Passive Fire Protection

Good Afternoon, A small 3 storey block of flats (housing 6 flats , built 1960) has two internal cast Iron rain water pipe that pass from the flat roof deck down into the communal area and continues down through 2 solid concrete floors in the communal staircase area to the external ground floor. The single staircase /communal area where the internal rain water pipe passes through is not compartmentalised by any fire doors so in theory any fire in the communal area could travel up the stairs anyway so the pipe posses little risk? On the second floor where the pipe passes from the ceiling into the roof there is a circa 50cm gap between the pipe and the (12.5mm …

I am buying a new small two bedroom mid terrace house from a mass house builder. The floor construction is timber I beams. These span the whole width of the property and are at about 600 centres. I am concerned about the spread of flame through the floor void, as although it is compartmented into 600 widths, there are numerous holes for ducts and services. I understand the integrity of the floor needs to be 30minutes for escape purposes, but a fire once in the void assisted by the battening out of the plaster board on both the ground and first floor could fan the flames and lead to collapse in a short period of time. Surely there should be fire stops at the floor lev…

I am wondering about an HMO with a basement, which is accessed from some stairs coming off a narrow hallway, as in the picture below. I understand that basements need 30/60 minutes fire protection, but I'm not quite sure how it's possible in this case. How can a door be installed by these stairs? There is no place to put the door, except literally adjacent to the stairs, but would be hazardous, whichever way it opens. If it opens forwards, there would be a risk of somebody falling down the stairs as they open the door. If it opens backwards - into the hallway, it would block the hallway/fire exit, and clash with the kitchen door?

If an HMO has a basement with 2 bedsits, (and three upper stories), and one escape route, which is up the stairs, does it always need 30/60 minute fire protection? The difficulty is that there is little place to install a door at the top of the stairs, except right by the actual stairs. It will cause a problem whichever way it swings open. If it opens into the hallway, it could bang people. If if opens into the stairs, it could be a H & S hazard, as people could fall down the stairs as they open the door. The building has a full interlinked alarm system.

I have looked at the white guide and knauff guide at MF fire rated ceilings and there is lots of info. However, I am trying to establish what fire resistance would be offered by a non fire rated 12.5mm plasterboard on a metal frame ceiling. The MF is plasterboarded is on the lower side only and there is no risk in the void above. I appreciate MF ceilings need various spacings for supports and hangers etc. The plasterboard has no markings for manufacture. Does anyone no where there is test data for such single sided plaster boarded ceilings of any thickness (with 3mm skim). Clearly it will be less than 30 minutes fire resistance but I am wondering if it would afford…

Hi, we have just moved into a property and have some concerns on the fire doors. The location of the smoke seals are not in the side of the door / frame, but fitted in the frame area that connects with the front face of the door. (see photo) is this acceptable? Thanks

Hi, I'm starting a new, very small (just me!) business making things like bunting, tote bags, home decorations from textiles (mainly using cotton fabrics). I also would like to make cushions and seat pads. I have read and re-read the rules and the guidance notes regarding fire safety labels and I am still none the wiser, so I am hoping somebody may be able to shed some light! I think I'm right in thinking that with items like bunting you don't necessarily need fire labels but I plan to add a swing tag with care information on it, including 'keep away from fire'. For tote bags and cushion covers, I will sew a 'keep away from fire' label inside. I'm no…

I have a sofa bed which I have tried to donate to charity, but they refused it because the mattress does not have a fire label. The mattress is the original foam folding mattress, stored on the som'toile folding frame, under the seating. The mattress is slab foam with a zip cover. The sofa unit has the permanent short form label "Carelessness Causes Fire" with a Batch Ref, sewn in under the removable cushions.. The label confirms it complies with the 1988 regs, and does not require a Schedule 3 interliner. Also states covers and fillings are cigarette resistant. Covers are match resistant. All foams, filling and composites have been tested to ensure compliance…

Hi i have been asked to detail the junction of a compartment wall with a roof in a residential care home. The compartment wall will be constructed of 215mm solid block work and the roof structure will be concrete tiles supported on timber battens and timber roof trusses. I have been looking at approved document B diagram 30 (a), but i am a little confused by their mention of "deck of material of limited combustibility". I would have assumed by the deck they were referring to a flat roof membrane supported on a deck of limited combustibility, typical slate or tile roof coverings do not have an underlying deck. If the gap between the underside of my tiles and the…

Hi all, I am responsible fire safety in a large student accommodation building, 137 self contained flat clusters (4 sleeping rooms in each) and 77 studio flats. My enquiry is regarding the individual flat clusters, the configuration is 4 flats, 1 electrical kitchen/common room. The evacuation strategy is 'Stay Put' so no audible alarm in the common areas of the building, each flat is provided with independent fire alarm systems with AFD in the common hallway and kitchen (Heat). The flat entrance doors are FD60s self closing fire door sets and with an FD30s self closing fire door set at the kitchen entrance, however each sleeping room door is not fitted wi…

Hi, based on several threads on this forum I have read through the FIRA guide https://www.fira.co.uk/images/FIRA-Contract-Flammability-Guide.pdf several times and still trying to get to grips with my legal obligations, as a Hair Salon owner, with regard using Furniture supplied from Australia in my Hair Salon. I am trying to ensure I specify and purchase furniture and import it into the UK that I can use in my Hair Salon. I am not a reseller or distributor etc, hence why I'm still learning about the import requirements. If I am correct, the FIRA guide indicates I should conduct a fire risk assessment specific to my 'situation/environment/intended use' etc and de…

Some months ago I bought a cushion from Homebase's. Subsequently I unknowingly dropped some glowing - I assume - cigarette ash on it. Within 10 minutes the house was full of smoke. I found that this cushion cover was burning progressively and rapidly . Definitely non fire treated. Comment please.

Hi I make faux taxidermy from felt, ribbon, wool etc which is stuffed with approved toy stuffing. Do I have to label them. Do they have to be tested? I also make decorative wreaths which are Styrofoam based, do they need labelled?

I was wondering if anyone could advise on providing fire min 30 min fire protection in service cupboards for a block of flats, the block has 5 storeys. What is best way of making sure our works is to the standards

Hi All, Had a query, in healthcare what are the rules regarding constructing a room within a big 30 minute compartment area? Cheers

Good afternoon, in our house, a semi-detached, we are thinking to remove an internal door between the corridor and the sitting room to have more space. Such door is a fire door; can it be removed without problems? which are the regulations? Regards, Nick

I'm having problems interpreting fire regs for pet soft furnishings. If I am making dog beds that are essentially filled cushions (filling meets fire regs) and my top cover is cigarette resistant but not flame proof - do I have to provide an interliner per schedule 3 or do these products fall into the "scatter cushion category" and are therefore exempt from flame proof regs and are good with no interliner due to cigarette resistance? They would therefore qualify as category D.

I want to position a new oil tank (1100litre capacity) behind a garden raised flower bed wall constructed form old railway sleepers, about 6 inches thick. The tank will be at least 5 metres away from any building or boundary wall in every other direction. Would timber this thick provide 30 minutes fire resistance? ( although I have no idea how a fire could get anywhere near the tank!)

Hi All, I vaguely remember there being an ADB or similar requirement for there to be spandrels above windows as an attempt to limit fire spreading from windows up the building; I believe this requirement was removed as it was considered ineffective but they may have kept the requirement in the NFPA codes. Does anyone recall this and know which document referenced the requirement? I'm guessing the NFPA references are in NFPA 220 or 5000 but haven't checked yet. Thanks.

Hello Everybody, I came across this very knowledgeable forum whilst trying to find an answer to this question, I do apologise if it has already been answered elsewhere: To what degree will a single storey, detached timber frame chalet I will be building (a self-build project) require a) cavity barriers, and b) fire stopping measures? The wall construction will be timber stud with voids totally filled with Warmcel insulation or similar. There will be a 38mm ventilation cavity between the outer sheathing boards/breather membrane and the timber cladding, but this is required to dry the walls after periods of driving rain. There will also be a 45mm service cavi…

I have a 4-storey building which originally had 2 passenger lifts. One lift has been removed and the openings to each floor have been sealed to provide horizontal compartmentation to the lobbies on each floor. My question is, would it be expected that vertical compartmentation should now be installed in the redundant shaft or does it suffice to have a smoke detector at the top of the shaft? My own feeling is that if there are any live electrical services within the shaft that it should be vertically compartmented?

Hiya, first post, probably loads more to come, as I'm new to passive fire protection, and it seems to be a growing concern, which is quite understandable, and even though I've been on the C17 Introduction To PFP course, I'm still brand new, and in some areas, unsure. The query I have is, there was a water pipe that exited an external wall (On the inside its block, outside sheet metal, insulation wise, I do not know if its rockwool or other), anyway I was asked to hide the expanding foam which was used to fill the gap around the pipe. Now, the building is a standalone one room building, none residential, a few bits of electrical equipment inside, and a large diesel ge…

I would like some advice on insulated plasterboards which I have fitted in my home and I am concerned about how flammable they may be. The product information says they have a rating of Class B-sl do but what does this mean please? How flammable are they (e.g. relative to wood?) thank you very much for any information you can provide. Thanks, Jennie

I would be interested if anyone has any information why a lift shaft in single story buildings can not also serve the basement and/or have any thoughts on any compensatory measures that would allow the lift to serve the basement. The issue is a small development of flats (10 flats on the ground, 1st and 2nd floors). There is a basement used for parking. The car park is classed as a covered car park even though there is vehicle access from the road (the flat ground floor entrance is up a steep hill from the pavement). As there is a requirement for 10% of flats to be 'accessible flats' so access to the parking area is essential. BS 9999 16.72 states 'a lift should…

My furniture has labels which indicate that it complies with the 1988 regulations. Is this enough for me to be able to sell it, or allow me to donate it to a Charity?