Tom Sutton

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.

I stand correct I was thinking of final exit not external areas in the immediate vicinity of exits but I stand by if needed, you are not going prescriptive on me are you AB.

I am not aware of any such guidance but notice boards are a fire risk because notes pinned to it can be easily ignited and as they are usually in escape routes it will create a surface spread of flame risk, as well. A solution is if the notice board is located in a glass fronted case but as always risk assess the situation.

A 44mm thick door should be reasonably insulated it is about the thickness of a external front door and I supposed you could install a 54mm FD60 door but I am suprised you need it.

Well assuming emergency escape lighting is required, does the existing EEL illuminated the exit sign, sufficiently in accordance with the British Standard, if it does an addition EL would not be required, if not then fix an addition EL.

The local council enforces the Housing Act and in their opinion your premises is a HMO and requires a licence, the conditions of that licence, requires you to carry out the above work. You do have the right of appeal but you would need to justify an appeal and this would most probably require you to employ a fire consultant to assist you, also he would be able to advise you if the required FD30 doors are needed. If you only require advice on the fire doors you could seek the services of a fire door inspector check out http://fdis.co.uk/

It doesn't matter how the luminaires are lit, either by mains or battery providing the emergency escape route is illuminated and people can find there way out of the premises safely. In a building with a number of sub circuits, and in the event of a fire affecting one sub circuit only the emergency luminaries in that circuit will light, the remainder in the building will be lit by the mains. In the event of a fire affecting the main intake all the emergency luminaries will operate and the occupants of the premises will be able to evacuate safely. What I do not understand you said "if said light circuit were to trip, then ELs in that area would not illuminate as they are still receiving mains power" but if the circuit tripped then where would the mains power be coming from? The bottom line is in the event of of a fire affecting any circuits will the emergency escape route be illuminated sufficiently for people to escape safely.

If I understand your description, everybody in the building will have to pass a BG before they leave the premises. Providing they do not have to travel more than 30 metres to reach a BG then the provision of BG's is acceptable.

Amendment to the above reply, ignore the guide for Sleeping accommodation. and use Guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing

I followed my own suggestion and came up with http://acslimited.co.uk/intumescent-fire-retardant-paint/?aw also http://www.propertyrepairsystems.co.uk/30and60minutes.htm also http://envirograf.com/products/items/130-product-42-intumescent-paint-and-varnishes-for-wood-etc.php check them out, give them a bell.

The normal answer would be No chance, but you could consider conducting a fire risk assessment on the problem. It is only going to apply for a relatively short period of time, it is not a fire hazard, the means of escape will be maintained to a minimum of 750mm wide which should be adequate for the number involved, then make a decision based on ALARP. Check out http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/faq.htm#q1

There is no regulations that requires fire doors to close quietly but if they do slam shut it would eventually damage the door which would have to be replaced. I am not aware of anything you can do other than persuade the landlord to consider the problem and see what he/she can do.

I assume premises is a multi occupied building and each employer is designated the Responsible Person (RP) under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 for his/her own workplace. Article 22.Co-operation and coordination, require all RP's to cooperate and discuss problem like this and make the appropriate rules to solve any such problems.