Tom Sutton

It is the Responsible Person (RP) who has a duty under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to implement articles 8 to 22 which includes a Fire Risk Assessment in the common areas. This will be the owners/freeholders on the building or the service company acting for the owners, providing they have full control. It is not only the cost of the FRA but any work that has to be done to meet the action plan which forms part of the FRA. Depending on circumstances, the FRA may not need to be recorded and there will be no paperwork to give to the solicitor. I do not know the cost of a FRA but it would depend on the amount of work that has to be done and this should have been done eleven years ago. An asbestos report has nothing to do with fire safety you need to research this separately.

To be sure of getting what you pay for, I personally would insist on the kitemark to ensure it has met the EN 3 standard and for the present, the CE logo.

Check out http://www.water.org.uk/publications/water-industry-guidance/disposal-contaminated-water-october-2012 I know it is for large quanties of contaminated water but I would think it applies to smaller quanties aswell.

What type of rental licence do you have? https://www.newham.gov.uk/Pages/Services/Private-rented-property-licensing.aspx

In my opinion (barrack room lawyer) which should be checked out with a lawyer specialising in fire safety law, like http://www.safetylawyers.co.uk/fire-safety/ I believe you are correct, legislation doesn't require the FRA to be recorded (formally written down), but the London Fire Brigade, who conducted a fire audit on the building doesn't need a hard copy to conduct a fire audit. The whole building including the flats are subject to the Housing Act and the common areas are subject to the The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RR(FS)O). A licence under an enactment, is in force, in relation to the premises, would usually apply when a premises requires a licence to operate then they must record their FRA but you do not require an FRA for the flat. A rental licence is a licence under an enactment (Housing Act), but does the licence cover not only the flat but does it include the common areas? However as I am aware the Responsible Person does not have to share it with anybody other than the Enforcing Authority therefore it would be pyrrhic victory anyway because you could not force him/her to share it. I think this is a job for the legal beavers and like you I cannot understand why conveyancing solicitors cannot accept an undertaking from the RP that the common areas meet the RR(FS)O in full.

Check out http://www.firesprinklers.org.uk and http://www.firesafe.org.uk/residential-sprinklers/ and https://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030280482 which should provide you with the information you require.

I am not aware of any such guidance and would think it does not matter how close they are as they are not contradictory, unless that fire door leads to a means of escape. Then you would have to provide a bespoke sign stating something like "No authorised access except in an emergency" also you would have fire exit sign as well. Check out Guide to fire safety signs and signing.

Check out https://www.gov.uk/government/news/expert-panel-recommends-further-tests-on-cladding-and-insulation and contact the DCLG who should be able to help.

It appears the self test facility is operating check out the the instruction manual, http://channeltest.co.uk.gridhosted.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Vale-Issue-1-02.2014.pdf

Then you can lock it and secure it as much as you choose, providing when you open up, you unlock it and remove all security devices, so it are easily opened from the inside, without the need for a key.

It is very frustrating but it is a problem that has to be resolved check out http://www.safelincs.co.uk/blog/2013/08/09/gaps-underneath-fire-doors/.

There is no EU law that covers safety signs, there is a directive that required member states to produce legislation regarding safety signs and the UK produced the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. The standard on safety signs is BS EN ISO 7010:2012+A6:2016 and for the installation of fire exit signs is BS 5499-4:2013 - Safety signs. Code of practice for escape route signing, so what are we going to adopt?

Do you intend to lock it all the time or only when the premises in unoccupied.

The fire safety issue is that the gaps specified by Neil has to be there when the work is completed and the floor coverings are fitted. As for the Building Control Office/Authorised Inspector, issuing a completion certificate, you will have to speak to them.

Your historical problems will not improve not matter which fire doors you fit except for the certification of older doors. If you give me the full details, I can point you to the the correct guidance, but if you wish to increase the level of fire resistance that is a matter for the Responsible Person.

Without knowing the layout of your offices it in impossible to predict which doors need to be fire doors. You need to speak to the Responsible Person or the person who conducted your fire risk assessment who should be able to inform you, which doors need to be fire doors and the required duration.

It appear satisfactory providing you meet the following requirements. Fire extinguishers should be located in conspicuous positions on brackets, stands or cabinets, where they will be readily seen by persons following an escape route. Most suitably, near to room exits, corridors, stairways, lobbies and landings. I am assuming you will be using class A extinguishers, consequently you should not need to travel more than 30 m to reach them.

When the last person securing the premises leaves the premises but if it is easily opened from the inside without the need for a key then it can be closed at any time.

BSI does not hold the copyright for the templates it is CS Todd & Associates, check the bottom of each page of the template, so I would bell them, details shown on the following link, http://www.cstodd.co.uk/contact-us.html

There is no limit on the number of doors you have to pass through to escape from fire providing they are easily openable in the event of a fire.

Most final exit doors do not require to be fire resistant so any type of door can be fitted and only in certain situations a push bar fastening is required to be fitted, were large number of people are likely to attempt to pass through the door, like public entertainment premises, (cinemas, theatres, clubs etc).

Wallpaper has to meet a class O surface spread of flame in circulation spaces and most do, except heavy and flock wallpapers. Most carpet has to have some degree of fire resistance. When buying carpet look out for reference to BS 4790 on labelling and informational documentation. Compliance with these would indicate a 35mm radius of fire spread which is the specification for low fire spread carpets to be used in protected fire escape routes or other sensitive areas. In a normal household any standard carpet should have sufficient fire resistance to be suitable for use in most occupied areas. Carpet used in escape route need to pass the hot nut test for low fire spread as described in the above BS's and if you find a fire resistant spray, it would need to certify the carpet to that standard. The table could be a tripping hazard and if the neighbour will not discuss the matter with you need to speak to the Responsible Person who could be the owner of the building or a management company. Failing this contact the local Fire and Rescue Service and voice your concerns. http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/

The fire safety order can be retrospectively applied and front doors need to be self closing fire resisting doors, but not necessarily up to the present day standard, if they can meet a previous standard and are in good condition, strips/seals may need to be applied. You need to check out Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats.

I understand that sect 48 (1) (a) (iv) says the vehicle must be safe or could use 48 (2) and I believe the licensing committee of the local district council interpret that, in their licensing conditions, that it must carry a fire extinguisher, so check your local licensing committee, because each one is different, .

Hi AB i do not think it is the siting of extinguisher that concerns Linda, it is the removing them from designated locations and not returning them, which could be a safety matter.