AnthonyB

It used to be in the guidance for very small premises, but has been removed in recent years and now the guidance only refers to proper emergency lighting. Your Fire Risk Assessment may accept such an approach but it would need to justify why it deviates from the guidance & remains acceptable. The premises do sound bigger than that covered by the old guide (aimed at small single storey premises like a lock up shop) It would be a reasonable short term measure whilst the proper lighting is installed.

It sounds the same as a set of shelving, just recessed as a built in cupboard - sounds a little overkill I'd agree!

As the part 6 inside the flat is local to that flat it's only for the life safety of the flat occupier and the flat is a private dwelling then it's out of the scope of the Fire Safety Order and the liability of the RP (unless there is some contractual maintenance responsibility) so it shouldn't be a concern - only facilities in a flat to protect the other parts of the building (such as heats & sounders off a common system) would be the RP's responsibility and liability if not maintained.

Strictly speaking if it's text only it doesn't meet the requirements for fire safety signs under the Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996 as it does not include a pictogram (symbol/picture) - however I take a balanced approach to this based on the potential number & type of users of the exit as the most common symbol you see is just a white tick on green which adds nothing to understanding how to use the door. If the exit has the required level of emergency lighting adjacent it won't need to be photoluminescent as it would have suitable external lighting (plus photoluminescent signage isn't very effective unless externally lit continuously to keep the material 'charged' so it has the required brightness and duration of luminescence to be any use when the power fails)

As Neil says! Did the FRA pick up the common area domestic smokes that the official guidance says aren't suitable and shouldn't be there as they confuse.

Is it a full room or more a big cupboard? I do a lot of schools work and the doors required to be fire doors is often less than you think. I'd need to see the building to be definitive but it's certainly not automatic.

Why does the FRA say you need one? A 2014 conversion in accordance with Building Regulations guidance (Approved Document B) which yours sounds like operates stay put and absolutely does not need a site wide linked fire alarm or an evacuation strategy. The only reason you would need to change is if the external wall construction or internal compartmentation/fire stopping has been found to be defective (possibly also compartmentation between shops & flats substandard as well being a reason) and not readily rectifiable - full evacuation & alarms is considered a last resort on all current guidance. Unfortunately it's sadly common for post 2000 builds and conversions to have legacy fire safety defects that the ineffective building control approval process has not picked up leading to issues like this when they come to light (Grenfell Tower being the ultimate example as it's refurbishment had a completion certificate as meeting Building Regs) If no particular reason is detailed then you need a new, better, FRA and to seek a determination of your enforcement notice by the Secretary of State (which fire services do loose, they don't win them all by a very long chalk!) to see if your solution (i.e. the status quo as per building regs guidance) is acceptable. There must be some reason they are going down this route

The way the NFCC guide is written puts the clause in 94.16 firmly in the section regarding the communal BS5839-1 system, which in some sheltered housing blocks does extend into the flats with detection in addition to or instead of a domestic BS5839-6 smoke/heat alarm system. If that communal system is linked to an Alarm Receiving Centre AND the fire strategy relies on that link for the life safety of occupiers (which it might if for some reason the flat domestic systems are NOT linked individually to telecare/warden/Tunstall systems which is sometimes the case) then I would interpret this as meaning you would then need to weekly test a device in a flat in rotation & see that the ARC is notified (although in most cases the ARC would still only get a simple 'fire' signal from the main address not identifying the flat). If it doesn't then this clause does not apply. The domestic Grade D system is dealt with in a separate section where the usual requirement of monthly user test applies (which itself would lead to the flat's local telecare link, where fitted, also being tested) with an annual service being required only where a telecare link exists.

If that combination of closer and installation method are approved by the fire door manufacturer you may not need to change anything, most fire door companies would want you to replace the frame now it's been damaged.

No, if the original hinges approved at the time of installation are in good order and the correct rating for the weight for the door they should be fine - CE marking on new products is not retrospective. Sadly poorly trained risk assessors and unscrupulous fire door companies are costing leaseholders lots of money on things that add no fire real safety advantage.

That's one I don't have in my collection - if not keeping it message me! It's an early example of the aerosol can type extinguisher brought to market from the start of the 1960's for the domestic, automotive and leisure market. It's similar to the more well known brands of this type such as Hero & Firemaster (the latter which continued trading until the 2000's) and by the method of operation & can design is certainly one of the earlier ones. It uses Sodium Bicarbonate based dry powder under CO2 pressure in a sealed aerosol can which is pierced by striking the knob allowing the entire contents to be discharged on the fire (it's 'total discharge' so once started you can't stop it) to extinguish the fire by chemical inhibition. Others of this type used vapourising liquids, sometimes recognised extinguishing liquids such as Carbon Tetrachoride, Chlorobromomethane and for several decades the very effective Bromochlorodifluoromethane - others used general (cheaper) refrigerant freons that were less effective on fires. Until the mid 1980's there was manufacturing, test and performance British Standard at which point BS6165 was introduced to regulate these items - before then these products were of varying performance and had a bad name (many were too small to be of much use) and usually fared poorly in consumer and motorist journal practical tests, although Firemaster usually fared better as they followed as best they could existing standards for 'proper' extinguishers (BS1721 for vapourising liquids, BS3465 for powder, later BS5423 for all types) I've not come across the brand that yours is, it obviously didn't succeed too well, although it looks a reasonable size and could have been of some effect on a small fire.

Is there any higher risk items in the store such as an electrical distribution board?

It sounds on the surface completely unnecessary. External doors usually only need to be fire doors if in a block of flats where there are several flats with an open deck approach where you have only one stair, or where they open onto an external stair (other than the top floor). There are potentially other situations that might arise if I saw the site, but generally if it doesn't fall into the above then 99% of the time it's unnecessary, usually prompted by unscrupulous fire door companies or poorly trained fire risk assessors. Ask for the fire risk assessment (even with no internal common areas there should be one for the external structure) and point out that you will take the matter to a First Tier Tribunal if they try and impose it.

Yes, a protected route must not just be clear of obstruction but also free from combustible materials. Also a 3 storey commercial building in the UK will not usually be sprinkler protected but just have smoke detection.

You would need to review your FRA, but there should be no major impact beyond that you've said depending on the use of the room. You may need to consider emergency lighting if part of an escape route.

No. The primary requirements are smoke alarms and if gas/solid fuel/oil appliances (other than cookers) are Carbon Monoxide alarms

Hi, No. Everything you need to know for a small building is in here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-your-small-non-domestic-premises-safe-from-fire

Unless you don't have a protected hallway approach (30 minute non self closing fire doors to internal rooms in the flat that open onto your internal hall which would also be 30 minute fire resistant, so that there are 2 x 30 minute doors between the risk room & communal areas) then there is nothing in guidance for new builds or existing legacy properties that routinely requires a 60 minute front door. Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation & poorly skilled people in the residential fire safety sector and if every block of flats took it's freeholder to First Tier Tribunal over excessive fire door, fire alarm and emergency light issues & resulting costs they'd have little time to hear traditional FTT cases!

Do you mean the actual electricity meter - If so you would treat it an any electrical meter as appropriate depending on location & whether it's plastic or metal. If you mean the remote display then you need no special precautions

Based on the guidance cited by Neil and the information you give then original 1989 fire doors still in original working order would be tolerable. Perko chains are frowned on as they can't be adjusted and over time loose the ability to close the door fully flush in frame from all angles as required and if failing must be replaced and ideally should be replaced with EN1154 compliant closers (the biggest issue with the fire doors at Grenfell wasn't them being original 70's doors but that many did not self close). Some old rebate only doors can indeed be upgraded with intumescent strips and cold smoke seals & this is usually indicated in bigger blocks and isn't essential in small blocks like yours. So, as the FRA correctly says your existing doors are fine. The only slight (common) error is that they think that as under 11m the Responsible Person for the block doesn't have to check flat front doors - they do under Article 17 of the Fire Safety Order as amended by the Fire Safety Act, just that they don't have to have checked every single one (or made best endeavours to) in a 12 month period as per the Fire Safety (England) Regulations, just aspire to getting round them all in a year. I cover Yorkshire if you need any further assistance with this matter.

It's been required for a very long time for external stairs and roof escapes under previous legislation & would usually be required currently where a risk assessment deems it necessary. The emergency lighting standard BS5266 requires lighting from the exterior of final exits along the route to a place of ultimate safety. In certain situations borrowed lighting e.g. street lights can be counted towards lighting requirements

Emergency light test switches can be wired up so that all lighting has power cut as if the MCB was tripped, however some are wired only to cut the supply to each EL individually for H&S reasons so as not to have a safety risk (also a convenience issue) by loss of lighting. Where the switches are set up like yours are it's not uncommon to mark the fittings with emergency packs with self adhesive coloured dots so it's easier to spot which ones you are checking.

Depending on the age of the block and if the doors are the original fire doors and self closing in good working order then there is absolutely no retrospective requirement for them to be replaced, particularly as low rise - this is clearly stated in the Government guidance and unfortunately there are poorly trained risk assessors and remedial work hungry fire door companies that don't realise this. If not fire doors to any standard or beyond viable repair then you would need a replacement.

Yes - but they aren't cheap! https://doortechnik.co.uk/glass-doors?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAj9m7BhD1ARIsANsIIvClxv0V6qE2tcX_ewZ4w8khG-ZApH82FZTsuvJnm7ZMEZFcHMBGGfkaAj1OEALw_wcB

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