Tom Sutton

Lets know if you find anything useful.

They do not come cheap, so you will have to pay around that price for new, or consider second hand. Check out http://www.safelincs.co.uk/lpg-gas-powered-fire-training-tray/ or search the web for "LPG Fire Training Tray".

This standard is withdrawn as it is not in line with current practice and technology. It is concerned with the use of radioactive material which has since been subject to changes in disposal certificates and legislation due to the use of radioactive material. Check out http://shop.bsigroup.com/en/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000000161916

Article 15 of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires you to have appropriate procedures, including safety drills, to be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger to employees and relevant persons, (Relevant person are any person who has a legal right to be on your premises). The appropriate procedure is the emergency plan, which in your case includes a evacuation drawing and it is up to the employer (Responsible Person) to decide the content of the emergency plan. You do not require to have an evacuation drawing but where there are many relevant persons it is a good idea because you cannot effectively train relevant persons. There is no expiry date for the emergency plan but it should be reviewed frequently to ensure it remains up to date. The evacuation plan is not necessary but in your case it may be necessary to understand the emergency plan manuals. Check the link for more details.

You could check out https://www.brebookshop.com/details.jsp?id=325239 (BRE digest 208) I cannot find any definitive guidance they all appear to point to nominal Fire resistance and not a full 30 min FR. Because you are looking to protect circulation areas you need full 30 min FR.

A window escape on the second floor with a drop of 25ft cannot be considered an alternative means of escape. Even if it was required for MoE It can be locked, but should be easily openable, check out Approved Document B (fire Safety) volume 2: Premises other than Dwelling Houses, item 2.9 page 22. You should have a 30 minute, fire resistant, protected route, from your front door of your flat, to outside, via the main front door and some form of fire alarm to warn you if this route is threatened by fire or smoke. If you have any concerns you should contact your local fire service and ask for a fire safety inspection of your flat, most do provide such a service. http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/

The regulatory requirement for scatter cushions and seat pads is that the filling material only must satisfy the relevant ignition test and each individual item must bear a reduced information permanent label. Whilst the size of a scatter cushion is not defined in the Regulations it is commonly accepted that a scatter cushion has dimensions which are less than 60cm x 60cm x nominal product thickness. Check out Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home - A Guide to the UK Regulations Did it meet that criteria?

Another doc that may help http://www.siginsulation.co.uk/Literature/Rockwool Flexi Application Guide.pdf and do a search of firenet forum there are other discussions on this subject.

Check out http://www.crisis-response.com/forum/index.php?topic=5153.0 may help.

In England and Wales the common areas of flats and maisonettes are subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which came in force in 2006 and the order designates the owners/freeholders or a management company, as the Responsible Person or Responsible Persons, who has a duty to conduct the FRA. There is only one FRA per block/building and finishes at the front door of the flats/maisonettes. Selecting a fire risk assessor you should use A Guide to Choosing a Competent Fire Risk Assessor I cannot help you with the asbestos survey but you could contact the Environmental Department of the local council.

Even if you can provide the sixty minute fire separation I think you have to consider the whole of the building, a fire in the commercial premises would affect the residents in the flats. The stay put policy relies on the FRS being turned out as soon as possible, to get the fire under control within the sixty minutes. Consider who is warned, which enables them to call the FRS, especially at 4 o'clock in the morning, a fire in the flats the category D system would, but what about the unoccupied flats or commercial premises or are you going to rely on passer by.

I assume you are refering to fire door self closer and you need to explain more fully the type that is fitted.

In relation to B1 a Material Alteration is when the means of escape (MoE) is less satisfactory than before the work is carried out. In your case the MoE is likely to be improved therefore it is not a Material Alteration. Check out Approved Document B (fire Safety) volume 2: Premises other than Dwelling Houses Page 11 item 0.20. It is the same for a Dwelling House.

The interlinked detector is most probably a heat one, connected to the fire alarm covering the common areas and is designed to protect your neighbours if a fire should break out in your flat, when unoccupied. If you do not agree you could have an injunction served on you, to force you to comply but most people will agree for the sake of their neighbours and of course yourself if the fire is in another flat.

The weekly test has two functions, first to ensure the fire alarm is working and the second to ensure everybody can hear the alarm when operated, consequently 3-5 seconds or maybe a little longer, should be adequate, depending on occupancy.

Escape through windows is not an option for a 11 Storey block of flat except for the ground and first floor however as a last resort, if access through a window is required it will pose no problems with the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS). Most blocks of flats only have a single means of escape in case of fire which is designed at the time of construction. If you are still concerned contact the local FRS for their advice. http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/

You are subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which includes the requirement to conduct a Fire Risk assessment. The guidance is HOUSING – FIRE SAFETY Guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing and on completion of the FRA it will decide if an alternative means of escape is required. Without detailed plans or a physical inspection it is impossible to give a definitive reply.

How do you get down to ground floor level if the only communal area is a 1 meter squared entrance way and are you a freeholder.

What category of fire alarm is installed, are they individual smoke and heat detectors or is it a full system with a control panel. If it is a category D system with individual detectors then it is just a case of disconnecting the detector from its mounting ring and replace with the new detector. If it is a category A to C with a control panel, then you will need the services of a fire alarm company.

Approved Document B (fire Safety) vol 2 Premises other than Dwelling Houses.

The first thing is, does the premises require two fire exits? I am assuming the front area is the shop and the back area is the storeroom, what is the travel distance from anywhere in the shop to the front door, if it is less than 18 metres then the rear fire exit is not required for the shop. However if somebody is working in the storeroom and when the intermediate door is opened they cannot get to the front door, because of fire, they can use the rear door. (This a inner room situation.) All doors required for means of escape in fire should be easily opened without need of a key, so when the front door it is first opened it should remain open, just keep the closed sign in place. The thumb turn on the rim lock of the back door is acceptable providing the two dead locks are open. Has the premises conducted a Fire Risk Assessment, which is necessary in accordance with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Check out https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/422175/9449_Offices_and_Shops_v2.pdf

Who pays the cost is a legal matter not a fire safety matter and I think it would depend on the tenants agreement, you need solicitors advice.

I know double glazed units are difficult to break but there is a device called "Lifeaxe Emergency Hammer for Double-Glazing" which claims to solve the problem. My concern is the means of escape scheme which I believe would not be accepted today in accordance with Approved Document B (fire Safety) vol 2 Premises other than Dwelling Houses. What you are proposing could be considered a material alteration, because you are making the MoE worse and this would involve building control regulations which would involve ADB. You need to speak to the local Building Control for their advice.

The fire alarm and emergency lighting maintenance is not a fire risk assessment it is a requirement of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 article 17. FRA is a requirement of article 9 and the frequency is of debate, the order simple says "Any such assessment must be reviewed by the responsible person regularly" this statement is discussed regularly the latest I know of you will find at http://www.crisis-response.com/forum/index.php?topic=7280.0 but many consider once a year is considered regularly. To understand the frequency of testing/servicing of fire alarms and emergency lighting check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-alarms/ and http://www.firesafe.org.uk/emergency-lighting/.

What type of mag locks are being used and are they on an escape route. Are they fail safe or are they fail secure. Is there a battery back-up and what is the method/device of access/egress.