Tom Sutton

Check out http://www.asdma.com/pdf/BPG.pdf page 18/4 you are correct 6" down & 9" up but the centre hinge can be in either of two locations depending on the test/global assessment report.

I have only seen this method to define walkways in large factories and across roofs but if it solves your situation, so be it. I am not aware of any guidance other than common sense and I would make it as wide as the fire exit opening plus additional width to cover any fire points adjacent to the fire exit. The depth would depend on the layout of the premises but about 1 m to 2 m would be sufficient.

I am not aware of any evidence based guidance on the extinguishing a fire in a bed with a resident on fire it would be a case of considering all the alternatives and deciding which would be the most successful and best. The generally considered method for extinguishing a person on fire is to wrap the casualty in a blanket followed by the application of water spray. For a person in bed on fire this would be very difficult but the use of water in the form of spray extinguisher could be successful. I would use copious quantities of water not only to extinguish the fire but to cool the burns and with that in mind you could consider buckets of water. Once you are able to move the casualty you could consider placing in a bath of cool water depending on the degree of burns and how quickly the ambulance arrives. I think the best extinguishing medium would be water and applied in copious quantities as quickly as possible but not on the form of a jet of water.

To the best of my knowledge, all storage/pressure tanks shall be checked for externally for corrosion ever 3 years and drained, cleaned as necessary and examined internally for corrosion. Also shall be repainted and/or have the corrosion protection refurbished, as necessary. At 10 year intervals, all storage tanks shall be cleaned and examined internally and the fabric attended to as necessary. You should check out the BS yourself the local reference library may be able to help.

Generally the sound pressure level should be 65 dB and 60 dB in small rooms or areas (less than 60 m2). Where the background noise is above 60 dB then the sounders should 5 dB above that. Where people are asleep the sound pressure level should be 75 dB at the bedhead and not be not greater than 120dB anywhere. This is very basic and you need to check out BS 5839-1:2013 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises. As a fire alarm engineer you should have a copy but if you only have use of it occasionally you could try your local reference library who may have a copy.

Under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 the person or persons defined the Responsible Person (RP) is responsible for the fire alarm. First you would need to establish who the RP or RP's are, using article 3. If you are an employer then you are the RP for your workplace and all the other employers would be the RP of their workplaces and you would have to co operate with each other to provide a fire alarm for the building. The owner or his agent may take over this responsibility but it all depends on your tenancy agreement, as does the costs. I would suggest you contact your solicitor and get them to sort it out with the landlord.

Depends on what you intend to make, for instance curtains in the domestic situation is not subject to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (amended 1989, 1993 and 2010) but scatter cushions are. If you study the guide it will detail all the items that are subject to the regulations and to what extent, also the labeling/testing that is required. Check out http://www.fira.co.uk/document/fira-flammability-guide-october-2011pdf.pdf

I am not certain but I do not believe they would be subject to Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988/1989, 1993 and 2010 because they are similar to curtains or carpets which are not include. If I was to test their fire safety properties I would use, BS EN 13772:2011 Textiles and textile products. Burning behaviour. Curtains and drapes. Measurement of flame spread of vertically oriented specimens with large ignition source or, BS 5867-2:2008 Fabrics for curtains, drapes and window blinds. Flammabililty requirements. Specification, either would be suitable.

As the simpson's would say Doh ! :unsure:

Latest from BS 5306-8, the discharge of a powder extinguisher can cause a sudden reduction of visibility, which could temporarily jeopardize escape, rescue or other emergency action. For this reason water-based extinguishers should ideally be specified for use indoors so I think this rules out ABC dry powder. However water mist maybe an answer because it has a class B rating and water is miscible with alcohol, but if there is any electricity involved I would isolate the supply before extinguishing the fire, despite the claims for the water mist extinguisher. It would be interesting to see how it would behave in such a situation maybe SafeLincs could help out here?

Also DK by adding cardboard you have destroyed the fire resistance how would you maintain the integrity of the FD.

Sorry Leighton I should have read it more carefully but Harry answered your question anyway.

Peter, A flat is not subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 only the common areas which is the responsibility of the owner/freeholder, who is the Responsible Person as defined by the RR(FS)O. As the RP he/she has to conduct a Fire Risk Assessment by law and it can be recorded (written document) or not depending on the circumstances. So I am not sure how you intend to include a FRA in your selling pack other than an assurance that the common areas meet the requirements of the RR(FS)O. If you got the authority to carry out a FRA in the common areas who is going to pay for any work that needs to be done, as required by the FRA and the cost could substantial. You could contact the local Fire and Rescue Service who are the enforcing authority and get them to conduct an inspection which should chase up the freeholder. http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/

I have never heard of fabric radiator covers please enlighten me?

Hayfever An interesting point. Article 5 is about duties not defining RP’s and as they are not RP’s or employees then they have no right‘s to see certain areas of the FRA. Also the flats are exempt from the RR(FS)O other than the front door and there has been cases where the tenants have refused to allow the landlord to work on their front door. However London FRS was not prepared to fight and one London borough has taken a tenant to court and won. Charging is subject to the tenant agreements but I agree it does seem unfair and I am afraid this is one for the lawyer’s to fight about. What does surprise me is why they are reluctant to show the FRA.

Jonathan he had to remove the yale lock because there would have been two locks which is not acceptable for an emergency exit. The rest is a disagreement between you and the landlord nothing to do about fire safety.

Curtains, carpets, lampshades and wooden furniture with no upholstery do not have to carry permanent labels as defined by the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988/1989, 1993 and 2010, only upholstered furniture. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/

Have you purchased intumescent paint designed for structural steelwork and have you follow the manufacturer's instruction to the letter?

Green foam is right it cannot be "diagnosed" via a forum but you have had the MCP changed so it is unlikely to be that, I assume the the system is working in all other aspects then you are left with the wiring where there could be an intermittent fault on the detector circuit, like breakdown of the insulation, pesky rodents. :rolleyes:

Depending on the circumstance the FRA may not be recorded (written document) and only employees have to be informed of certain areas of the FRA. Consequently there may not be written FRA and you cannot demand to see the FRA findings, its up to the Responsible Person under the Fire Service Order. (owner,freeholder, landlord or managing agents) Check out The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Check out the full details which can be found in BS 5499 part 4 2013. Escape route signs should be sited conspicuously within the normal field of vision. To assist evacuees with the prediction of the location of successive signs, the following principles should be applied: 1. Signs above doors or open spaces should be mounted between 2m and 2.5m from floor level, measured to the base of the sign and be sited as close to the centreline of the escape route as practicable; 2. Signs sited on walls should be mounted between 1.7m and 2m, from floor level measured to the base of the sign; NOTE 1 this mounting height is intended to ensure that signs can be readily seen, e.g. over the heads of people. 3. Mounting heights greater than 2.5m may be used, e.g. in large open spaces or for operational reasons , but such signs should be both conspicuous and legible; NOTE 2 this mounting height is intended to ensure the signs are within the immediate field of vision and therefore larger signs might be necessary; 4. Signs should be sited at the same height throughout the escape route, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Leighton if you are not happy with them why not change your supplier?

The freeholders are the Responsible Person under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and should have conducted a Fire Risk Assessment. It looks like the FRA has decided that the stairs meets a 30 minute protected route standard, with smoke detectors in the staircase and heat detectors in the hall of each flat. This would mean if a fire starts in an unoccupied flat or smoke enters the staircase, you would be warned immediately and would have 30 minutes in theory to escape. The question to ask yourself where do you go when you get on the roof? The definition of a good means of escape is. you should be able to escape to a place of ultimate safety by your own unaided efforts.

It sounds like there are possibilities but the door will not be a third party certified fire door, you need the door assessing with a report you can give to the managing agents who may accept it. Check out http://www.fdis.co.uk for more information.

Ian - It is unusual idea but it would operate similar to a central battery system and would have to be installed in accordance with BS 5266-1:2011 Emergency lighting. Code of practice for the emergency escape lighting of premises. I would suggest you talk to the Fire and Rescue Service who are the enforcing authority and see what they think.