Tom Sutton

Not knowing the full layout and being familiar with the building I cannot give a satisfactory response but a fire risk assessment under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 should have been conducted and if the means of escape is unsatisfactory it would have been highlighted in the report, try to get a viewing of the FRA.

The external door leading to fresh air is known as a final exit door and does not require to be a fire door or kept shut other than for security reasons, except when it opens onto an escape route where it could jeopardise people getting to a place of ultimate safety, like an external staircase. This would not apply in your building because there is only one final exit.

Of course you should carry on using them your home is full of flammable items and if used correctly should not pose any fire safety problems just apply common sense in their use. Occasionally things can go wrong but that's life and hot water or left in the sun is unlikely to cause a problem I do not think you have any major concerns. I have had three knives like the ones you describe for many years and I haven't had any problems.

AB is correct windows may require to be openable for smoke control purposes but firefighters have their own way of providing ventilation if necessary, I have done it many times. The problem is, the means of escape in flats use a concept called smoke dispersal and other premises use smoke containment. In smoke dispersal you get rid of the smoke as it enters the escape route, smoke containment you hold the smoke in the smallest area of the escape route. The problem is in flats you sometimes have both, although ventilation very useful it is not always necessary therefore not knowing the layout of the building it is difficult to give a definitive answer.

No, if it is an integral garage then the needs to be 30 min separation between the garage and the house and therefore a fire door would be required. Check the full requirements in Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellinghouses page 30.

If these windows are in common areas then it is most likely they are not required for escape windows, depending on the means of escape, and therefore can be locked. It is only the windows in habitable rooms in the flat need to be escape windows again depending on the means of escape.

However you could calculate the number of hours the lights are lit for a year. Calculate the total wattage of the circuit, divided by 1000 will give you the number of Kw Multiplied the hours used by the number of kilowatts will give you the Kw/hours Multiply the Kw/Hrs by the cost of a unit of electricity, will give the cost per year. Hours X Units X Cost = cost/year

I do not see this as a fire safety matter.

If they are in the yard or clients sites for breakdowns what's the problem, it only those in the building you have to account for?

You need a solicitor not a fire safety forum, considering the fire safety aspect, a door mat can be a hazard depending on an assessment but how the Responsible Person should deal with it, is for the RP and his/her actions is not a fire safety problem.

If you are talking about Fire Door Keep Shut signs then fire doors must have “Fire Door Keep Shut” signs on both sides of the door at eye level. If a set of double doors, both leafs should have signs on both sides. Some fire doors will have automatic door closers fitted (connected to the fire alarm system) so the signs will say “Automatic Fire Door Keep Clear” or similar. Fire doors to riser cupboards or other higher risk areas should have “Fire Door Keep Locked” or similar signs fitted to the outside. This is the guidance in many fire safety guidance documents, check out https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/422175/9449_Offices_and_Shops_v2.pdf page 103.

If you are talking about fire exit signs you only need to fit one sign indicating the direction of fire escape route. Check out https://www.fia.uk.com/resourceLibrary/guidance-fire-safety-signs-and-notices.html

I would think it is the landlord who will recoup his/her costs through service charges.

Speak to the H&S representative or higher manager if not forth coming contact the local Fire and Rescue Service https://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/

If you can reach a place of relative or ultimate safety, in the whole building, in less than 18m then protected escape routes are not necessary. Any one way travel escape routes over 18m needs to be protected depending on other factors like height of ceiling you could extend the distance if you consider the tenable time would be extended. You could use ASET/RSET and having autoFA would increase the travel time but it usually means a fire engineered solution which only complicates the situation I prefer travel distances.

Further to what AB has said, under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 you are all, as Responsible Persons, required to conduct a Fire Risk Assessment, (FRA) for each occupancy. You all need to establish what exit doors are required, for means of escape purposes and any requiring access to the yard. All of you and the landlord need to co-operate and decide the best solution which also requires safe egress from the yard. Your solution could be acceptable but without a survey it is impossible to say.

How do you intend to use it, as a single domestic occupancy or what, you should check out FIRE SAFETY Guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing an answer to your enquiry should be in this guidance.

I am afraid it is not as easy as that, it’s all about interpretation of the regulations, when it was new and did not have an identifying or batch information then it did not comply with the regulations therefore illegal. Now, does it become legal because five years have passed and most likely the records are no long available? Your augment is equally compelling and like all legislation it is up to the courts and as the trading standards are unlikely to take it to the courts it is doubtful it will ever have a definitive answer. You have tried, if their rules prevent it being put up for sale then accept it.

You can achieve 30 min fire resistance with a stud wall 75mm thickness timber and a single layer of 12.5mm fireline plasterboard on each side and the cavity is filled with rockwool type insulation, however the fireline board and rockwool would be belt and braces? It will require building regulation approval and as it is them who will provide the completion certificate you should contact them as they may have guidance notes to assist you. Check out the Eastbourne guidance note http://www.eastbourne.gov.uk/EasySiteWeb/getresource.axd?AssetID=3132&..&filename=/fire-safety3.pdf

There is no required time limit, other than a reasonable time to complete the work and the level of risk the defect has introduced. Would the occupants be able to escape safely, without them, because of the borrowed light through the window and an assessment would decide the urgency in getting the new EL replaced. You need to find out degree of difficulty in getting the work done.

I am assuming the sofa will be up for sale at a profit which means both labels will be required. The permanent label is the most important, because it has all the information required by trading standards to locate its source, if it is found that the the sofa does not meet the requirements of the regulations. The display label is attached to the sofa, to show that it meets the requirements of the regulations and the customer doesn't have to upend it to see the permanent label for proof. The display label needs to be fixed to the item where it is visible which can be done by the retailer and they can be purchased from Ebay so I can see why the charity is concerned. Check out Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home - A Guide to the UK Regulations.

It all depends on the layout and if the maximum numbers who are likely to use the door is less than 60, it would be acceptable.

This is not a subject I am familiar with and you need to contact your electric supply company who I would imagine could help you, also check out The Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 which may help.

Any fire door should be installed correctly and be well fitted if it isn't then it will defeat the purpose of the door. However the BCO/AI who completes the final inspection has a degree of flexibility to decide if any items meet the required standards and provide the completion certificate. It's only when the Building Regulations and another piece of legislation clashes, resulting in the enforcing authority, challenging the Building Control. But unfortunately many times a satisfactory result is not achieved and the owner has to put matters right.

The foreman is wrong, if the fire exit is required then it should be kept clear at all times the premises is occupied.