Tom Sutton

Approved document B (fire safety) volume 2 page 143 define a Self-closing device as a device which is capable of closing the door from any angle and against any latch fitted to the door. Rising butt hinges on a fire door opening into an internal corridor is unlikely to meet that criterion so they cannot be classed as a self-closer. The only place a rising butt hinge could be accepted is for a door in a cavity barrier.

Further to the above a simpler way to determine the power size required by EN power size. Check out http://www.safelincs.co.uk/overhead-door-closers/ for more information. P.S. If the centre stile of the doors are rebated you will need a door selector as well.

Door closers are designated according to BS EN 1154 1997 and the door width and mass in Kg defines the power size, also needed, is it a fire door. Consequently you need to know the width, mass and is the door a fire door to determine the power size required. Most retailers should be able to provide the test certificate and using the BS EN 1154 you can determine the power size required. The third digit defines the power size and can be two digits, from to.

The employer is the responsible Person (RP) under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 so if the tenants are running the nursery as a business they are the RP but you could be responsible for certain items depending on the tenants agreement and who has control. Who pays will be subject to the tenant's agreement but I would imagine fire safety items that will become a permanent feature and under your control would be at your cost, fire safety items that could be removed would be the tenants. For example the fire alarm which could not be taken if they vacate the premises but the testing/maintenance could be at their cost through the rent.

If the landlord is the owner he/she is subject to the The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and is required to conduct a fire risk assessment (FRA). This includes the need for an adequate means of escape, if he/she is not prepared to provide this then I would contact the enforcing authority who is the local fire and rescue service and let them know you situation. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/

As freeholders you are the Responsible Person (RP) of the common areas under the The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and require to conduct a Fire risk Assessment. (FRA) If the FRA considers a fire alarm is necessary it should be installed in accordance with BS 5839-6:2004 which includes testing and maintenance. Depending on the grade installed testing is weekly and maintenance is six monthly for most systems in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. The weekly test is simple operating the system to ensure it is working and the six monthly maintenance is to ensure it will fulfil its role if ever needed. Check out http://www.cieh.org/uploadedFiles/Core/Policy/Publications_and_information_services/Policy_publications/Publications/National_fire_safety_guidance_08.pdf for standard to be applied.

It has occurred to me a situation where you would require two batteries would be when the batteries are 12V and the system is 24V and you would need to connect them in series. Check out http://firealarmengineers.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=7281&highlight=calculate

I am not a fire alarm engineer but looking at BS 5839 Part 1 AMD 2013 it appears to say, you do your battery calculation and the result upgraded to the next available size, ie 6.1 Ah would be 7Ah as in your example. This is the total of the standby capacity you require 2 X 3.2Ah batts or 1 X 7Ah batt, in your previous method you would be doubling the capacity and I cannot find any reference to that. I would suggest you log on to www.firealarmengineers.com/ and post there as they will be able to give you much better advice than me.

Student living accommodation is a tricky one it may not be subject to any fire legislation and could fall under the description of domestic dwelling. I would contact the local Fire and Rescue Service and ask for an inspection as you are concerned about the fire safety of the premises, you could ask them to not to use you name in case the landlord identifies you. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/

Yes most certainly the only premises that require illuminated fire exit boxes is premises where the normal lights are dimmed or extinguished during the time the premises is occupied, like cinemas, theatres clubs.

I am afraid they are all quite complicated but if you download the templates in http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-risk-assessment/ you can ammend them or at least one of them to suit your own circumstances.

I am sure you could disconnect one magnetic hold open door release from the system but it most probably require the fire alarm control and indicating equipment panel (CIE) to be reprogramed. I would suggest you contact your fire alarm company who maintains the system and ask their advice or try www.firealarmengineers.com to see if they can help.

If the occupants are familiar with the means of escape and it is not a place of assembly, you could as Harry as said fit a door closer with an approved nightlock if you have panic bars or pads they should be removed. For additional security when the premises are unoccupied you could fit deadlocks or barrel bolts which would have to be opened or removed when the premises opens first thing and use a chain board. A chain board located in the manager office, is a board fitted with numbered hooks one for each key or barrel bolt so you can see at a glance that all the exit doors are open and only secured by the nightlatch.

Check out for more information Guide to Interpreting Markings for Single Axis Hinges.

Hinges that meet BS EN 1935: 2002 will not be stamped BS EN 1935: 2002 but will carry the CE mark with a number indicating the hinge designation and there may be more information on the documentation accompanying the hinges. Providing you have three substancial hinges and they are made of steel, then they are most probably satisfactory until you rehang any fire doors.

Someone is correct you need full width of the door with no obstructions. Check out https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-risk-assessment-offices-and-shops

The FDIS and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-risk-assessment-sleeping-accommodation .

Further to the above, as I said there is no need to record the FRA in this case but a FRA is required by the RR(FS)O and the significant findings have to be implemented. The recording of the FRA is such a minor thing I think I would record the findings and add how I dealt with the significant findings to assist the enforcing authority and it would keep solicitors off your back. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk and http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-risk-assessment/ ​There are other publications that would help.

Flats are domestic dwelling and not subject to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 but the common areas are. The owners/freeholders are the Responsible Persons (RP) for the common areas and are required to instigate a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) under the above order. If less than five persons are employed then the FRA does not need to be recorded (by use of a document or other means). House in Multiple Occupation are subject to another piece of legislation Housing Act 2004. As nobody is employed and you do not need to record the FRA I am not sure what the solicitor wants? Does he want you to repeat to him the details of the FRA anything else it would have to be recorded which you do not have to do.

Has green foam has said you do need smoke detectors wired into the mains with battery backup but I cannot see any reason for not accepting interlinking with wireless link instead of hardwiring.

On the basis of the risk assessment conducted, and taking into account both existing fire precautions and those set to be put in place, the evacuation strategy can be determined. I would think horizontal phased evacuation would be the first consideration and maybe vertical phased evacuation could be considered depending on the height premises. Also defend in place should be considered depending on the FRA. Horizontal phased evacuation In hospitals and care homes, floors may be divided into a number of fire-resistant compartments and occupants can be moved from the compartment affected by fire to the adjacent compartment. This may need to happen more than once. Depending on the severity of the fire, it may eventually be necessary to consider vertical evacuation. Because of the extra time this entails, a combination of fire precautions may be required: Voice alarm systems Fire control points Compartmentation of the premises using fire-resistant construction materials Sprinklers in buildings whose top floor is over 30 metres above ground level Defend in place This strategy may be considered in blocks of flats where each flat has a minimum 60 minutes’ fire-resistant capacity, and in hospitals or nursing homes where patients are connected to life-support equipment and cannot be moved. It means that occupants can stay put while the fire services attempt to extinguish a fire. If the fire spreads and cannot be contained, a full evacuation is initiated. In case of patients connected to life-saving equipment, a decision has to be made as to which option is preferable, staying or moving, as there are serious risks attached to either one. Defend in place strategies, phased evacuation schemes and staff alarm systems should only be implemented upon the advice of a competent person and the fire and rescue services. For guidance I would study the DCLG guide https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-risk-assessment-residential-care-premises and although not a hospital I would consider HTM 05-02 http://www.checkmatefire.com/downloads/HTM_05-02.pdf

Are you sure, my insurance recommends that I have five lever dead lock on my front door which I lock when I leave the house but I am not required to lock it when I am in the house. If I was required to have a deadlock and to be locked at night I was fit an approved deadbolt nightlatch.

Blame building control or the AI's, which are not only responsible for this situation, there are far more serious situations allowed to happen in new build. Check out http://www.crisis-response.com/forum/index.php?topic=6836.0

Contact the owners or their representives, landlord/managinbg agents and if no sucess the local Fire and Rescue Service check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/

A full fire evacuation drill will be done about once annually so it is unlikely to affect trade that much. The purpose of the drill is to train the staff what to do in the event of a fire in the premises and how to evacuate the customers’ safety so having the drill in a quiet time, 2.00 pm or so on a Sunday, seems reasonable for training purposes. I would not lie to them I would tell them exactly what you have done and why. If you wish to reward then for their understanding then that is up to the owner and I would imagine they would be asking when the next fire drill is. :)