AnthonyB

Yes and Yes! Particularly the roof void, far too many fatal care home fires over the years due to this (& prosecutions)

A Fire Risk Assessment only covers the communal areas* as only these are covered by the Fire Safety Order. However as part of this flat front doors are in the scope of the FRA as these are vital to protect the common parts in the event of a fire in a flat, which is the most likely scenario (the fatal conditions on the landings and stairs at Grenfell Tower were largely down to unsatisfactory flat front doors) and any competent residential risk assessor would ask in advance if a sample of the flats could be visited just to look at the front door from both sides. Gas & electrical paperwork for the flats is outside the scope of the basic FRA, but is for common parts. An FRA is valid until there is a significant change in the property, usage, persons at risk but should be regularly reviewed to identify if there are any changes (which is not the same as having a full FRA and need not be done by the external assessor). It is often suggested review is annually. * FRAs with wider scope do exist for residential properties and are needed in certain circumstances but the basic requirement is as stated.

Pre 1991 conversions from houses (and many done under the radar after then) don't usually have the required upgrade in fire resistance of walls and floors to be safe to stay put and not need a building wide system. Some of course do and the assessor is basically saying you need to prove that the conversion meets at least the 1991 Building Regs guidance (the oldest archive copy for reference is 2000, but it's essentially the same for what you need https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20141202115155/http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADB_2000.pdf) The electrical cupboard can be upgraded or replaced with a simpler solution rather than building a traditional cupboard - suitable products are here: https://envirograf.com/product/electrical-consumer-unit-and-distribution-board-fire-protection-system/ https://envirograf.com/product/intumescent-paint-and-varnishes-for-wood-etc/ https://envirograf.com/product/surface-mounted-intumescent-fire-firesmoke-seals/ The official Government guidance (https://www.rla.org.uk/docs/LACORSFSguideApril62009.PDF) states for your size of conversion you need: Fire detection and alarm system A mixed system of : Grade A LD2 coverage in the common areas and a heat alarm in each flat in the room/lobby opening onto the escape route (interlinked); and Grade D LD3 coverage in each flat (non interlinked smoke alarm in the room/lobby opening onto the escape route) to protect the sleeping occupants of the flat Grade A systems are the 'commercial' grade with control panel like you see in office and shops; Grade D systems are mains powered domestic smoke alarms with either D1: Sealed cell 10 year life tamperproof back up battery or D2: Standard removable battery back up. D1 is normally required for rental flats and homes, D2 for owner occupied. Are they requirements? More or less as the common parts are subject to the Fire Safety Order and the whole building subject to the Housing Act and the guidance document referenced would be used by the fire service or the council environmental health housing officers in any audit and enforcement action under either legislation.

I'd say not if it's as you describe, ,it hardly meets the usual criteria for window exits back in the late 20th Century when legislation allowed this more widely, I'd explore the necessity for it at all and other options to secure adequate escape without it.

Sufficient to achieve 65dB throughout except to areas of limited extent, cupboards and similar, rooms under 60 sq.m. can also have a lower sound pressure of 60dB. You should be using a qualified fire alarm system designer and installer who will look after this for you and ensure your system meets BS5839-1:2017

LACORS applies to any conversion to flats that does not comply with Building Regulations - this is usually where a flat has been converted from a house or similar - and so would apply to anything before 1991 and sometimes post 1991 if done 'under the radar'. Purpose Built Flats are subject to the LGA Guide to Fire Safety in purpose built flats (unsurprisingly!) regardless of age in conjunction with the MHCLG Consolidated Guidance for residential buildings. Many large scale redevelopments of existing commercial buildings (e.g. offices to flats) also come under this guide as they are in effect purpose built from a shell in accordance with Building Regulations to the same spec as if built from the ground up. Fire doors in blocks of flats are generally 30 minute doors.

Unfortunately even today there are companies who don't correctly install passive fire protection - use a specialist provider as can be found here: https://asfp.associationhouse.org.uk/default.php?cmd=260

No, whilst this used to be a requirement in the past currently the only door commonly needed to be self closing is one between garage and house if attached.

Yes, a Ni-Cad cell should be on the back.

But if the conversions complied with Building Regulations then https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/fire-safety-purpose-built-04b.pdf is more relevant, not all conversions are non compliant and require the LACORS guide - these are usually house conversions, large scale commercial to residential conversions follow Approved Document B as a new build and so generally only require smoke detection as part of a smoke control system in common parts.

Has to be using test smoke/heat. If they aren't then they are doing the equivalent of what in the extinguisher trade is known as 'rag & tag' i.e. not actually doing anything other than filling in the service label/report & adding a tamper tag. Wouldn't surprise me if they don't open up the panel and check the panels with a test meter either. Far too many con artists out there in the fire trade. From the British Standard for Fire Alarms: c) Every heat detector should be functionally tested by means of a suitable heat source, unless operation of the detector in this manner would then necessitate replacement of part or all of the sensing element (e.g. as in fusible link point detectors or non-integrating line detectors). Special test arrangements are required for fusible link heat detectors. The heat source should not have the potential to ignite a fire; live flame should not be used, and special equipment might be necessary in explosive atmospheres. d) Point smoke detectors should be functionally tested by a method that confirms that smoke can enter the detector chamber and produce a fire alarm signal (e.g. by use of apparatus that generates simulated smoke or suitable aerosols around the detector). It should be ensured that the material used does not cause damage to, or affect the subsequent performance of, the detector; the manufacturer’s guidance on suitable materials should be followed.

Possibly. Easiest way to tell is to switch all the lights off and see how easy it is to see your way out, you usually need the equivalent light of a full moon on a clear night to safely see your way out (this is where the original EL lighting levels came from!). Consider the available light at the start and end of the day (when it's darkest), time of year and the impact of overcast weather. Having done this you may conclude you are fine. If not then depending on the size of the offices and number of people you may need either emergency lighting - or torches!

If it's an antibarricade door you need to use fire door rated Floor Spring Door Closers, I have a local authority client whose Childrens Homes needed bedroom doors to be anti-barricade but also self closing FD30s doors https://www.gjohns.co.uk/door-controls/floor-springs-door-closers.html

Sounds like you need an out of hours call out, costly but at least they will see the issue. The cause needn't be the panel and could equally be the wiring or a device, I'd not want to replace the panel until sure it was the culprit.

Sounds like commercial sleeping risk (i.e. not a dwelling), should be an FD30s doorset if it's protecting the escape route. This should have been picked up on your Fire Risk Assessment

They will try and palm you off by saying it got a Building Regulations Completion Certificate - which in actuality means nothing (as Grenfell proved) - if you get no joy get fire service enforcement in to look at it.

Emergency light fittings almost invariably use NiCad batteries anyway, so aren't really a concern, I'd be interested to know whose brand is using Li-ion

Fire safety legislation is functional and does not go into specific prescriptive detail so you won't find anything specific in the legislation on storage in cupboards (although it could be seen to breach functional standards in 4(1)(a) & (c) of the regulations.) A Henry will burn and produce a lot of fire effluent if exposed to sufficient external flame, possibly if your fuseboards are old and in a combustible (plastic) housing, this could be seen as a suitable pilot flame source. Private property or not you are leaseholders, not freeholders, so be aware there may be sufficient lease clauses to empower the freeholder and their agent in their actions, also the Housing Act applies across the whole building and can be resorted to for enforcement if there is a genuine risk. Zero tolerance is preferred for management companies as easy to implement & monitor, so many use this rather than a more sympathetic risk based managed approach (which can be completely fine & compliant). Having said all that the legislation is risk based and so whilst a fuse cupboard should always be empty in an ideal world there are certain combinations of items that could be deemed low risk. You could also argue if the cupboards are now suitably fire proofed and smoke sealed they would contain a fire (if a small cupboard it might even contain it long enough to go out through lack of oxygen)

I'm guessing it's a service visit where a large percentage of the points are tested and the panel log checked to see they've reacted correctly. If so then as part of servicing sounders are supposed to be tested so it's correct. Most building users ask for the sounders to be silenced during servicing though although this does mean sounders end up never tested (partcularly the out of the way ones where no one will be in the weekly test.

If the fire separation between it and the upper floors is OK then it wouldn't - but if (possible as a pre '91 conversion) it isn't then it'll possibly need heat detection off the common system

If potential escape would only be needed through those doors from the hall to the corridor and not vice versa then yes.

HI, 1) No as it is under 60 persons and a shop (technically) not a place of assembly 2) Yes, you could brick the door up all night if you wanted if the premises were closed and empty! 3) 750mm minimum (assuming no wheelchair access)

Try the Housing/Environmental Health under the Housing Act - if they can't help then sadly you are stuck.

Self closers to interior doors used to be a Building Regs requirement, but was relaxed years ago. It would be no issue to remove closers to all other than the door to the garage.

Seating and gangways in a hall or assembly space should be so arranged to allow free and ready access direct to the exits. Audiences seated in rows will first have to make their way to the end of the row before being able to use the escape routes provided. Seating and gangways in an auditorium should therefore be so arranged as to allow free and ready access direct to the exits. Standing and sitting in gangways, or in front of any exit, should not be permitted. This includes adults standing by children. (Dancing in would be considered the same as sitting or standing, i.e. a presence) That's what the Government Guidance says. If you want dancing, have a dance floor!