Tom Sutton

BS7273-4 controls the activation of hold open devices which means if the fire alarm operates the door will release immediately and if a fault develops on the system the door will fail to safe in a specified time. BS7273-4 provides for fail safe operation of the devices under a wide range of fault conditions and within time constraints, for category A there are 13 fault conditions each one with its own specific time. For Category B and C there are 3 fault conditions as indicated in the category A with some modifications. There is no maximum activation time each condition has its own specific time. You can use variations from the recommendations with the approval of all interested parties and they must be recorded in the commissioning certificate or the specification for the system. The author considers it a simple document other’s believe it is very difficult, and I believe to understand it you need to study it which means you should check with the local reference library to see if they can provide a copy or if necessary purchase a copy.

Idiots by the sound of it, at the present the so called euro sign are legal but at some time in the future the Signpost to the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations will be revised and this person will have to change back to what he had in the first place.

The weekly test should be done during working hours, because it is designed to see if the FA system is working and everybody can hear the sounders, also each MCB is tested over a period of time. The test should also be carried out at the same time every week and only for a short period, if it continues then they should realize it is not a test and should evacuate. If it is not done during working hours how will the employees know if they can hear the sounders and if a sounder develops a fault how will the RP know without being informed by one of his employees. The other maintenance and tests can be done at the convenience of the service engineers and RP.

I assume you will gluing the veneer and nothing will be penetrating the fire door therefore I cannot see how you would be reducing the fire resistance of the door.

The width of escape routes and exits depends on the number of persons needing to use them. In your situation I cannot see more than 60 requiring to escape, therefore 750mm width should be considered adequate and it is very important that you are able to open the locked gate to get out of the yard.

I do not believe it could be classed as a HMO and is a single domestic premises but does the council, who you work with, not have fire safety rules you need to abide by. Fire safety measures for a domestic dwelling is contained in the following document page 37. http://www.cieh.org/policy/fire_safety_existing_housing.html

The common areas are subject to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the enforcing authority is the Fire and Rescue Service you should inform the local fire and rescue service of the situation. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/.

Check out http://www.jamiltonupholstery.co.uk/ and http://www.homefittings.co.uk/ for your labels.

This is certainly a dilemma and needs much research and if I come up with any solutions I will be back. Over to you Harry.

You need to study the Domestic Flammability Guide and http://www.firesafe.org.uk/furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/ this guidance should answer most of your questions. Getting a supplier for the printed fire labels is difficult, but surf the web with, “furniture fire labels” and you should get most you require. You need documented proof that the materials meet the required standard so you would need to contact the supplier. Not all foam is fire retardant and you would again need to contact the supplier for document proof. Any furniture predated 1950 does not require labels but any new or reupholstered furniture does and the guidance explains more fully. Scatter cushions fall within the regulations and the labelling is explained in the guide.

It is possible that a small quantity of CO escaped when you opened the the wood burner to place logs on the fire and this operated the detector. But it is not a good idea the allow electronic devices to get warm, which could affect the circuitry, that's why many are fitted with heat sinks and/or fans to keep them cool.

You could consider a cam operated door closer providing the conditions are acceptable.

A point worth mentioning, when was the house constructed, if it was after 1991 then the Smoke Detectors Act 1991 applies. Check out http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/37/contents .

If I have read it correctly are you saying the main entrance sliding door will not close properly because of the padlock that is secured to the security eye. Providing this will not prevent the door from being opened from the inside during the time the premises is occupied it would be acceptable and meet the criteria as being able to be opened without the use of a key. The only problem is the number of relevant person that may require to use this sliding door because the numbers are limited for a sliding door.

Other than the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 I am not aware of any guidance for seaside piers, but each building on the pier could be covered by a government guide, and the route from each building, to the entrance, a means of escape scheme could be devised. When the fire service is called it would also be important that the royal national lifeboat institution are involved in case people need to jump into the sea. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005/

It is important, if a system can be devised but ensuring everybody is questioned at the assemble point should identify those that are missing so the officer in charge of the fire service can be informed of missing persons so he/she can conduct a search.

In a block of flats The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 only apply to the common areas and as nobody lives in the common area so there is no requirement to conduct a fire drill but if it is possible then it could be a benefit to the residents.

Does the smoking shelter restrict people using the fire escape route and by how much.

Depends on your fire risk assessment, they are a flammability source which could be a surface spread of flame risk but would they be easily ignited. There is no clear guidance to say they should be flame retardant it is up to the fire risk assessment to decide if they need to be FR. Check out http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0041/00418066.pdf and http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Justice/public-safety/Fire-Rescue/FireLaw/FireLaw/SectorSpecificGuidance/smallsleepingaccomodation the best guidance I could find.

You have to understand the evacuation procedure in most large blocks of flats it is called "stay put". These blocks of flats are divided into into fire resistant compartments that will resist the spread of fire for up to 60 minutes, which is sufficient time for the fire service to arrive and extinguish the fire. This means the tenants can stay put in their flats providing it is not involved in fire or the location of the fire is such it is unsafe to do so. If the fire should spread due to bad compartmentation and if it affects any tenants they should evacuate immediately but the remainder can stay put if they choose to. This evacuation procedure has been in use for 50 years and proved effective except in a relatively few cases were the people involved, did not understand the evacuation procedure properly. This means, the means of escape provided for you, excluding the use of the lifts, is satisfactory because of the small number of people that will need to use it. Because of the terminology I would prefer, not to give it a title and let the people decide for themselves or call it, stay put if it is safe to do so. Check out http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/publications/-/journal_content/56/10180/3369777/PUBLICATION

Are your proposals subject to the Building Regulations if so you will need to comply with Approved Document Part B Fire Safety therefore contact your local building control department? Some of the requirements will be your responsibility and other the landlord it will depend on your tenancy agreement. Eventually you will be subject the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and will be required to conduct a fire risk assessment in accordance with those regulations and I would suggest you employ a fire risk assessor to assist you. The Guidance you will require is Offices and shops.

There are no Fire Certificate's now but the premises are subject to a fire risk assessment and depending on the situation this could be a recorded document. There could be a fire strategy document, but unlikely, log books recording various tests and there should be a written emergency fire evacuation procedure.

I think the advice from Neil Ashdown in a previous submission would be suitable for you. Voids inside the door and frame construction would very likely result in early integrity failure of the doors in a fire situation. If you can identify the manufacturer of the fire doors by finding a label on the top or vertical edges of the door you can then contact their technical department for advice. If you are unable to identify the door manufacturer and any performance certification and you have the necessary competence then you may be able to repair the door and frame. You would need to be a competent joiner (assuming the doors are timber) to tightly splice hardwood of a density above 650 kg per m3 into the voids together with intumescent paper as a gasket material. The splicing must be tight in the mortice holes leaving no voids (however small) within the door and frame section. This is a job for a competent person and if you are at all unsure then you should seek professional help. In which case you could try the Fire Door Inspection Scheme at www.fdis.co.uk and info@fdis.co.uk

Are you a small premises or covering a number of floors, without a lot more information it is impossible to advise you and the company who supplied the fire extinguishers should be able to help. Some basic guidance would be, Extinguishers should be available for immediate use at all times. Normally, extinguishers should be located: a) in conspicuous positions on brackets, stands or cabinets; b) where they will be readily seen by persons following an escape route; c) most suitably, near to room exits, corridors, stairways, lobbies and landings; d) in similar positions on each floor, where floors are of similar appearance; In a small shop like premises there is usually a reception desk near the front door and locating in that area would most probably acceptable. http://www.extinguisheradvice.org.uk/how-install-fire-extinguishers.php

The first thing is all doors that allow you to escape from the premises are fire exits including the front door. It is possible that a travel in one direction is acceptable, depending on the travel distance to all final fire exits, the numbers persons involved and the layout of the premises. Without a lot more information it is impossible to give a definite answer and I would suggest you contact the local fire & rescue service. They are the enforcing authority and should send out an inspector to check the premises out.