Tom Sutton

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.

You said "internally illuminated exit boxes are usually needed" my argument is they should not be, if building control required them, it would not be in accordance with the guidance but could be for compensatory reasons and I cannot imagine what those would be. If companies wish to install them, when they are not needed, then that is up to them, but if they are being told they have to install them they should investigate to ensure they are not being ripped off.

AB what legal requirement requires internal illuminated exit signs in supermarkets, yes for premises that the normal lighting is extinguisher, during the time the premises are occupied, like cinemas, theatres, clubs and places of public entertainment, but not normal commercial premises, I would be interested to know.

Further to the above I believe your statement "the phrase 'linked alarm system' I mean sounders in the sleeping accommodation linked to detectors in the commercial premises" should read "linked to only heat detectors in the commercial premises" you have to consider false alarms, too many would render the system a liability.

Are you testing the domestic smoke alarms in each flat or are they heat detectors in each flat connected to a communal fire alarm?

In supermarkets I think it is acceptable to use photo illuminated ISO 7010 fire exit signs or even standard ISO 7010 fire exit signs providing they are well illuminated by the normal and emergency lighting.

You are quite correct, if it is not being used to garage a car then it is not a garage and the rule about a full FD30s between the the house and garage does not apply. I believe because a garage houses a car which rely on flammable liquids, it's a high fire risk and the means of escape from the house must have a higher degree of protection.

Have you checked the tenants agreement to see if there is anything relating to this matter giving you access. Have you checked the fire risk assessment (FRA) to see if these exits are required for means of escape.

Are these doors used by anybody as normal entrance/exit or are they purely emergency exit doors.

I fully agree roger but if the meter cupboard is in the communal area it will still need to meet a full 30 minutes fire resistance, so all above still applies.

Have you checked out Rock Mineral Wool Slabs they could be glued to the upper side of the hatch or fixed in some other way.

I am assuming it is a purpose build block therefore you should study Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats which has guidance to answer your question. Your understanding is correct to some degree but you need to check the finer details A6.28 would be a place to start and there is guidance on fire alarms as well.

All doors opening onto a protected escape route should be a full FD30s doors if there is a fire risk in the room, and a heat detector should fitted in the risk room. Maybe if the fire door has been installed some considerable time, it could be a BS 476 part 8 door, which can be identified by having 25mm rebates with no intumescent seals, which if the door is substantial and well fitting can be accepted as suitable, but if it needs replacing it has to be replaced with a fire door meeting the current standards. Either case it needs to control cold smoke and cold smoke seals should be fitted.

I am assuming the flat owner is not a freeholder therefore the owners/freeholders of the building, as Responsible Persons, are responsible that all doors opening on to the communal areas meet the required standards. However any tenancy agreements should dictate who pays and how, usually through the service charge.

It seems to be a magnetic lock and if so it should meet the requirements of BS 7273 part 4 which would require a manual override. (green box)

Byrom I see the problem as the council are asking for a certificate that does not exist for a grade D system.

Assuming this door has be accessed and meets the standards of a nominal 30 min fire door then it would not require changing, it all depends on the fire risk assessment.