Tom Sutton

It is the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 that control this situation and you would need to establish the lower level of the explosive limit of the flammable liquids that is being used. This is a process risk and is the responsibility of the HSE who most probably have guidance document for this situation. I found one that may be useful, check out, http://www.zurich.com.au/content/dam/risk_features/Fire/risk_topic_paint_spraying_and_other_painting_processes_fire_safety.pdf

The fire resistance of a fire door could be affected unless you know the precise construction of the fire door, therefore any alteration could affect the fire door and reduce the fire resistance. I would suggest you do not alter the fire door or get an expert in fire doors to assist you. Check out http://fdis.co.uk/

Yes, I think it is a prudent move, the cost fighting them would most probably be more expensive than fitting a FD30s fire door.

When identifying who is at risk, you must consider all relevant persons who have access to the common areas; this includes the tenants, all visitors. The legal definition of relevant persons, means any person (including the responsible person) who is or may be lawfully on the premises and any person in the immediate vicinity of the premises who is at risk from a fire on the premises, but does not include a firefighter who is carrying out his duties in relation to a function of a fire and rescue authority under section 7, 8 or 9 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (fire-fighting, road traffic accidents and other emergencies), other than in relation to a function under section 7(2)(d), 8(2)(d) or 9(3)(d) of that Act. Calculating the number of person likely to be present is an educated estimation but as a standard inward opening door and/or staircase could evacuate approximately 60 then you do have large safety factor. It appears to be converted premises therefore the guidance will be HOUSING – FIRE SAFETY Guidance on fire safety provisionsfor certain types of existing housing The legal definition of relevant persons can be found in article 2 of the The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 PS Wrote this before seeing AB's but decided to submit anyway although it says similar things.

The management company is the Responsible Person (RP) and will have conducted a fire risk assessment (FRA) which has required all front doors to be FD30s doors. You will have to accept this, unless you are prepared to contest the FRA which will not be easy however you could request a home inspection by the local fire and rescue service to see what they would say. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/

The Responsible Person (RP), in your case the employer, has to have, if necessary, competent persons to assist him/her to carry out their fire safety duties, which includes evacuating the premises in the event of a fire. These people sometimes are called fire marshals (FM) and to be competent need to be trained, also the FM's could train their own deputies making them competent. When there are more than one RP they must co-operate and coordinate so it will depend on the evacuation plan how many fire marshals are required and you could decide between you, how many is needed, if only one fire marshal is required, who provides the FM and the other could provide the deputy. The need for competent persons depends on, if the premises are complicated, its size and the fire safety procedures that need to be implemented.

I would obtain the recommendations of the manufacturer and show this to your client, if he/she refuses to take the advice, test the offending detector if it fails, replace it if it passes accept it, but ensure you endorse the logbook accordingly, similar what you would do for a variation.

It is BS5266 and the duration is dependant on the the type of premises but most is a 3 hour duration.

You can fit locks and stays on emergency access windows check out 2.8 Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: dwellinghouses page 17.

This arrangement is acceptable, as a last resort, by most enforcing authorities and there should be a legal document, signed by both parties. The other possibility, if you are a tenant, is the landlord has arranged it and it forms part of your tenancy agreement so you need to discuss this with your solicitor and landlord. The other problem is, if the other shop opens on a sunday, the means of escape will not work so you need to discuss this with all interested parties and sort the problem to ensure the means of escape is available at all times the premises are occupied.

Depends if it is a double or single swing door, if it is a double swing door you would not be able to use an overhead closer if it is a single swing door then no problem however you should consider the hinges they may need rearranging.

You test the covering material and the filling by tying to set fire to it, this would not do much good to your leather sofa and chair. You should contact the manufacturer through the retailer and they should be able to confirm the sofa and chair conforms to the regulations, also may be able to provide permanent labels.

The Regulatory Reform Order 2005 shows you what your duties under the order they do not tell how to achieve those requirements, for this you need the appropriate guides and standards. The whole of the ground and first floor and the common areas on the third floor is subject to the order and you will require, amongst other requirements, a means of escape for all relevant persons. The door to the flat roof is not a fire escape, if it does not lead you to safety and the accommodation spiral stair is unlikely to be considered for MoE therefore you may need to provide a new staircase. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk there are many pages you may find useful and in particular http://www.firesafe.org.uk/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005/ to start with which privides links to all the appropriate guides.

What items are you talking about if it is upholstered furniture or fittings then they should have permanent labels. Check out Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home - A Guide to the UK Regulations

If it is a HMO then it is under the Housing Act 2004 but the common areas of all flats are subject to Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which requires you implement articles 8 to 22 which includes, to conduct a fire risk assessment in the common areas and the guidance is LACoRS document. The three flat owners will be the Responsible Person under the order.

Is this an external fire escape or an internal fire escape? If it is an internal fire escape then it most probably a FD30 door and would need to be repaired to a full half hour standard. If it is an external fire escape then it would depend at what level it leads onto the external fire escape, if it is the top level it may not need to be a FD30 door, if any of the other levels it most probably would and in any case it would need repairing for security if nothing else.

Further to what AB has said, yes Residents Management Company does have a legal responsibility, to fit a fire alarm if necessary and it must be fit for purpose. The guidance for installing a fire alarm is BS 5839 part 6 which includes a section on audibility and if it cannot be heard by all relevant persons, it is as useful as a concrete parachute.

I am not a sparky so I am not sure about the technical matters but if the test switch was located closer to the junction rose, you could get one switch operating both EL's which would be easier when testing and having a test switch for every EL would mean test switches everywhere I would sooner have one test switch controlling a group of EL's.

The closing speed of the door has no bearing on the incident in question it would depend on the location of the person when the hold open device actuated, consequently I would simply calculate the closing time by opening the door to 90 degrees then release it and time it to fully closed position. To calculate this time I would use risk assessment by monitoring the door in question and time the individuals in the target group take to pass through the door safely selecting the longest time, then you would have the time for all similar doors. I would think that the closing force would be more of a problem and most closing devices should have to meet the requirements of disabled people, which in hospital they most probably are. BS EN 1154 states that door closers for use on fire doors must have a minimum closing force of 18 Nm (size 3) so a closing force of 20 Nm is the best you can achieve without using swing free, and in most situation would be acceptable. Cam action door closers could be considered. With lower closing forces you also need to consider differential wind pressure on the building it may prevent the door from closing fully so it needs monitoring.

You have not provided sufficient information therefore I would suggest you start at and study page 22 of Approved Document Part B volume 2 Fire Safety (clause 2.11 onwards).

It is impossible to give a definitive answer without a lot more information and possible a physical inspection but Cornwall has produced some guidance on holiday lets which you may find useful. Check out http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/community-and-living/cornwall-fire-and-rescue-service-homepage/business-fire-safety/fire-safety-advice/self-catering-holiday-lets/

It is important that the Responsible Person or their representative, knows who is in the premises, in case an evacuation has to be conducted which will enable the person in charge to calculate if everybody has evacuated safely. There are a number of methods that could be used and yours using the visitors book, staff lists and residents list is one of them and will provide an accurate result. If they are not on duty staff or residents then they are visitors.

I stand corrected and withdraw the term 24/7 but I have seen maintained EL lit for 24 hours and others when the building is empty, the normal lighting including the EL is isolated when the occupier leaves the premises. The purpose is when the premises is occupied and the normal lighting is dimmed or extinguished like in cinemas, theatres, clubs ect, the EL remains on providing sufficient light to evacuate the premises if necessary. Check out http://www.safelincs.co.uk/introduction-to-emergency-lighting/ http://www.firesafe.org.uk/emergency-lighting/

It is not, it is what is written in Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RR(FS)O) and the person or persons defined as the Responsible Person (RP) has the duty to implement articles 8 to 23, ( FRA's, which covers Firefighting equipment & alarms etc.) Other people can take on certain duties but the RP still has full responsibility. Article 3 defines the RP and article 5 details the duties. In commercial premises the lease could clarify if the landlord has chosen the take on any of the duties as defined by the RR(FS)O but the overall responsibility is still borne by the RP.

A fire door has to be fitted with a door closer to ensure the fire door is in the closed position when a fire reaches it. If you need to keep a fire open then you can fit a fire door keep open device (retainer) which release the door when the fire alarm operates and the fire door closes as it should. Check out http://www.firecode.org.uk/.