AnthonyB

Yes, they are completely wrong in many aspects - The riser shaft will have been constructed as a 'protected shaft' as per Building Regulations (both then and now). It will be constructed of fire resisting wall material and access doors should be fire doors. There is no requirement to stop at each floor level - Any horizontal penetration does need to be fire stopped to maintain the integrity of the shaft, this work would need looking into but is a lot less of an issue than trying to stop the floors (extortionate cost) - The fire alarm was never needed, the standards in a purpose built flat block from a 1985 build would generally suit stay put. It is not by itself indicative of a need for a simultaneous evacuation procedure, just an indicator for a closer investigation of the premises. - A lot of assessors try and cover themselves by asking for a Type 4, which is an unusual one off exercise where there appears to be serious issues with the structure (often in pre 60's builds and even then not too commonly needed) Does the report show that they inspected a sample of flat front doors? Even the most basic type 1 communal FRA should do this (and should have done even before Grenfell). Does it address smoke control provision or lack of (which doesn't mean you need to retrofit). I'm just wondering what it's looked at. For the record - Principle fire consultant for a BAFE SP205-1 third party certified life safety fire risk assessment provider, Individually registered Tier 3 (High Risk/Complex Premises) on the National Fire Risk Assessors Register and holder of Advanced FRA in Residential Premises certification - so I do have some experience with this!

The Part 6 residential alarms total price is around the average total cost based on two flats using Checkatrade's guide. The detectors alone would add up to half that alone (if using radio linked mains units and installing to LD2 with at least 2 devices per flat) The Grade A communal system is also on average, although there are no sounders listed on the summary - to be compliant there should be sounders off this system to the stair AND each flat It seems the money is weighted onto the cost of the aesthetic only containment (white trunking) which is ridiculous. I'd also lift the trunking and check that the actual cables are secured to the wall by metal clips every 300/400mm as required - often surface trunking is used so extra can be charged whilst time and money is saved in not clipping the cables correctly. You can work out the actual costs here https://www.screwfix.com/c/electrical-lighting/cable-trunking/cat1910006

The builder is unlikely to have the required competencies and seems to be creating a shopping list each time (if they were you wouldn't have had the extinguishers fitted as never needed). The meters should be in a non combustible housing (if not metal) but this doesn't have to be a cupboard - see https://envirograf.com/product/electrical-consumer-unit-and-distribution-board-fire-protection-system/ Even if you had a cupboard you wouldn't need a Fire Brigade padlock, particularly as the residents need access. A domestic fuse board doesn't need rubber matting and most agents save on the cost of matting where it is recommended by making it a requirement for contractors to provide their own. You don't need an accident book, it's not a workplace. You don't need fire action notices as long as residents are made aware of the fire policy (plus they'd no doubt fit the wrong ones meant for commercial 'full evacuate' buildings) plus as a notice it can be printed off and laminated and doesn't have to use safety sign colours or pictograms I strongly suggest you report your concerns on the restaurant to your Fire & Rescue Service's Business Fire Safety unit as this presents the biggest and most real danger to you (as oppose to the electric meter) - they will take action to correct the various serious issues that seem to be there (& won't say it's you telling them)

As long as the front door is going to be part of a FD30s fire resistant door set there should be no problems in finding someone to fit it. If you are wanting to fit a non fire door I can understand no one wanting to be involved. Plenty of specialist fire door installers out there if you are stuck.

Depends to some extent on the brand and type of equipment and the mark up on product as well as labour rate. How long did it take for them to install it?

Are these above ground floor commercial units with access via a rear external stair?

Off my patch sadly, I travel a lot but don't do London anymore as we've got people down there now. There is a fire risk assessors facebook group you could ask on as well as Firenet's forum

Where in the country are you?

Assuming this is a private house and not used as commercial sleeping accommodation then you can have whatever you want. A suitable extinguisher in the kitchen and on each main landing would be in line with the old guidance for private homes - instead of a cluttering of types you could just use 1.4L water mist https://www.safelincs.co.uk/1-litre-water-mist-fire-extinguisher-ultrafire/ or if you want something you can maintain yourself a 2 litre of either of these: https://www.safelincs.co.uk/p50-service-free-foam-fire-extinguishers/ or https://www.safelincs.co.uk/p50-service-free-water-mist-fire-extinguishers/

The law states that anyone who is competent can carry out the FRA. However in many cases other than small to medium commercial premises the Responsible Person chooses to use external competent persons, ideally third party accredited. As a conversion (from a house by the sounds of it) the guidance you would need to follow is: For principles of fire risk assessment in Sleeping Risk premises: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/422192/9281_Sleeping_Accomodation_v2.pdf For the detailed technical requirements in your particular premises: https://www.cieh.org/media/1244/guidance-on-fire-safety-provisions-for-certain-types-of-existing-housing.pdf Read these and if you feel competent to use them go ahead. No standard template exists, there are many free ones on the internet (some good, some less so)

Except that in a stay put block that situation should never exist and if the smoke layer is such you can't see a door mat then you have more important things to worry about such as living for more than 60 seconds...

Easier to compare traditional benchmarks (ADB, DCLG Guides, LGA, etc) with either BS9999 or an engineered and modelled BS7974 solution. I'd guess it want's a review of prescriptive v flexible guidance/codes and the pros and cons of each.

I'd agree, most precautions relating to server rooms are for business continuity purposes.

https://www.checkmatefire.com/services/fire-door-remediation-and-installation

No, England lags behind Scotland in many ways in legislation & guidance, so it isn't explicitly legally required, however fire is the same regardless of which side of the border a premises on so any diligent & reasonable assessor would include it in the FRA. If the Responsible Person chooses not to take up that guidance that is entirely up to them and at their ultimate liability.

This would comply to BS EN 179 - Emergency exit devices - with a code needed to get in, but a simple push to exit https://locksandhardwaredirect.co.uk/product/codelock-cl505-digital-panic-access-unit-code-free/?attribute_pa_manufacturer=codelocks&gclid=CjwKCAjw2dD7BRASEiwAWCtCbyTWu9KZrolnvbqr0n2x1EjZMRtM5eCCctYCXRI3vGr-qzN3gWmb3BoCX3oQAvD_BwE

Assuming your car park does not include a public thoroughfare then it relates to whether the adjoining premises have a legal right of access such as a wayleave, license, easement or suchlike. These can permit free access, access at certain times or in some cases access for emergency escape only. You need to ascertain if these are in place and what, if any, break clauses exist. Even if there is no written right of access in this form if such a right has been enjoyed for a substantial period of time there could be complications with just stopping it - you are going to need a property lawyers advice unfortunately.

It certainly mitigates to some extent, but shouldn't really be used to excuse shoddy workmanship!

Fire safety is a subject in it's own right and from experience some of the worst FRAs are by H&S people who haven't gained the suitable experience & knowledge (usually through training) to do the job adequately. Whilst not mandatory (yet) increasingly the provision of life safety fire risk assessment is advised to be by accredited individuals and companies. Having said that, in house FRAs can be done by anyone who feels competent and can use the guidance correctly and for small to medium premises this is often done and is often adequate. What fire related stuff have you done? It may fill in the gaps you need - your H&S experience gives you a solid background in the principles of risk assessment, it's just the specialist knowledge on fire safety, fire safety systems (alarms, extinguishers, fire-stopping, emergency lighting, etc). Joinery workshops could have process risk elements under DSEAR as well. Does your insurance cover this? The FPA have a range of suitable courses https://www.thefpa.co.uk/training/fire-risk-assessment-training-courses Look up all the specific sector guidance and see how you feel - if you are confident you understand it all you may well be fine - just remember you are legally liable for your work and, unlike with H&S consultants, it's not uncommon for those providing poor FRAs to be prosecuted, particularly where providing it as a service to a Responsible Person

No one in the fire alarm trade so far can identify it so it's not fire related - sensors for alarms or environmental systems were some of the guesses.

Your FRA should have addressed this. The age of the building, number of storeys, layout (e.g. flats off stair or flats off lobby, etc), etc all feed into the assessment. In some larger old buildings and even some small new buildings there are alternatives to AOV's, one being if there are large openable windows on each landing that can be used as an OV instead. You need a new FRA by someone that knows what they are doing...(I can help depending where you are)

Well it's still locked shut so that bit is fine - however what could be an issue is if the door and/or frame was damaged.

The official DCLG Guide refers the RP to BS5839-1 for fire alarm systems which in Clause 16 Audible Alarm says "in hospitals and certain residential care premises in which occupants might need assistance to evacuate, the fire detection and fire alarm system might not be intended to rouse people from sleep, and it might only be necessary for staff to be aware of the alarm signal." Therefore there is no need to achieve the 75dB bedhead (except to any staff quarters) and the last thing an immobile resident, who many not be being evacuated immediately anyway due to PHE and may have cognitive issues, needs is to be scared out of their wits alone in a room by a very loud siren with either no understanding of the situation or if they do understand the fear that they can't get themselves out, increased when no one comes for them for an extended period. This is why the sector needs risk assessors with an understanding of healthcare and ideally an understanding of medical conditions and patient handling, to determine what is needed in a particular premises. In some registered care homes there will be no bedroom sounders and progressive evacuation, in others where the dynamic of the service users is different there need to be bedroom sounders and a simultaneous evacuation is used. The stereotypical image of care homes is very elderly physically and mentally disabled persons, but there are dozens, if not hundreds where the service users are far younger & self mobilising. There is no blanket approach hence the need for decent FRAs

No, it's an urban myth. The only reason why you might go for a 5kg for an electrical risk is if the size of the enclosure is such you need the larger volume of gas to flood it adequately.

No, and if it was meant to be a smoke or fire detector it looks too flush to work. I've asked on a specialist forum & will get back to you if I find out more.