Fire Risk Assessments

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?

Hi there, I own a flat in an Edwardian property converted into two flats a long time ago (25+ years). There is a small communal area when you enter, and up high on your right is a cupboard containing the master fuses to the flats. There is no fuel source in the area and there is a smoke alarm fitted a metre from the cupboard. An FRA has said the cupboard needs to be replaced to a FD30S standard and our freeholder has got two quotes that are £2-£2.5k+VAT! Can you please advise whether this cupboard needs replacing?

Please can we ask for some steer on a subject relating to a block of flats we manage - we dont expect anyone to comment on the FRA's judgement, just whether or not you think Building Control should be involved in the final decision... Sorry if there is too much info here, but the situation we have is... 19 privately owned and occupied flats in a building which is ground floor + 7 upper floors and 1 basement. In addition, a roof space room houses water tanks and lift motor equipment. Single internal stairway - protected by FD30s doors at each level. Simultaneous evacuation adopted in 2017 - prior, was a 'stay put'. Communal alarm with AFD (smoke…

The following indicates that a fire door tested to BS 476-22 can no longer be accepted for an external fire door, i.e. a door which opens onto a balcony with a single direction of travel in a block of flats: https://www.robust-uk.com/new-ce-marking-regulations-for-external-fire-rated-doors/?utm_content=buffer85944&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Is this correct? I can see no mention in the MHCLG guidance issued in 2020 of BS 476-22 not being a suitable standard for fire doors which open externally.

I work at a charity and they have matresses with bs7177:1996 labels on them. (Bought like 10years ago or something). I am wondering if the fire safety regulations on furnitures has been changed since? Are the matresses still considered to be safe to use? Or do I need to buy new ones? (It still works very fine) does bs7177:1996 label still meet the today’s regulation? If it does, I would like to know where I can find the information or something

I'm redecorating a Grade II Listed office building and have upgraded several doors with Envirograf intumescent coatings and seals, adding intumescent felt behind all ironmongery and ensuring the door closers work correctly. Being old, the hinges are heavily over-painted and probably non BS stamped (but you cannot see for sure). The hinges are all intact, firmly screwed in and have held the doors for decades. The FRA says they all need to be BS 1154 (I think he meant BS 1935) which would mean replacing over 100 hinges. I'm not replacing any of these doors with new ones, as they having some heritage value, so is it necessary to replace these working hinges? They n…

I have just read a FRA conducted at our care home. It says that BS 5831-1 recommends that the fire alarm is linked to an alarm monitoring station for the earliest summoning of the fire brigade. Being that the home is manned 24/7 is this now a requirement as I thought this was for monitoring unoccupied property mainly? Would a alarm monitoring station automatically contact the emergency services upon activation... if so would this in reality just be similar to a member of staff informing them that we have a fire alarm activation & are investigating the cause? Thanks in advance Tony

I live in a block of flats , 3 flats ground floor , 3 flats first floor . Electric meter cuboards are beside each flat door in communal area hallway . Meter cuboards aren’t supposed to be used for storage of things , due to fire risk however , is it ok if parcels are delivered there which remain there for short period of time there’s no other way to receive parcels food essentials My understanding is there needs to be some allowance for circumstances , such as removals people jamming fire doors open in order to be able to bring furniture in and out of properties during home removals for example , and the one given above .

Hi We own a a one bedroom retirement flat which has entrance hall. We want to replace four interior doors in the hall. 2 are fire doors. Is it necessary to replace the fire doors with the same ? DIY Tom