AnthonyB

Yes, look on most decent ironmongery websites - you can get turn knob or lever 'external access devices' that allow a panic bolt/latch to be opened from the outside face. They generally incorporate a key lock so that whilst the panic bar will always work you can lock off the function of the external device (it will just spin without engaging the bolt) for security.

It's either a fire exit or not - if it is it should be signed, clear of obstruction and easily openable (from the Gym side) without resort to a key or code. If it isn't a required exit it can be obstructed, locked up like Fort Knox and should have signage renewed.

You should have a sufficient number of fire wardens to sweep the premises as they evacuate so that no one is left behind. Whilst roll calls can be a useful back up to this used alone they can be counter-productive as they can take too long and rely on the lists being accurate.

If the building is designed for 'Stay Put' you wouldn't be evacuating en-masse anyway so a drill is not required.

Not at all - hence why only fit on refurb/building work unless the risk warrants it. Borrowed light off other circuits (such as street lights) can be used in mitigation at present as long as the borrowed light is in operation at material times (important where councils cut back on lighting hours) but the rumour is the next revision of BS5266 will remove the ability to do this.

I'd get the enforcing authority in as well - if your ground floor has a secondary fire exit this is usually (but not always) because it was necessary. How do they know one exit is all they need?

You can add alarms, tamper ties, etc as in the link above. Secondary mechanisms (such as adding a Redlam Bolt) may be an option too, but this would be subject to risk assessment as it adds another action to release the door (ideally a single action should release a fire exit)

The exterior of final exits should have an emergency light. For existing buildings without this provision the fire risk assessment (which is even required for Scout Huts!) would determine the urgency of upgrading, however if you are already carrying out a refurbishment project to your external lighting it would generally be expected to apply current standards and install EL as part of it.

From the manufacturers FAQ: The key to responding to a post FM-200™ discharge is to evaluate the scope and nature of the fire event. If there was no fire event, the agent can be safely and quickly removed through conventional air handling (turn on the AC, open the doors and windows) and will pose no danger to the respondents or the employees working in the space. FM-200™ is safe for people to breath at normal design concentrations. In the event of a fire, most FM-200™ systems are designed to respond while the fire event is still in the earliest stages and very small. In a typical electronic computer facility the fires are low energy, slow growth events. Early detection limits the potential for fire damage and combustion by products. Modern electronics, however, can give off a wide range of noxious byproducts when burned. For this reason, it is recommended that firefighters employ SCBA when re-entering a space. FM-200™ will generate some HF (Hydrofluoric Acid) as a result of extinguishing the fire. In general, there is no requirement to decontaminate firefighter gear after responding to an FM-200™ event. There will be little or no residue, other than possible combustion products from the fire, within the protected space. Repeated fire tests have been performed, without ever decontaminating the fire suits used by the technicians.

Emergency Lighting should be installed off local lighting circuits otherwise it will not operate if there is a partial loss of lighting in the premises. It is not uncommon however to find that less than competent installers at some time in the history of a premises have put EL on a dedicated circuit (getting mixed up with fire alarm power supply requirements) instead of the local lighting circuit. Rewiring is often not feasible, so the easiest way of making the system compliant is to replace the non maintained fittings on the dedicated circuit with maintained fittings that are always lit. The running costs of such a change are negligible if you use LED fittings.

Yep, no additional Manual Call Point needed

Only if he wants one. There would however have to be a fire risk assessment of the common areas, which may require the provision of a fire detection and alarm system based upon the fire resistance of the premises after conversion - sometimes these conversions require a mixed system with provision to each flat and a common system.

Maintained means just that, although you do see some that are wired so that the bulb only lights on full mains failure or the switching on of the local non emergency lighting.

External final exits don't always have to have self closers. Internal doors may if protecting escape or enclosing an area of high risk (the doors need to be the appropriate grade of fire door as well, it's not just fitting closers!) Not all doors may need this, a decent FRA will specify which and should specify why (so you shouldn't need to be asking the question!)

I would suggest that you use the services of a competent external risk assessor, schools tend to be in varying conditions of compliance and upgrade works can be prohibitively expensive. You need a decent FRA provider who can split requirements into 'nice to do (but not mandatory)' and 'need to do' and who can help prioritise the works so as to spread the cost. We have schools experience and would be happy to help further - PM me for more information.

You are both an employer and person having control under the above legislation and have to carry out a fire risk assessment, provide general fire precautions were necessary and have a system of maintenance for them as well as provide adequate fire safety training and procedures. It's not up to the Leisure Centre to dictate the extinguishers, you decide in your FRA. For example a CO2 extinguisher alone would not cover all risks present requiring an additional standard water or foam extinguisher and you may prefer Water Mist or the maintenance free P50 Foam extinguisher both of which cover all risks in one unit (the latter whilst expensive doesn't require you to pay a service firm to come in every year whereas normal extinguishers do). You could use ABC powder but it is not generally suitable for indoor use (I would certainly advise against it)

Usually common area provisions are the responsibility of the landlord/management company. They do require a scheme of maintenance, usually 6 monthly servicing of fire alarms, monthly & annual testing of emergency lighting.

You need a friendly Approved Inspector for the Building Regs approval, that way non compliant projects with no suitable alternative provisions can get the OK. Sadly increasing numbers of student builds and conversions are being passed despite being non compliant, it will only come out in the wash when it all goes wrong.

With self testing systems all we look for for compliance is monthly inspection of the testing lights to identify faulted units - you can't record a traditional annual drain as often the fittings test at different times. Whilst the lack of a common lighting circuit is a problem, your set up would still work on local circuit failure as per the BS so should suffice. If you install the fittings off the tenant's lighting circuit as per the BS it shouldn't be turned off for any length of time and your monthly check would reveal a unit with no power. Long term vacant flats could be an issue as stated.

What Mr.T said, a risk based approach is common sense. Having said that many Housing Associations insist on a "completely clear" policy as having anything stored (even if no risk) encourages people to store other riskier items and it's far easier to manage a 'nothing at all' policy than a risk based 'yes/no' policy.

There is such a thing as third party accredited passive fire protection specialists who can carry out fire door improvements, they are usually accredited by schemes such as FIRAS, etc. Checkmate Fire Airfire Controls Gunfire (Gunite) Fire Protection Compliance are all accredited contractors & can certify works. General joiners can be competent and can do the work sometimes, however their is a fair amount of substandard work out there from them. And they should fit the strips to the frame, not the door leaf if at all possible, routing the door leaf is a last resort.

If on the other hand it is a commercial premises and the system doesn't serve shared space and only your demise then under the terms of your lease & by virtue of your control of the workplace as an employer it will be your responsibility to maintain.

This sounds very much like 'building works' for the purposes of the Building Regulations and so there should be a plans submission to Building Control.

What voltages are involved? Some water spray & foam extinguishers can safely be used directly onto electrical fires of up to 1000V as well as accidental contact up to 35,000V. CO2 is probably most appropriate although you need to consider: a) Who is going to be able to use the extinguisher and is trained to do so? b)How are the occupiers going to know there is a fire and be able to access it quickly enough for a first aid attack? Some fire types and locations are such that suitable alarm, compartmentation & escape are more appropriate with fire brigade intervention especially in domestic premises

The Council are incorrect to require service paperwork from BS5839-1 as it applies to commercial premises systems and BS58839-6 Grade A systems. Your premises have a grade D system for which the only maintenance is weekly testing & periodic cleaning of detectors in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. Also BS5839-1:2013 (the current standard) contains neither an appendix G9 (Just appendix G with one item, a model fire log book) nor a FSM3 form!