Fire Safety - possible issues

[Andy Terry]

Hi, I hope you are able to help.  My son had a room in a private halls of residents whilst at university.  This was a new-build and the suspended ceiling outside his room door was missing tiles, especially around the smoke detector and sprinkler system; the corridor outside his room was a protected escape route.  He was on the ground floor; his window led into an inner courtyard with two fire escape routes, however his window was locked to tilt only.  The landlord's contractor said that there wasn't an issue if the tiles were missing.  I have photos attached and would value your opinion on this matter.  Thank you, Andy.

[AnthonyB]

At least it allows me to see the firestopping appears correct!

The tiles don't appear to be part of the compartmentation, the usual issue with the odd missing tile is allowing smoke and combustion products to spread un-noticed and, if the void has no detectors, allow the fire to develop more before detection is activated as the rising smoke enters and layers above the corridor detectors.

[Andy Terry]

Thanks AnthonyB, the voids are at either end of the corridor.  There were missing tiles in main corridors too.  Builder wedged fire door open and the corridors were littered with their tools etc.

[AnthonyB]

Oh dear, looks like occupancy before completion, a common trick to get money in to help cash flow. Fire Service enforcement probably wouldn't get too bothered about the tiles, but they may well be interested in these conditions.

[Andy Terry]

I did email Notts Fire Service but they were unimpressed offering little help.  The accommodation houses over 400 students and probably bring in a substantial income for the city council.  A case of politics before professionalism!

An independent inspection noted..."Faulty fire detection system: there is sufficient evidence from the complainant to substantiate the complaint here. I do feel that, like most of the other complaints, it was caused because the building was not finished. There is evidence of disruption.  I am prepared to accept that the system is now properly installed and working, but that for a period of time there was a breach of this requirement of the Code.

The complaint must, therefore, be upheld on this issue."

Thanks for you interest and constructive comments AnthonyB.

[Andy Terry]

Just wondered is anyone else could comment as my son is in dispute with the landlord as he feels his safety was compromised. Thanks.

[Mike North]

Although it does not look nice, the ceiling tiles are not there for fire protection merely for decoration the fire stopping is above the sprinkler head, the black intumescent that can be seen in the second image appears to be adequate.

Unfortunately, the occupation has happened before practical completion, shouldn’t happen but it does, as long as a clear thoroughfare is kept it is not an issue.  As long as someone in close proximity is in control of the of the door again, I do not see it as an issue.

[Andy Terry]

21 hours ago, Mike North said:

Although it does not look nice, the ceiling tiles are not there for fire protection merely for decoration the fire stopping is above the sprinkler head, the black intumescent that can be seen in the second image appears to be adequate.

Unfortunately, the occupation has happened before practical completion, shouldn’t happen but it does, as long as a clear thoroughfare is kept it is not an issue.  As long as someone in close proximity is in control of the of the door again, I do not see it as an issue.

Thanks Mike North.  I mistakenly thought that the tiles are fire rated and added another layer of fire protection keeping smoke and heat in the corridor so that the detectors and sprinklers were 100% effective.  I also found this on the net... “Breaking, displacing, or removing ceiling tiles enables hot gases and smoke from a fire to rise and accumulate above detectors. Doing so delays their activation, enabling fires to rapidly grow larger before an alarm and response occur. As fires can double in size each minute, this delay enables a fire to grow much larger and become more difficult to extinguish.  In additional missing/broken ceiling tiles can impact on the space above a dropped ceiling by providing a route for air to spread to other areas in the building”. So I felt this was significant.  The intumescent barrier was put in place a few months after occupancy; hence the tiles were missing!

The picture of the door stop was taken during the weekend...definitely no builders about! 

Thanks again.