Tom Sutton

Hi AB could you give me some info on a pull tag sealed hinged cover maybe a link showing what they look like.

First I am not a fire door specialist and you would need to contact http://fdis.co.uk/. The fire regulations require you to have a adequate means of escape and the relevant guidance, require your front door to be a FD30s fire door. It would depend on the degree of damage but it is recommended that a certified fire door specialist should be used to decide if the door can be repaired or needs to be replaced, as any damage caused to a fire door can compromise its integrity. If you repair the door then I would suggest a certified fire door joiner be used but if a new fire door is required a competent joiner following the instruction accompanying the fire door should be satisfactory.

Providing the training is relevant to your care home then it doesn't matter where the training is conducted what is necessary is that you fully understand the fire procedures in your own care home. There are subjects that are general like using fire extinguishers and they will be the same in all premises.

The doorway between the communal/common hallway and the flat hallway require to be a FD30 fire door which I will refer to as the front door, the remainder of the doors in the flat need to be substantial well fitted doors. If the vestibule is between the front fire door and the flat hallway, then the door from the flat hallway to the vestibule could be removed. Check out http://www.cieh.org/policy/fire_safety_existing_housing.html gives fire safety guidace on flats other than purpose built flats which is http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/publications/-/journal_content/56/10180/3369777/PUBLICATION

I cannot give a definitive response to your situation without knowing a lot more about your proposals and assuming BStandard part 6 is BS 5839 part 6:2013. I am surprised Building control told you to consider a fire curtain because fire curtain will not control smoke and it appears your means of escape could be cut off in the early stages of a fire. Also did the BCO tell you which category of fire alarm should be used ? The use of wireless detectors is acceptable providing they are CE marked and meet the requirements of BS 5839.

Assuming the travel distances are such and you only require one staircase you will require 60 minutes separation between the basement and the ground floor so you need to build a 60 min staircase enclosure. It could be studding with two layers of plaster board, skimmed or a 100mm block wall with a FD60 fire door be fitted at basement level or FD30 at basement level and a FD30 ground floor level depending on required design. There could be more work at ground floor level depending on the location of staircase to upper floors. The staircase could be a standard timber staircase and would not be required to be treated. Check out vol 2 of Approved Document Part B Fire Safety.

Not only smoke, fire as well and the contractor should have apply for Building Regulation approval. It appears the way the floor has been done it will not meet a minimum fire resistance of 30 minutes and 60 minutes could be required. I would suggest you contact your local building control and explain your situation giving them full details.

It is lifted from a guide Factories and warehouses Page 44 Stacked goods and high stacked storage. Nevertheless it is all about risk assessment and the inspecting officer should have considered the risk of such lighting initiating a fire. Fluorescent light fittings do cause fires but it is not the tube it is the transformer developing a fault and overheating.

Recommendatory there is no law that says zone panels are required, but the guidance clearly state they are very much desired, to assist the fire service in establishing the location of any detectors that have operated which could be a fire.

This would be acceptable providing the roller shutter door is in the open position during the time the premises is occupied and preferably secured in the open position. There should be a management procedure to ensure that the management can be assured that the roller shutter is open at all the required times. In cinemas they quite oftenly use chain to secure the push bar fire exits during the time the premises are unoccupied but first thing each day the chains are removed and hung on a chain board in the manager's office so at a glance he/she can be assured that the fire exits are available.

Yes you can get fully certificated sliding FD30 fire doors simple google "Sliding Fire Doors" and do some research and check out the certification. They are usually designed for 100mm walls but are expensive and not easy to install, I doubt it would be a DIY job.

BS 5306 part 1 2006 clearly state “The water supply to hose reels should be kept entirely independent from other water supplies within the building including those for other fire-fighting systems.” Therefore your proposals would be in contravention of the British Standard and consider the situation with people showering when a fire hose reel is needed the pressure could be reduce to a level where it could be ineffective on a fire.

It appears your contractor’s cabin could be likened to a room and not all rooms have two exits (travel in one direction) and it all depends on where you have located the exit door? The major problem is the size of the container because they are usually long compared with the width; consequently if a fire did start in the cabin, you may have problems bypassing the fire. The advantage is, a fire would be discovered immediately and people would react before a fire could develop also the occupancy is low. It needs to be checked out against the appropriate guides, http://www.firesafe.org.uk/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005/ or Approved Document Part B Fire Safety.

The legislation requires a fire risk assessment to be carried out and it is up to the assessor to accept such an arrangement based on his/her experience and guides. Most theatres and cinemas cover their fire exits with curtains which must be easily openable and clear of the floor by at least 150mm and it is up to the FR assessor whether they are considered acceptable or not. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005/

Furniture for holiday homes and furnished residential properties must meet the full requirements of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations. However the The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 only applies to the common areas therefore the bedrooms, lounge, etc are exempt and only the FFFSR apply. This means only the upholstered furniture and furnishings have to meet the appropriate standards but the curtains are not required to meet the required British standard but for piece of mind you may consider it. Check out Domestic Flammability Guide which you have to conform to.

Without seeing the documentation that should accompany the fire door especially the global assessment it is difficult to give an opinion. If you are using fire door blanks the global assessment with tell you all you need to know and it is more than likely you will need to fit intumescent seals to the top of the door and smoke seals to the top and threshold if smoke control is required.

The Responsible Person in the library should provide the necessary training and it would depend on the Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) in force for the library. http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-emergency-evacuation-plan-or-fire-procedure/

I am asuming it is an aico smoke alarm so download the instructions from http://www.aico.co.uk/download-user-instructions.html read and digest. (The battery you have replaced may be the wrong type?)

A further point worth raising is I see many situations were illuminated signs are not required, a standard sign with an emergency escape light close by, illuminating the sign is all that is needed. Maintained illuminated signs are only required in situation where the normal lighting is extinguisher during the normal use of the room like theatres, cinemas, clubs, entertainment venues and lecture theatres etc.

My statement above is a little clinical and to the best of my knowledge is correct but you should also consider the safety of yourself and your family. The flat was most probably designed according to the ADB which would mean if there was a fire everybody should be able to escape safely but if you choose to change things you may jeopardise the safety of your family so I would advise to leave things as they are however ADB does not require self closers on internal flat doors other than the front door.

I agree with you and they are in breach of the standards by using two types of sign but I am afraid these problems will continue until the government gets off its backside and revise the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.

As far as the Fire Safety Order is concerned, YES, fire safety in the flat other than the front door is the responsibility of the tenant/landlord and it does not fall within the jurisdiction of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. However according to Approved Document Part B Fire Safety vol 2 it depends on the layout of the flat, use of rooms and the travel distances involved and being in contravention of this may involve a breach of the Housing Act.

I stand corrected, thanks AB, you should check out "Fire safety guidance for existing purpose built flats" at http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/publications/-/journal_content/56/10180/3369777/PUBLICATION

Yes AB the "mortice lever roller bolt fire escape deadlatch" is the one I was thinking about which can be accessed from either side, the only problem is if it is a FD30 door. Are you sure the others can be made accessible from either side?

The reason for not to install detectors in or near bathrooms is because of the likelihood that steam will cause false alarms. I can see no reason why you shouldn't install it in this room, close to the gas boiler away from the shower/washing machine and monitor it to see if it does cause false alarms. Also you could consider power ventilation controlled by the electric light so when this room is in use the level of steam will be reduced, also any harmful gases will be expelled.