AnthonyB

They need to be trained appropriately to their expected role, which would include ensuring the safe evacuation of the store, however there is nothing to say this has to be an external course, training can be in house as long as it's adequate, particularly if a small lower risk business.

The full rated duration of the fittings - which these days is almost universally 3 hours.

If you don't need a key on the inside to open the door, which with a Yale night latch you don't, and it can't be snibbed shut, then it's fine on an existing building. It's only an issue if you need a key to get out, not to get in. If they wanted the upper floor to have extra privacy and security, then it's not an issue, the premises sound like they have gone through the s257 process by the fact of having the full communal alarm so were accepted as they are.

Are you in Scotland? That's the only area where there has been a change to the law. In the rest of the UK the law hasn't changed, only the British Standard for Residential Fire Alarms (BS5839-6:2019), which is not law and not retrospective. The let out flats still only need a Grade F LD3 system (battery only smoke alarm to the hall) although it would be best practice to be Grade D LD2 (mains & battery interlinked, hall, kitchen and principle habitable room) and if you have a rewire you will be upgraded to this standard. Owner occupied can do what they want (including having nothing) As for your specific situation, the system covering the flats with the common areas as required under s257 remains legal as there is no retrospective requirement to extend. The flats not on the common system should not need including if never on before as the assumption is they are suitably fire separated from the other part of the building so as not to have needed inclusion - they therefore only need self contained detection if let out and strongly advise self contained detection if owner occupied. Sounds like someone is trying to make a few quid! I can't be definitive without seeing the site, but even if (Unlikely) something needs adding it doesn't sound right the way they've said.

In most cases toilets do not require fire doors anyway and so single cubicle toilets of any type don't have self closers, larger ones have them more for ventilation control/privacy.

You are looking at the wrong register (there is more than one!) https://www.ifsm.org.uk/fra-registers/assessors/buck-anthony-charles/

I'm on the Nationally Accredited Fire Risk Assessors Register (NAFAR).

You will require Building Control approval for this work (it's not exempt as Building Regulations are not the same as Planning Permission & permitted development doesn't remove the requirement for Building Regulations compliance) As part of this a fire door will be required for Part B compliance, not sure about the step, will depend on the change of level and comes under Part M.

Yes, as long as they are owner occupiers it wouldn't be an issue as long as they accepted the risk as it would only be raised if they were doing further alterations under Building Regulations.

No, only use the manufacturer's approved anti freeze agent in the correct amount otherwise you invalidate all warranties and more importantly could degrade the foam removing it's class B capability.

As above. The FRAs would have to consider the effect of a fire in the shop on the ceiling separating it from the flats as well as it's effect on the ability to use the stair.

The version of building regulations in force at the time of build is here: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20141202130432/http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADB_2000.pdf Older version of ADB required self closers in flats & certain houses, however the current approach is such that you no longer need them to the stair. However on all levels you must retain the fire doors. If you wish to sell your house without hitting problems you need to refix the missing doors, but not the self closers

The attached image summarises the guidance.

Yes!

Powder and gaseous extinguishing agents are generally accepted as non conductive on all voltages - liquid based agents have also been tested to high voltage (35,000V) but in practice are marked for up to 1000V to give safety margin.

Check with BWF/Certifire & BM TRADA who operate the certification schemes - they should be able to advise if certification is current.

Doesn't sound correct, best consult your local Fire & Rescue Service who can enforce these issues.

Yes, but they do that automatically and report if they fail (either to the control panel if an integrated network or via the coded LEDs on the fitting if self contained). Just inspect them visually (& the control panel where fitted) monthly and act on the faults indicated (if any)

As your posting was delayed I believe we have all answered you sufficiently on FireNet. Fire door blanks are often used when not required, it can be for matching purposes, economy of scale on bulk buying the same blank, to increase contract value and much more!

If you are lifting the floor boards then this may be suitable, applied correctly it gives over 100 minutes resistance. The same site has treatments for the beams and for walls and doors https://envirograf.com/product/under-floor-fire-barrier-and-acoustic-barrier/

If an existing building it would not be unreasonable for a risk assessment to accept that scenario, ideally the 4 should be staff and not the public.

Out of hours when the building is empty you can lock the door.

Contact this company - https://envirograf.com/ they specialise in products for upgrading heritage doors, walls, floors and ceilings, have had certified the use of their solutions in many situations and have a Technical Department that will give advice on particular doors, etc. Most other places will just say new frame and door required - which is not always the case.

How long is the corridor, is it in the same occupancy and what detection is present? They may not need to be fire doors onto the corridor

If we were anywhere else in Europe they would all say "Safe for direct use on electrical equipment up to 1000v at 1 metre" after passing a safety test that ensures a suitable resistance in the discharge stream when sprayed on a metal plate with 35,000V running through it because the manufacturing standard EN3 says this. The UK trade doesn't like this as it stops them selling extra extinguishers for electrical fires (really!) so many brands omit the 'safe for direct...' phrase and just rattle on about a 35,000V conductivity test (which will mean nothing to most users) even though the same manufacturing standard is used, although some models (Water Mist, P50 Triclass) do follow the correct 'safe for direct use...' marking. Others vary batch to batch! The 1000V is partly to give a margin and partly because there are general hazards with high voltage fires such that only specialist personnel should be dealing with them