Fire Risk Assessments

I own a flat that shares a communal entrance with one other flat. The communal area doesn't have any heating which leads to issues with condensation in the winter. Is it lawful to attach a small convector heater to the wall (which is plugged into the same wall)? It wouldn't be blocking any exits. Or do you suggest that we get a risk assessment first?

would a 2 floor house converted into a office with a stay put policy in place need emergency lighting ?

General needs block of flats. All the smoke heads have been taken out of the flats and replaced solely with heat detectors. This was done to cut down on false alarms as the smoke heads were causing signals from cooking, aerosols, steam etc. Does BS 5839-6:2019 condone this?

We are 3 shared Freeholders in a Victorian conversion house with a single communal stair (circa 15m2 total area, no storage, no meter cupboards, hanging light fittings, hot nut tested carpeting, water based mat emulsion walls, water based acrylic eggshell woodwork) serving the 3 flats from the Main Street level front door. As shared Freeholders I understand we are the ‘Responsible People’ to undertake a Fire Risk Assessment of the communal stair and that we need to demonstrate after review of guidance documents, etc. that we are ‘competent’ should we decide to undertake our own FRA and that this can most likely be a verbal assessment however will more than likely com…

hi , i have joint a company and they would like me to become there in house fire risk assessor , i have just taken the nebosh fire in management , would anyone suggest any other training ?

One of my colleagues has pointed out that perko style concealed door self-closers are now non compliant. I have looked at ADB volume 1 (2019 edition with 2020 ammendments) as I am dealing with blocks of flats & sheltered housing with flats opening onto escape routes. I could not find anything in there to say that they were not now unnaceptable, or if they should be removed retrospectively. I understand new builds having overhead closers, but should I be advising that Perko style closers be fitted retrospectively to buildings that had these doors fitted following guidance from the time they were built? I am writing up an FRA at the moment for a 1988 built shelt…

Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone has any information on which BS standard a Grade A system would be tested & maintained under in a residential property. Is it BS5839 part 1 or part 6. Sorry I know it seems like a silly question.

Does the new FS act 21 mean that external walls, windows and entrance doors have to be fire resisting, were as now double glazing and a wooden or Upvc entrance door would not be fire resisting

We have a share in freehold, but building manager organised a FRA and EICR which does not seem to consider cost effective options. The cupboard in the common corridor has been identified as needing fire doors. It houses the: 1. telecommunication termination box 2. porch light timer 3. emergency lighting test switch 4. water meters and the items that we will likely move into a replacement consumer unit inside or outside the cupbaord: 5. doorbell transformer 6. small common area distribution board (identified as needing update). Q1. Are devices such as the porch light timer considered an electrical hazard? It would seem to be on …

I was wondering if anyone had any experience or thoughts on this please? We have had a new gas system installed in a small block of offices; it has 3 floors (ground, first and second) and has a single, protected stairway. The contractors have finished, but we went to inspect the premises today for general H&S reasons, and noticed that the main gas pipe has been fixed in the singe stairway. Its copper and has not been enclosed in any way - I have attached a photo to show you what I mean. Does this cause anyone a concern? I've never seen this before - in the other properties we look after, the gas pipes are enclosed in cupboards and have vents / gri…

I have a question for the forum regarding the placement of diesel and LPG tanks in relation to high occupancy buildings. Currently I'm working on a contract in Asia where the designer has placed a 90,000 litre diesel tank within just a few meters of a 50,000 litre LPG tank. These in turn are located less than 15 meters away from a 850 room hotel and high-rise office tower. I want to know if there are any current British Standards that specify safe distances from building for either of the two tanks and/or indeed each other. Also, is there a relevant standard or requirement for leak detection and fire suppression systems? Thank you in advance

Hi I have written on this topic before. But in September of last year (just after I had left my flat to go overseas) the service agents of this Purpose Built, 30 year old block of 34 flats over Ground, First and Second floors with 6 separate entrances and 3 stair cases, received a Door assessment, following a FRA. The Fire door assessors appear to have checked each door (but could not check mine as I was away). As I understand it my door failed the test !! My door is an original door in perfect condition, in the original Frame. I attach images of the door and strips, and Perko chain (which by the way works as it should and will close the door ac…

I am registered mentally and physically disabled and was offered a property by a Housing Association 11 months ago which I accepted on a Starter Tenancy. The property was advertised as having some disabled facilities such as external access to front door and low level access wet room, which in fact turned out to be far too small for me with no chance of a seat being installed. My carer has to help me wash my lower body and so I have been arguing the point for a while now, with OT Reports confirming the property is not suitable for my needs. There are several other issues (works) that need to be attended to by the Housing Association including the widening of all doors to …

Please can someone tell me if all hatches to lofts / voids which form part of ceilings along means of escape (protected corridors and stairs) need to be fire rated or not? We cannot see anything in ADB Vol 2 which specifically mentions this so any steer would be much appreciated! ?

Good morning. I have a guest house which is also a grade II listed building I need to replace the existing flat panel fire doors. I am looking to replace these with modern FD30 6 panel doors which are more inkeeping with the original design of the doors. We bought some new smart locks which are a better set up that what we currently have. However when fitted they will foul the door stops, these stops are the 25mm type so I want to reduce these to about 15mm. The test certification of the doors shows that they were tested and certificated using 12mm stops with intumescent seals etc etc. Am I correct in thinking I can ask my carpenter to modify these stops without compromis…

What does it mean when ADB reccimends that in a single staircase building the staircase should not carry down to the basement rather terminate at Ground level and separate staircase follow down to the basement. Does it mean the basement staircase should be accessed from outside the building or can it be accessed from a door at ground level within the main staircase. Thank you.

Hi there, I am a committee member of a private tennis club & would like advice on what is required alarm wise for the clubhouse. The clubhouse is normally unmanned it has a small office for the pro & a kitchen for tea making & social events it contains an oven, hob, kettle & microwave. There are toilets & a couple of rooms for social gatherings during events. There are no alarms or detectors at present as it was never deemed necessary. I would appreciate advice on what is legally necessary.Thanks, Murray

I have been asked by a Landlord to advise on potential fire safety improvements to a small three-storey converted terraced house which is now studio apartments/rooms. The single stairwell which is the primary means of escape is lined with Woodchip walls. Not surprisingly I'm finding it difficult to find info in relation to performance of woodchip in terms of resistance to fire and limiting spread of surface flames etc... Initial thoughts would be that it's not be suitable for this application, however when researching online some say it's not combustible as you may tend to think? Does anyone have any knowledge/advise/experience with similar cases? Si…

Hi, I'm looking some advice. I'm currently carrying out a fire risk assessment in a village hall. The main hall has vaulted ceilings which span across the main hall itself and the escape route. At ground level the hall is divided into two sections - main hall and escape corridor however, above ground floor ceiling height the ceiling is open. This means that a fire in the main hall could filter smoke into the escape route. There is a fire alarms system in place with detectors in each area. The escape corridor has two fire escape doors at each end of the corridor and the main hall also has a fire escape door too. I'm just a little concerned at how quickly the sm…

Hi, 4 storey building (G-3rd floor), single stair way with lobby protection to flats on each floor. The AOV on the third floor roof is within the protected lobby. Surely the FD30s door negates the AOV from clearing smoke from the stairs? Would you recommend removing the door? Thanks in advance.

Guidance needed. Purpose built flats (2004) 3 floors, 2 flats per floor. lobbied at all levels. Single common stair with lift serving all floors. Risk assessor wants fire alarm/detection in common areas. Is this correct and where would guidance be found.

Hi, Just working with an company who has offices over 3 floors but very limited numbers of staff usually working in the offices at present due to COVID restrictions. Would you consider it to be necessary to have Fire Marshals in place at all times when the offices are in operation? The offices are open plan with multiple exits and the staff have received training informing them of the evacuation arrangements and assembly point etc. The are different people in on different days. It doesnt really seem risk proportionate to require that they must have Fire Marshals in place at all times. However, the alternative of having a sign in/out board may also not be re…

Hi I have come across glass blocks as part of the wall in a protected staircase aprox 2m wide to ceiling height. There is no visible marking on the blocks for fire rating. The building is aprox 12 years old and should be built to building regs. Any advise please. Steve

I was filling a FRA report and came across an expression FLAT POSITION and the answer to select from is Basement, Ground Floor, 1st Floor, 2nd Floor. What does the expression flat position means? Thanks

In a circa 1987 five story block of older persons sheltered flats there are AOVs at the end of the corridors with OVs directly below them. As I understand it, current principle is the AOVs should only open on a fire floor to prevent ingress of smoke ventilated from a lower floor into a higher floor. Where there are OVs directly below the AOVs that are used for day-to-day ventilation and generally left open, this seems somewhat pointless. In these circumstances should the aspiration be for the OVs to be sealed / replaced by AOVs or is it the case that as the building was approved at the time of its construction it remains acceptable?