the persons who will be accepting the results.

I am afraid if the Responsible Person (RP) considers you plant pots as a tripping hazard and they are in the common area he/she has the right to ask you to remove them. If you refuse you could be committing an offence under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RR(FS)O) but it would be unlikely the enforcing authority would take you to court, also if there was a fire and things went pear shaped you could find yourself being asked some awkward questions. As for the bars if they are inside the flats they are subject to the Housing Act and not the RR(FS)O and the RP has no control, other than goodwill advice, unless they affect other tenants of the flats.

Because you have said you are considering a double door set with crash bars, then I assume the use of panic bars/pads will not interfere with the use of the door then I would think having two doors, both open by panic bars/pads would be considered acceptable. You will most probable have to use bespoke door set, which will be more expensive and you will need to provide suitable signage. You will also need to clear this with building control, as it may be considered a material change.

Further to AB posting if the door is not in normal use and only used as a fire exit, then you will also need a fire exit sign.

David needs to check out where it is being used also what is the the fire resistance of the construction between each flat and the common areas.

It is called Stramit Board and was used about 40 years ago search the web for more info.

Yes I misread it, I will be more careful in the future.