Tom Sutton

The all emergency lighting has to be tested according to BS EN 50172:2004 or BS 5266-8:2004, those portion that are not then they need to be modified so they can. All the fire safety signage in that building will need to be illuminated, but that does not mean illuminated exit boxes, providing there is an EL luminaire near to the sign that is capable of illuminating the sign then that is acceptable. Illuminated exit boxes are only required where the normal lighting is dimmed to a very low level like theatres or cinemas (temporary or otherwise). Photoluminescent signs may be acceptable is certain areas dependent on the FRA. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/emergency-lighting/ and http://www.safelincs.co.uk/emergency-lighting-guide/

Although the approved documents do not include external staircase the Approved Documents especially ADM and ADK may still be appropriate and will at least provide you with some guidelines upon which you could base your detailed design. Also you should consider BS 5395-1:2010 and BS 8300.

Why it is only the test houses that need to know how to set up the test equipment?

What do you mean by fire window is it an escape window or fire resistant glazing either way it should not have a restrictor. If it s an escape window AB has answer that, if it is fire resistant glazing then all opening windows should be fixed shut.

Your tenant is correct check out Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellinghouses 2.8 note 2 page 17.

You would be a manufacturer/re-upholsterer/retailer either way you would be subject to the regulations. As I have said you will be subject to the regulations and would need to ensure all materials/fabrics/stuffings meet the required standards. With documented proof and holding the required documents for 5 years. If your supplier cannot provide documented proof then I would suggest you find another supplier but I think this is unlikely to happen. Using the customer's materials, give advice and not altering the upholstery, just to advise about fire risk and leave the original warning stickers in place. You seem to have a good understanding of the regulations however to get guidance from FIRA I think you will have to join which may be a good idea.

In a three storey house, as Neil has said you need a protected route from the second floor to a place of ultimate safety, however in my interpretation of ADB the doors should be FD20 doors (table B1), except the door from an integral garage which should be a FD30s door. As doors are not tested to the FD20 standard then you must use FD30 doors but I would not recommend a smoke seal because assuming your smoke detectors are in the escape route it would prevent smoke percolating from a risk room into the escape route and operating them. What is a standard door, some would last less than ten minutes other may be longer although in the past a well fitting substantial door has been accepted I would suggest fix FD30 doors. Check out Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellinghouses

Point taken AB its dementia catching up with me, I will write out a thousand times "I must not forget CT literary masterpiece".

In England and Wales the common areas of residential blocks of flats are subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and require to implement articles 8 to 22 which includes conducting a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA). The guidance is Fire safety risk assessment: sleeping accommodation and providing you consider yourselves competent then the management committee can implement it. Other links that may prove useful would be http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-risk-assessment/ and http://www.firesafe.org.uk/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005/ and http://www.firesafe.org.uk/

All holiday lets are covered by the The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and you should study the following leaflet which should provide all the guidance you need, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/do-you-have-paying-guests. If you require guidance on individual fire safety issues check out, http://www.firesafe.org.uk

If all the apartments are self contained then it is not a HMO but The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 does apply. You should study the following leaflet which should provide all the guidance you need, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/do-you-have-paying-guests if you require guidance on individual fire safety issues check out, http://www.firesafe.org.uk

If the bed base is upholstered then there should be permanent label fixed to it, referring to the upholstered section.

The intumescent seal should be continuous around the frame but seals that are interrupted by hardware may be satisfactory for single leaf 30 minute doors but will not normally be so for meeting edges of double leaf doors or doors with classifications of 60 minutes and above, 60 minute doors will often have two seals one of which bypasses the hardware. You are correct the certification labels should not have been removed from the fire doors. You should speak to the Building Control Officer/Authorised Inspector, because it will be him/her who will decide if the the doors meet the required standard. Check out http://www.asdma.com/pdf/BPG.pdf and http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-doors/

Rob this is a fire safety forum and could help you with regulations and british standard regarding emergency lighting but electrical problems is outside our expertise you would most probably better to try the IET website http://www.theiet.org/forums/Forum/messageview.cfm?catid=205&threadid=44656.

If this alteration is subject to the Building Regulations then Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: dwellinghouses would be the guidance and it recommends FD20 fire doors, except a door between the house and an integral garage (page 64). It is generally accepted that a substantial well fitting door would be acceptable and a standard fire door should meet that criteria. You should confirm this with the local Building Control which may be of help.

The problem is the only way to see if a material has lost its fire retardant properties would be to test it and that would destroy the piece of furniture. The Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home - A Guide to the UK Regulations only deal with the upholstered furniture at the time of manufacture, importing, resale or re-upholstery and to check the documentation for a further five years. Providing the sofa has the appropriate permanent label attached you are legally correct but if you need reassurance then have the flame retardant coating re-applied.

Fire risk assessment does not amount to simple documenting some salient facts it is trying to prevent a fire in the first place then ensuring the tenants of your building can safely evacuate the building if there is a fire. The management company you have created will be the Responsible Person (RP) as designated by the The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and has a duty to implement article 8 to 22 of the order which includes conducting a fire risk assessment. (FRA) The common areas are any area that more than one household has legal access and it appears the stairs, landings and cellar, which include the front door of any flat that opens onto the common area, will be classed as a common area. Any person can conduct a FRA providing they considered themselves competent to apply the appropriate guides and standards to the premises. The following is a list of links you may find useful, the appropriate guide would be HOUSING – FIRE SAFETY Guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing, guidance on conducting a FRA http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-risk-assessment/ and http://www.firesafe.org.uk may help with necessary information.

The purpose of the weekly test is to ensure if the fire alarm is required, it is working, to do this you use a different manual call point each week, meaning over a period of time all call points will be used.

Check out article 32.3 the CDM regs 2015, http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/51/regulation/32/made.

Fire fighting lifts must conform to EN 81, which included the lift car must return to Fire Service Access Level and park with doors open. I guess it has come from that and as AB as said "a very useful extra" for standard lifts.

It depends if the rental property is a house or flat, a house is not subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and a flat could be. Also it depends if the relevant persons would be in danger if enclosed to close to the building, but in most cases an escape to the public thoroughfare is necessary.

All escape routes should have emergency lighting, if required, to ensure relevant persons can find their way out safely if the normal electricity supply fails, which includes the staff. The system should be installed according to BS 5266-1:2016 Emergency lighting. Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises. Check out https://www.firesafe.org.uk/emergency-lighting/.

If you are sure they are the original labels, just staple them back, although the regulations say they should be permanently fixed, I have seen them stapled, but how permanent should permanently be?

The residential premises should have CO and smoke detection in accordance with The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015. The office accommodation should have a fire alarm installed in accordance with BS 5839-1:2013 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises.

The Fire and Rescue Service are the enforcing authority and usually will not give advice on The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RR(FS)O). Search the internet for "Fire Safety Consultant in the Preston area" and ignore any Health and Safety consultants. The chances are, that you will have to have the work done, as the management company is most probably the Responsible Person (RP) under RR(FS)O and it is a case of how you pay for it, in your case they seem to want you to do it for yourself and pay for it. The guidance for the premises is Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats.