Tonyc8310

Can anyone point to requirement to have a blue mandatory warning sign on residents bedroom doors in care homes that have a swing free device fitted? Is there an exemption on bedroom doors being required to have these under building regulations? Thank You

Thanks Tom, It appears to be a 'blanket' statement by the same assessor on numerous properties, especially with non led lighting installed. I have asked to conduct a visual check during the darker hours to check there is sufficient illumination, although not a LUX level reading, as you mention it was installed to the standard!

This is really interesting, I have a couple of new care homes being built and have just reviewed the latest sounder plan that averages 84db in residents rooms. The fire strategy produced by the designer wasn't helpful. They do not really have the ability to differentiate between a retirement home and a residential care home, where a larger residents will change their mobility & mental awareness over the time of their stay. I guess they take the blanket approach of higher db level as per normal bedhead/sleeping person without looking at how most care homes are managed and trained in PHE strategy.

Hi All, A common theme running in FRA reports for our properties (same assessor) is that LUX level reading should be taken to ensure suitable illumination to aid escape. We have our emergency lighting maintained, drain down test, monthly 'flick test' etc. Is there an expectation that we need to bring in a LUX meter & record measurements? Thanks

In a refurbished residential care home....Architected has omitted installing smoke detectors inside linen cupboards citing that there is no ignition source (fuse boxes, lights etc.) inside. Would this be appropriate by reliance upon managing the spaces? Thanks Tony

Morning, I recently went to a property that has the old style flick test key sockets. They have 2 keyholes rather than the modern single key. Does anyone know the type of key model I should get them to order to fit? Thanks in advance.

I have recently had some FRA's undertaken in Care Homes. The assessor has put down that lux level testing must be carried out at night in the event of a power failure. If the lighting is to BS:5266 2016, then would this suffice or are we required to carry out lux readings and how often? Thanks

Afternoon to you I visited a home yesterday who are having an issue with doors fully closing after being fitted with smoke seals in the door rebates. I was wondering the rational of fitting them on the bedroom doors when the strategy is not a stay put policy but immediate evacuation via progressive horizontal evacuation. The compartment doors (I would think would be priority for smoke protection) only have intumescent strips applied. Is this normal for residential care home bedroom doors? I understand for individual flats would be different? Thanks

We have a managed system where the person in charge must determine/confirm a fire or not within 90 seconds of the alarm or to automatically call the emergency services. Night shift to call on alarm activation automatically.. without delay.

I have just read a FRA conducted at our care home. It says that BS 5831-1 recommends that the fire alarm is linked to an alarm monitoring station for the earliest summoning of the fire brigade. Being that the home is manned 24/7 is this now a requirement as I thought this was for monitoring unoccupied property mainly? Would a alarm monitoring station automatically contact the emergency services upon activation... if so would this in reality just be similar to a member of staff informing them that we have a fire alarm activation & are investigating the cause? Thanks in advance Tony