Fire Risk Assessments

Hi All, I have a dilemma regarding a small country pub who has recently reopened the kitchen to provide food at lunchtimes. The issue is that the previous tenant removed the fire door to the kitchen in order for the staff to move between the kitchen and pub without fumbling with the door! They also installed shelving and other equipment on the bar side so it is difficult to reinstall the door as it would open to about 45 degrees before hitting the shelving etc. My initial advice would be to reinstall the door, or possibly install a sliding fire resistant door to form a barrier should a fire start in the kitchen, or leave the door off and mitegate by fitting auto…

I planned to install a canopy with Aluminium frame and Polycarbonate roof panels to the back of my house. The terraced house is in a new built development so I need to get permission from the management company and the developer Berkeley. Berkeley got back to me that polycarbonate roof which is unacceptable as this is combustible. Therefore you need to consider an alternative product to this, such as glass or a non-combustible material. I'm surprised by this feedback, as polycarbonate is used widely in the building industry. I googled online, it seems polycarbonate behaves quite well in the event of fire. In terms of combustibility, the wooden fence and wooden …

What’s peoples opinion on a desk top review within the compliance date period for an FRA? Some works have been carried out and the client has provided photos of the FANs being updated and other minor remedial works. They have requested a desktop review and to update the FRA with the new information. However, RIBA recently announced that desk top reviews should be banned. They cited that “desktop reviews have been a significant contributing factor in regulatory failure”. Thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Hotel guest bedrooms are always served by a protected corridor with each bedroom door required to be a S/C-FD30s. I have visited many hotels and noticed, especially in the larger budget UK chains, no FDKS signs are provided on guest bedroom doors. Is any one aware of dispensations or determinations regarding fire door signage in hotels? Thanks in anticipation.

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

I joined this forum as I'm hoping someone has experience of the 'Building Regulations 2010 - Approved Document B - Vol1. Dwellings' and Requirement B.5 Access and Facilities for the Fire Service', specifically Section 13 Vehicle Access. Under paragraph 13.2(a) it states " 13.2 For flats, either of the following provisions should be made. (a) Provide access for a pumping appliance to within 45m of all points inside each flat of a block, measured along the route of the hose." I'd be grateful for any guidance on how this paragraph is interpreted/applied. I live in a low-rise block of flats where we don't have any dry risers or a sprinker system. This Fire Service Access…

I was hoping somebody can help me, i have a high rise residential block of flats Im working on and there is a mezzanine level between the ground and first floor. As you enter from the stairwell, there is no door between the stairwell and a small landing containing a service riser cupboard, 2 lifts and a store room. There is also a fire door leading to a small corridor containing 3 apartments, which also have fire rated doors(pending the survey). The issue is that there is no fire door separation between the mezzanine floor and the escape stair which serves upper levels. If anybody had any input or thoughts, it would be very much appreciated. I hav…

I'm seeking advice - please help. What is the position if a Council Planning Committee approves a development for which the Fire Statement is deficient ? (The Gateway 1 regime for high-rise buildings came into force last August, and the application was considered under those rules.) I live in a high-rise block, and the local Planning Committee has passed an infill proposal whose layout effectively blocks access for high reach fire appliances. The tower is 46m high and nobody knows or has bothered to find out if the fire brigade can get access under the proposed site layout. The Fire Statement has not identified where a high-reach vehicle would stand, how it w…

Is there a more durable solution than drop down seals? The premise I recently inspected has a high transit of users and the seals are becoming damaged easily. Hardwood strips on the communal doors would be a trip hazard I assume. recommendations would be gratefully received.

Hi I am looking for any approved codes that can help answer my concerns in regards to existing and purpose built blocks of flats of up to 3 or 4 floors with a single staircase and single final exit, being the front door. In particular my concern is in regards to external windows. In some properties the stairway has windows which are sealed casement units and cannot be opened. In other properties these same windows have openers, either with or without locks. Are these windows to be kept locked, can they be considered of use to allow smoke to exit or a risk allowing oxygen to fuel a fire? I've been through the approved codes I have to hand but c…

It’s a building that we converted ourselves during 2003 and an enormous amount of work was done regarding fire protection to comply with the regulations at the time. The communal hallways/means of escape was completely lined to achieve 1 hour protection and each flat was horizontally protected to an hour. Each flat has an internal hallway with all doors, those to the communal hallway and those in the flat, having new doors and frames to FS30s. There are 3 flats with 4 floors above ground level and the top flat comprises 2 of the floors with a protected hallway inside the flat to the top floor. The building inspector specified mains operated detectors inte…

Thanks in advance for any advice ? I am selling my Victorian flat, which is one of 4 in a Victorian townhouse. The conversion was done in the 1980s. As far as any of my fellow freeholders know, there has never been a fire risk assessment done. I only learned about the concept during the final query stage of the property sale. I guess my questions are: 1) Is it true that I don't need to record the assessment, since we don't employ anyone? If so, then how can solicitors for the buyer expect to see it? 2) Would it be enough to do the assessment so the record exists, or would I have to carry out all the recommendations for my sale to happen? I realis…

If a paint retailer is storing 150 Gallons of solvent paint are they allowed to store it on standard racking?

Wheelie Bin Storage. I live in social housing and the Housing association are building a new wheelie bin storage area which will consist of 6 general waste and 6 recycling waste bins. This area is 2 metres away from the building where I have a gas pipe entering my flat. Is this acceptable and if not what requlationscdoes it breach. Thanks in advance for any replies

A recent FRA has raised a substantial action concerning the internal storage/charging of 2 mobility scooters in a communal lounge. The property is a specialist housing scheme. There is currently auto fire detection, extinguishers, Fd30s doors and 30min fire rated ceiling's and walls with 24/7 staffing. Can anyone advise if there is a a safe amount of scooters that could be stored in this room and if it is a requirement that an external store must be provided? Charging is also restricted to daytime only. Any advice appreciated.

Can anyone tell me if a stud partition wall, timber with 12.5mm plasterboard either side, built to separate the area above offices/stores from a workshop, meets fire safety regulations as it is or does it need to be clad/finished before it meets regulations. I believe the plasterboard itself is 30 min fire resistant. Thanks in advance

I understand that a purpose built block does not need lobbied corridors if there are only 2 flats on each floor, close to the stairway. I have come across a block that has 4 flats on the ground floor (the most distant one is about 7-8 metres from the entrance door). There are 2 flats on the first floor and 3 flats on the second (top) floor. There is AOV at the top of the stairway. The building operates a Stay Put procedure. Is this acceptable? Can the ground floor and top floor have more than 2 flats without being lobbied? Thanks

Hi, could anyone tell me when the Building Regulation's first made the following a requirement in a sheltered housing scheme / purpose built block of flats please. "Rooms containing refuse chutes, or provided for the storage of refuse, should be approached either directly from the open air or by way of a protected lobby provided with not less than 0.2 m2 of permanent ventilation."

Can anyone offer advice regarding appropriate travel distances in a basement corridor? This is a sheltered housing block to which the specialised housing guide applies. The basement has a 77 metre long L shaped corridor, off of which are storage and plant rooms. It is locked and accessible only by the manager and contractors. Normal entrance is from one of two staircases serving the building. At the far end of the service corridor is an escape hatch leading to a well with a Jacobs ladder to street level, which I believe is no longer suitable as a final exit. There is currently no cross corridor separation but AFD is present and there is no sleeping risk. If the escap…

Hi All, Just had an enquiry from a supported Living home about an action on their recent FRA. The action required heat detection to be fitted in the ground floor wet room to protect the electric hoist and to fit a FD30s Fire door to the room as well. In my opinion, this seems unnecessary as there are no combustible items within the room, the appliance is PAT tested and the electrical installation is within its test date. With the addition of a FD30s on the wet room complete with automatic closer, I feel this would impede access and egress and would then require a hold open device, otherwise the dreaded wedges would appear! I would like your thoughts on this plea…

I stayed in a large chain hotel this week which unfortunately had a power cut from mid evening and did not come back on. I noticed that there was no emergency lighting in the corridors and none functioning on stairways. Our room was pitch black too. In the morning I noticed they had propped up torches in the corner of the corridors and knocked on before bedtime to offer a candle. Can anyone tell me whether it is a legal requirement as giving candles to rooms and then no lighting to be able to escape is an accident waiting to happen. Many thanks

I have received a fire risk assessment report. The report recommends installation of a Grade D LD2 automatic fire detection system, in accordance with BS 5839-6:2019, to include smoke detectors and sounders within all common escape routes, and heat detectors and sounders within the flat entrance hallways. The building is Victorian conversion and we are all owner occupiers (2 ground floor flats and 2 flats on first floor). Hallway is small and only one set of stairs from from front door to first floor landing. We all have LFB installed alarms in our respective flats. We want to install necessary alarms in hallway as recommended in report but using the simpl…

I am currently scoping the refurbishment of a large dental practice, I am wondering if a patient undergoing an unconscious procedure would be considered a sleeping risk, because if not I can remove the fire rating from most of the treatment room doors

I am opening a sandwich takeaway in Leeds, no gas in premises. What do I need legally? Many thanks

What are your views on producing separate FRA’s for individual cluster flats in the same building? One FRA for the whole building? Or separate ones for the cluster flats? I have had differing requests from different clients on this. Thanks