Fire safety risk from children's picture

[Guest Heather Ang]

do all pictures on corridors in residential childrens home have to be under perspex? can they just be on canvas, we can't have glass because of the young people breaking it but would it be safe to have pictures under glass? how wide do corridors need to be to be able to have pictures on both sides safely?

[Tom Sutton]

Corridors and circulation areas are usually escape routes and therefore the surfaces of walls, ceilings require a surface spread of flame of class "O". Anything introduced into the corridor should meet a class "O" surface spread of flame but in certain situations class 1 may be acceptable. Consequently corridors should be sterile with no flammable materials present, but some enforcement officers will accept a limited number of displays in glass fronted cabinets and treated objects.

[Guest Heatherang]

Hi Tom, Thank you for your reply, our problem is that we cannot have glass frames or glass fronted cabinets because the young people we work with are inclined to throw things and smash glass. We have wide corridors. What is class "O" or class "1" ? Certain members of staff are very much against using Perspex due to its reputation regarding fumes. Are they correct?

Thank you Heather

[Tom Sutton]

I think the guide for your premises is Sleeping accommodation and on page 123 class "O" and Class 1 is explained, but as I have said corridors should be sterile with no flammable materials present, but some enforcement officers will accept a limited number of displays in glass fronted cabinets/frames and treated objects. What does you Fire risk assessment say on this matter?

The width of the corridor is mostly irrelevant you should keep the fire loading as low as possible.

With regards to the substitution for glass have you considered polycarbonate sheet instead of perspex its more stable with regards to fire. Perspex does evolve toxic fumes when involved in fire but so does most materials its all a matter of degree.