Tom Sutton

Your proposals would require building regulations approval and it is very unlikely it would get approval, because only an alternative escape route is allowed to use a flat roof and roof has to be part of the same building. Years ago when older buildings where being brought up to, the as then modern standards, alternative escape through the adjacent premises was sometimes the only solution and that's is why you may find them in older buildings. Check out Approved Document B (fire Safety) volume 2: Premises other than Dwelling Houses page 21,29 and 57

It could be argued that they are in breach of article 23 (1) of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 but whether the fire and rescue service would prosecute would be in debate. However the bluff and persuasion act might work produce a notice warning employees they are in breach of the RR(FS)O article 23 and if caught will be prosecuted.

The problem is that the manufacturer/importer only has to keep their records for five years, after that there is no way of proving if an item of upholstered furniture is compliant with the regulations and the only way to prove it, is to test it, (setting it on fire) which would destroy it. The Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations apply to the sale of second hand furniture and furniture purchased at the first point of supply, i.e. retail sales. A private individual can sell second hand furniture but it should be compliant with the above mentioned regulations. The difficulty in situations that arise where a person who IS NOT in trade or business commits a breach of consumer legislation is that Trading Standards have limited powers of enforcement where the sale is not in the course of trade or business. As a moral issue I think you should tell the purchaser the full situation and if they decide to purchase it then that is up to them. Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 08454 04 05 06. Trading Standards http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/advice/index.cfm

Further to AB submission, most bathrooms/en-suites are a low fire risk and therefore do not require a fire door but if there is a fire risk, like a gas water heater for instance, then at least a FD30 door should be fitted.

I would think it is no more a greater fire hazard as your indoor kitchen and you you should take similar precautions, but without further information I cannot give a definitive response.

Check out https://www.calor.co.uk/gas-bottles/gas-cylinder-safety/storing-gas-bottles should find all you need to know.

I am not aware of any fire regulations that would prevent you doing this however the ventilation of fridges are very important for many reasons. You should follow the manufacturer's installation instructions on ventilation because if the condensation coils overheat then the motor will run more than required,using more electricity and increasing the chance of fire. Low and high ventilation is the most effective bringing cold air at the low level and expelling the hot air at the high level.

The standard height of doors in the UK is 1981mm, except the most commonly used doors in Scotland and Europe is 2040mm. However the height is not a major concern the width is more important in fire safety and the major problem with the height is reducing standard fire doors to fit small frames. This is because you are limited how much you can remove from the top and bottom of fire doors and each one is different you need to read the manufacturer's documentation to find out.

All doors, required for means of escape, in the event of a fire, which include the main entrance doors, are MoE doors. (Fire Exits) All doors, required or means of escape in the event of a fire, are required to be easily opened, without the need of a key, when the premises are occupied. All automatic doors should be installed according to BS 7036:0 2014/BS EN 16005 2012 which depending on design, require all automatic MoE doors should open and stay open in the event of a mains failure or electrical fault, if a breakout facility is not fitted. For a more definitive answer you need to study the standards more deeply or speak to an expert in this field. Check out http://www.faac.co.uk/productfiles/323_DataSheet_rad0A238.pdf http://www.theadia.co.uk/

A person in your situation or anybody above the first floor would not use escape windows as a mean of escape from fire and the front door is your means of escape, to a refuge or maybe the premises has a stay put policy. Consequently being able to open them is more of a domestic ventilation problem than a fire safety problem. Without have a great deal more information and ideally a survey of the premises, it is impossible to give an opinion on the suitability of the means of escape from fire. Therefore I would suggest you apply for a free home fire safety check from the local Fire and Rescue Service. Contact them using http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/ to arrange their visit.

Further to AB response the Local Fire and Rescue Service is the Enforcement Authority and can be contacted at http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/.

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is a good example of how a material with good thermal insulation properties can also have drawbacks. Firefighters hate polystyrene ceiling tiles because in house fires they melt and drip blobs of burning plastic, and also give off carcinogenic fumes. Many chartered surveyors advise their removal. And yet, even now, there is an apparent resurgence in the fashion for lining walls with thin sheets of the stuff, albeit in versions advertised as “flame retardant”. Only expanded polystyrene tile adhesives should be used since the Home Office recommends an all-over spread adhesive; these are readily available under different trade names from the same outlets as the tiles. Always check the instructions on the pack to make sure your ceiling surface is suitable for the adhesive. Don’t use an adhesive with a solvent base such as cellulose, which would dissolve the tiles and make them highly inflammable. I would not advise but if you choose to use them, how they were fixed to the ceiling, is most important and you should spread in a layer across the whole surface of the tile with the adhesive, no spaces, no matter how small. Also on no account should they be painted over with gloss paint which was the major concern, use water based paint or fire retardant paint.

If the premises was on fire do these people have to enter the building to escape from the fire in the premises or is there an alternative means of escape from the yard.

You should check it out with Building Control but it appears there should be no gaps for flats and you should not be able to pass a 100mm sphere between the open steps for dwellings. Check out https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/443181/BR_PDF_AD_K_2013.pdf page 6

I could be argued that it is a common area and a FRA is required, but you would not require a written FRA. I would inspect it to if there are any fire risk that could affect the residents above and take the appropriate steps.

For additional information check out Approved Document B (fire Safety) volume 2: Premises other than Dwelling Houses page 132.

AB the links doesn't work.

I am assuming you have only one door from the playroom, the double fire doors 132 mm wide, this means you will be limited to a maximum of 60 people depending on the size of the room. You have not indicated any travel distances, is the corridor a protected route and what the building is used for, which can affect the situation.

Removing fire doors and/or walls between the kitchen and the fire exit route is a material alteration, it requires building regulation approval. If you choose to do it without approval, then you are committing an offence and so is any person who does. If they refuse to listen and are prepared to be prosecuted then there is not much you can do, other than inform building control. A building control inspector/authorised inspector is a profession in its own right and I am not certain what qualification you require to be considered.

Any wall or floor/ceiling between an integral garage and house, including any door into the house, should be 30 minutes fire resisting with the door fitted with a self closer. Check out Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellinghouses page 30.

All doors used for means of escape should be easily opened, without the need of a key, in the direction of escape. There are a number of ways to achieve this and dependant on the one you choose will dictate the precautions you have to adopt, movement from the outside to the inside can be as secure as you choose.

It is most probably fine but without knowing the layout and travel distances I cannot give a definitive reply. Check out Approved Document B (fire Safety) volume 2: Premises other than Dwelling Houses. page 27.

I think the best one is the FIRA one the one I gave you the link to.

Yes, providing the security tags do not prevent the doors from being easily opened and only indicates that some person has passed through the door. Check out http://www.safelincs.co.uk/fire-exit-door-security-seal/

My understanding of the regulations are limited but my interpretation of the guidance would ask, what tests does the materials you are using meet. If the foam meet the appropriate tests and leather you are using meet the appropriate match test(s), the an interliner is not required, if the cover material is at least 75% by weight of cotton, flax, viscose, modal, silk, or wool and meets the cigarette test the an interliner is required Any fabric supplied to provide or replace a permanent cover on furniture (except mattresses, divans, upholstered bed bases, pillows, cushions and baby nests) must: Either pass the appropriate match test(s) (which depend on whether the fabric is to be used to provide a visible or non-visible part of the cover) If the fabric is made from material containing at least 75% by weight of cotton, flax, viscose, modal, silk, or wool whether used separately or together and is not coated with polyurethane or a polyurethane preparation; then this fabric can be offered in non-match-resistant form; provided that the furniture has or will contain a fire-resistant interliner which itself satisfies the test specified in Schedule 3 of the Regulations. However, furniture using non-match resistant covers must still pass the appropriate cigarette composite test(s). Check out Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home - A Guide to the UK Regulations for more information.