Tom Sutton

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.

In the UK, wallcoverings designated as a fire escape route, or public areas must achieve a surface spread of flame to the British Class '0' fire rating or European Class B-s3, d2 this will also apply to furniture which is used in the escape routes in a shopping centre. I would also consider it would need to meet the standards of medium hazard according to the Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the contract and non-domestic sectors. Check out http://www.fira.co.uk/document/fira-contract-flammability-guide-october-2011pdf.pdf

Having a microwave in the office kitchen room will depend on the result of a fire risk assessment and in the past there has been a number of fires involving microwave ovens. The location of the kitchen in relation to the mean of escape, is the room enclosed to a 30 minute fire resisting standard and are there an appropriate fire extinguisher available, are important considerations.

A magnetic lock with green release boxes on each side of the door, interconnected to the fire alarm. If the power supply fails or the fire alarm actuates the magnetic lock will open, if not, operating the green boxes will open the lock. There used to be a deadlock with a lever underneath which was located in a glass fronted recess but unfortunately I cannot find one.

It appears from your submission you have 3 hour emergency lighting which is what is required by the Fire Safety Order, after that it is a health and safety matter not a fire safety matter. You will need to find out who deals with Health and Safety in your premises and take your concerns to she/him. Under the FSO the landlord has a responsibility to ensure that the fire escape is satisfactorily illuminate for three hours, if there is a fire and the normal lighting fails.

You should inform his landlord/freeholder because he/she will be a Responsible Person as defined by the fire safety order and if things go pear shaped it will be the landlord in the dock answering the questions from the man with a curly wig.

Opps I was answering a question that had already dealt with.

The Arm’s-length management organisation or the local council will be designated the Responsible Person (RP) and are required under the Fire safety Order to conduct a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) in the common areas but are not required to share it with the tenants. The FRA is based on risk assessment so what are the chances are for the premises to be involved in fire at the same time of a power cut depriving you of supply to the whole area. However if you are concerned the enforcing authority is the local Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) and you should contact them. http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/

You need to identify the manufacturer of the unit and get the data sheet which should tell you what the sequence of LED's mean. It appears Peters unit is a SEC fluorescence self test unit and uses three LED's green,yellow and red, the red one indicates the tube is faulty. Check out http://www.sec.sk/files/product/product_25_6574_evolux-led+8w-stena.pdf

As soon as practicable after the assessment is made or reviewed, the responsible person must record the information where, he/she employs five or more employees, a licence under an enactment is in force in relation to the premises or an alterations notice requiring this is in force in relation to the premises. Any such assessment must be reviewed by the responsible person regularly so as to keep it up to date and particularly if, there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid or there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates including when the premises, special, technical and organisational measures, or organisation of the work undergo significant changes, extensions, or conversions, and where changes to an assessment are required as a result of any such review, the responsible person must make them. Straight from the The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 article 9.