Tom Sutton

In most cases ADB is for new build and Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats is for existing blocks of flats. In FIRE SAFETY Guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing which is the guidance for existing housing, which states in buildings of up to two storeys conventional lighting arrangements, will usually be adequate, subject to the above conditions. The subject to the above condition is "Some buildings will, in addition, require emergency escape lighting in the escape route. These will include: • large buildings with long escape routes; • buildings with a complex layout; • buildings with no natural or borrowed lighting along the escape route; and • buildings with vulnerable occupiers or those posing a specific risk."

1. Brad today it’s all about risk assessment so what are the chances of a fire on the premises, the electric supply and external lighting failing at the same time, I would think pretty low consequently an acceptable risk. 2. If you are accepting borrowed light as acceptable, then you do not require emergency escape lighting therefore photometric data is not necessary. I would conduct an inspection during the hours of darkness, switch off the lights, if I can find my way about and see what I need see, then emergency lighting is not needed. I accept it cannot be done off plan.

Does your flat entrance door open onto a common area used by other flat tenants or does it open to fresh air?

We have provided a number of solutions but do not have the knowledge of the premises that you have, I believe it is now up to you. It will be interesting which options you take up and when considering your options do not forget visitors that could be on the premises.

There needs to be a permanent label on each separate item of the sofa and if one has come loose then there isn't much you can do about it especially if it it 15 years old. Records only have to be held for five years, so there is no chance of getting a copy, but if you are happy with it then the only problem to arise, is if you decide to sell it or give it to a charity.

Check out the DCLG guides for individual types of premises at https://www.firesafe.org.uk/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005/.

I am afraid what you are suggesting, would affect the fire rating, a certificated fire door would become a nominal fire door and if it has to satisfy an enforcing officer it may not be accepted. But you could consider a bespoke fire door, check out https://www.safelincs.co.uk/custom-30-and-60-minute-fire-doors-fd30-fd60/ for example.

Check out what it says in Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats, and then be clear in your report what it is you are, and aren't including in your assessment. You can only survey what you see without destroying the fabric of the building and make it clear that the survey is not intrusive and if they want otherwise this would entail potentially a lot of damage throughout. You can check service shafts and certainly the bottom of service shafts where pipework and cabling enter/exit, also check above suspended ceiling, however this would mean carrying step ladder/torch. As the assessment is purely non-destructive and as AB says it all depends on your findings what you think it reasonable to recommend a follow-up compartmentation survey.

The standard for the legend on fire exit signs are BS EN ISO 7010 and is acceptable for British and EU regulations but if illuminated fire exit signs are required they must be combined with emergency escape lighting and as the electric supply will be available then LED illuminated signs would be a better option considering the price of self-luminous (tritium) exit signs.

I cannot see how any laminates would affect the fire resistance of a fire door but the main concern would be the surface spread of flame and has this laminate been tested for surface spread of flame, if so what class did it achieve.

Assuming it is not a purpose built block of flats and the premises meets FIRE SAFETY Guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing which is the guidance for this type of premises then her escape from fire will be via the staircase and in any case emergency access windows are not acceptable above 4,5 m from the ground.

You do not say where the premises are I will assume it is in England or Wales. What you propose is a material alteration and will be subject to the Building Regulations which uses Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellinghouses as one of its guidance documents. Your proposal is creating an inner room situation which is only acceptable where the inner room has access to a emergency egress window which is not acceptable above 4.5 m and your new study would be above 4.5 m above the ground. I would suggest you contact your local building control and outline your proposals to them.

Assuming your premises is located in England or Wales then the legislation you are subject to, in the common areas, is The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the fire safety guidance is FIRE SAFETY Guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing you will find a summary on page 48.

You say "She works alone as a sort of general assistant (cleaning, doing odd-jobs), so she is not often in classrooms" how many different location is she likely to be alone? People who are deaf and hard of hearing should be taken into account in the design of fire alarm systems and evacuation management plans. The use of flashing beacons, vibrating pagers or pillows, and similar alert devices should be considered, appropriately located and backed up by an integrated fire management plan. Where an individual PEEP can be produced, the use of a buddy system should be considered. Have you considered a PEEP and buddy system?

Smoke detectors in all habitable rooms will not stop a fire spreading so you may still require fire doors. As to the amount you can trim off a fire door will depend on the construction and the thickness of the lippings so you will need to contact the retailer or manufacturer to establish the amount that it is safe to remove, it could be 6mm or more.

If the shared corridor is a protected route then all the doors will be FD30s doors, self closing and if you prop these doors open then it is certainly against the regulations. There should be a mandatory, white lettering on a blue circle sign stating "FIRE DOOR KEEP SHUT" and it is not there to decorate the door.

Check out http://www.safelincs.co.uk/deafgard-portable-and-wirefree-smoke-alarm-for-the-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing/ it could be possible to carry it in a shoulder bag with the vibration pad in a pocket or other such arrangement. Find out who the manufacturer is and they may have a more suitable portable device.

Assuming your front opens to open air and not a common area, then there is no need for it to be fire resistant and it is also important that you are able to disperse away from the building.

Also check out http://firealarmengineers.com/1 they may be able to help.

Check out http://psfirefighter.proboards.com/thread/112/fixed-extinguishing-systems?page=1 they may be able to help.

You need to get together with the fire risk assessor and a fire alarm designer to design the system you require for example what categories do you require. Do you require only a manual system (M) or combined with life system (L) or including a property protection system (P) to costs will vary considerably. For example Offices: 3 Floored Victorian Building 12 x Optical Smoke Detectors 2 x Heat Detectors 7 x Manual Call Points 5 x Sounders Alarm System Used: Apollo non addressable Supplied, fitted, commissioned and certificated £4644 plus Vat Once you you know what is required then you can get some estimates.

It could be a fault has developed with the luminaire you should contact the person who installed it and have him/her to check it out.

BS 9990:2015 Non automatic fire-fighting systems in buildings.

You can contact the local Fire and Rescue Service who are the enforcing authority but you should try the union first. Contact details for local Fire and Rescue Services

Passing through a fire exit will not operate the fire alarm but security devices can be fitted that will alert those in charge, if considered necessary.