AnthonyB

If there is just the electric meter and access can be restricted to stop any storage then local enclosure of the meter is an option if an existing HMO, although if it's going through Building Regs you may find they will insist on following the guidance in Approved Document B

Fire Risk Assessments have no expiry date in law if the premises have not changed - as this should address the external wall (either to say it is low risk or that it needs an FRAEW) it should suffice. An FRAEW can run into four figures or more to obtain and in a small traditional build like this would be disproportionate, however some lenders and solicitors are out of touch from reality in the current climate.

Depends on the results of the Fire Risk Assessment. Having done a few like this the usual outcome is that upgraded heritage doors are acceptable along with the lack of smoke control as part of a simultaneous evacuation strategy supported by an adequate common fire detection & warning system that extends into the flats. If the doors were not part of any listing then usually the expectation would have been to replace them at the time of conversion.

Then Mike is reflecting the current situation in English Building Regs guidance

Traditionally no, but as it's flats the Government's response to the Emergency Evacuation Information Sharing Plus (EEIS+) consultation and Residential PEEPs policy does appear to allow fire service rescue as an option from common areas as long as the PEEP is sufficient to enable independent evacuation from the flats where the fire is.

That's an unusual way around! That would be one of the steps to mitigate the solution, yes.

It sounds like the flats are ancillary to the use of the event space and if the stair is lobbied does have a situation that is detailed as acceptable if using Approved Document B. Building control are getting more strict on designs that don't fully reflect Approved Document B and increasingly will only consider these if justified in a full fire strategy by a Fire Engineer

If the doors won't perform as intended due to wear & tear or poor original install then remedial work is required to remain compliant with the law and more importantly to keep residents safe especially where the premises are not fully evacuated as is the case with healthcare and care premises. As this involves capital work it may be wise to use an independent specialist (who would not be doing the repair/replacement work) to give a detailed assessment, also indicating where repair is possible as oppose to replacement. The inspector and risk assessor should work together to determine the benchmark standard to which the doors must meet as minimum (although being post 1992 it would likely be current standard FD30/FD60/FD30S/FD60S doors)

Which country are you in - this has an impact as Scotland (& to a lesser extent Wales) do have different standards that may affect the validity of replies you get on here

Of course you can have wireless linked mains powered detectors these days - in fact they almost all are these days and few places manufacture wire linked domestic alarms these days. Just install the wireless stuff & get a certificate off the electrician saying it's a Grade D2 LD1/2/3 (depending on where the detectors are) system, issue it to the BCO and they have to accept it as it matches the requirements in Approved Document B which most BCO follow as the standard

Potentially yes - as FRAs are indicated for dwellings in this situation it could be interpreted as applying to the flat - which is a dwelling. Just because it's in a block of flats and isn't a standalone bungalow doesn't alter anything.

Not if simultaneous evacuation is in place - one of the reasons for needing simultaneous evacuation is lack of smoke control as well as the usual compartmentation & layout. reasons.

Yes - whilst in smaller blocks the original notional doors can be accepted as tolerable in a Fire Risk Assessment that is only if they are still in original good working order. If they are defective and beyond reasonable repair then replacement is the only option at which point I'd upgrade to the current spec

Current installation standards are not retrospective and as long as the sounder circuits are FR it may be tolerable for an existing legacy system based on risk, detection present and as long as the panel is in 'short circuit = fire' mode and not 'short circuit = fault'. The deficiency from current standards should be noted, but as to whether is needs immediate replacement is a matter for the risk assessment

For which doors? There are limits on the use of indirect hold open devices depending on building use & layout and which doors are to be held detailed in BS7273-4 which whilst not law would be used as a benchmark in any legal action - use outside of this would need justification as to how it still afforded suitable safety