Fire Risk Assessments

During a recent compartmentation survey (post refurb) in a hotel I noted that the 'immersion water heater tanks' (approx 150ltr tanks) were located on the escape routes and were not located in thier own compartment. I stated that they were a fire risk and should be enclosed in 30 minutes fire resistance as it is a sleeping accommodation. The appointed fire engineering/building control who drew up the fire strategy claimed they were not a fire hazard and not included in the fire strategy or FRA, despite DCLG guidance for sleeping accommodation stating heating appliances including water heaters should not be located on escape routes. Was I right to flag up the issues? If I …

Hi, Would anyone be able to point me in the direction of a suitable template report which could be used for the above type of assessment? Thanks

I live in a block of flats above shops which all have roof top access and patio type area, we all have fencing trellis around our areas with plant pots etc with fully clear walk way so you can run out of a burning building. This week the landlord have sent builder to remove my fencing trellis and when asked why they said its a fire hazard. Ok the only H&S card HOWEVER my issue is that there are 5 other flats with the same stuff and they have only taken ours! surely if it is not being removed from all flats this not only discriminatory but a clear cop out of why they have done this. I just want to check if there is any info I can request or find regarding the fire safe…

Do service risers need to be fire stopped at each floor level in a purpose built block of flats that operate a stay put policy?

I am thinking of letting my house as a holiday let. It is three storeys with open plan living room on ground floor, staircase leading to three bedrooms. Domestic detectors in all rooms. Do I need to consider anything else? Thanks.

Question regarding FRA for a small 2 bed cottage being converted to a holiday let. Is the internal door to the kitchen required to be a fire door?

Hi all, in need of some advice please. I have been asked to carry out an FRA of a communal area of a detached, small block of flats which were built in 2002. 4 Flats over ground and first floor, flats open onto a the staircase with the upstairs flats having alternative means of escape via a sdeperate exterior staircase.A couldnt check any front doors as nobody was in but lets assume they are FD30 for a minute. For some reason, there is a manual fire alarm system in the communal areas with a call point and sounder outside each flat and the panel downstairs. There is a basement swimming pool for use of all residents(in these flats and the rest of the gated complex) be…

Sorry if this has been answered before, I just wanted to check on my specific station. I am selling my leasehold flat and have been asked to provide a fire risk assessment (and asbestos survey) for the communal areas to the buyer's solicitors. I'm keen to avoid unnecessary costs basically but want to do the right/best thing too. Details on the property situation: Victorian house divided into 3 flats - 2 flats (mine and another)share a communal hallway and staircase. Landlords are a couple who do not live in the building Management Company is very informal, made up of the owners of each flat. Does anyone have any advice or guidance for this? Who is respon…

Hi, I am interested in furthering my education and thinking of studying fire safety engineering, hopefully next year, between then and now, i am wondering what would be considered essential reading to get some technical knowledge of fire safety engineering. I had been considering the CIBSE Guide E book but are there better ones. I have BS:9999: 2008 (I know its been updated) but would also like some guide book to help navigate this document regards, Stephen.

Hi, I am designing internal screens for a Residential Care Home, the screens will be located in a 30 minute fire rated wall (block masonry) between a day room and a protected escape corridor, this section of corridor also provides access to a two bedrooms, The base of the screens will be between 1.1m and 1.2m above floor level and have a top height of 2.1m above floor level, My question is do i need to spec the glass for the screens as 30 minute fire-rated integrity and insulation or as 30 minuted fire-rated integrity only? thanks for any advice Regards, Stephen.

hi all, does anyone know of any legislation covering the use of gas heaters in smoking areas in pubs/clubs?

Could someone please clarify when a Fire Risk Assessment is a requirement with regard to small commercial premises, mainly high street shops. I am aware of the 5 employees or more rule, but does this change if the business, for example Has a gas supply? Is cooking hot food and has say 30 paying customers? If the premises is on the ground floor level only? If some have a sub basement, often used to store a variety of goods? If the premises does not have a fire alarm system fitted. Thank you

I am wondering if anyone can give me advice ? I am a tenet lived in my property for ten years it’s a 1960 very large block of maisonette buildings. Consistenting of about 30 family’s. I have my own front door but I have a brick wall infront which was a bin cupboard they have bricked up. Under garage parking .I have a roof terrace balcony that the fire escape leads to neighbouring balconys but no fire escape stairs to get off the building . I have contacted my housing in regards to a fire risk assessment and they said they don’t need one. I am so confused and concerned as some vandals set a car on fire which above the under garages are bedrooms. …

I own a flat which is rented out. It is on the ground floor of a 3 story building converted to four flats pre 1990. The other converted flats are all owner occupied. My flat has hardwired and linked fire alarms, Its front door opens directly onto an entrance lobby (which also serves one other flat above) which in turn leads to the street. Do we need to have additional detectors and alarms in this lobby and a risk assessment? Thank you

Good evening. Whilst my own church (which is fully compliant) is renovated and extended, we've moved a number of larger events down to our neighbouring church. I'm a keyholder there and have popped in several times over the years, but only with our events moving there have I paid attention to the floorplan and fire systems. The main church hall seats 100 when full (eg our wedding last weekend) but typically only seats 30 for a sunday service. The fire exit in the main church hall is pre-1950 arched wooden doors (formerly the main entrance) which open inwards as it's literally right on the pavement. Proper big rustic bolts and a loose 2x1 piece of timber f…

What are the fire prevention requirements for the industrial gas boiler house? Our boiler room is a separate compartment with gas and heat detection installed. Vented roller door and side door are installed. Main gas supply is fed from adjacent room. Rooms are separated by a partition wall with 1h fire rating. Emergency procedure, in short, is to turn off the gas supply if possible and evacuate. What other fire precautions are necessary? Do we need to provide fire fighting equipment i.e dry powder extinguishers? I am also thinking here about CO2 extinguishers for electrical control panels and other electrical equipment within the boiler room. Thanks

Hi, I'm after some advice regarding EL in existing premises where there is no EL at present. It's a medium size warehouse (38m X 20m) with polycarbonate roof sheets so plenty of natural daylight apart from late afternoon Nov-Jan. The shifts finish at 17:00-17:30 so EL is only required for 3 months of the year for a couple of hours at most. They have final exits, signage, fire extinguishers etc but no EL at present. The customer says that according to their fire safety "expert" they only need a couple of ELs above the fire exits as the signage is photo-luminescent. Does this sound right or should New EL installations in older buildings conform fully to BS5266-1:2016. Th…

Hi, I live in a retirement apartment complex of some 50 individual apartments. It is well run and is properly maintained and up to date with legislation. Apparently we have had a fire assessment by an independent fire risk assessment company who have said that a lot of alterations are needed to fire doors around the building in order to be compliant. This includes replacing all the brass hinges on all the doors with steel ones probably in the region of 50 fire doors and communal corridor doors and each one already has 3 hinges and they are even saying that individual apartment front doors (another 50+ doors , already with 3 hinges per door) need to have t…

Hi, we are opening a small Cafè in 2 weeks time but our fire risk inspection is not due until July 19th. Is it a legal requirement to have a risk assessment done before we open or can we install all the necessary equipment and open prior to the inspection? Thanks in advance. Ross

I am the freeholder of a Victorian Terrace split into two flats. So I have a lease with the owner of the downstairs flat, but own the freehold of the whole property. He rents to tenants who have a pushchair in the corridor. I have manoeuvred past it for 3 years, but now have a bad back, and carrying things past it is extremely frustrating. I asked them to fold it and they said no. So I asked their landlord. He asked the managing agent to tell them to fold it. I chased this and was told they have folded the pushchair and she and the landlord are happy this is resolved. I told her they hadn't folded it. She said she 'is no longer involved'. Is there a law that says the free…

Hi A ground floor flat has been refurbished in a purpose built block of flats. Does the door the kitchen in the flat need to be a fire door?

Time and time again we receive the phrase NOTIONAL DOORS being used within Risk assessments. Just applying a sense of logic but can doors that were fitted in the 70s or 80s still realistically be considered acceptable even though today's Fire door sets comes with it a whole myriad of new regulations and codes of practice to fit them? Additionally, do you think There is likely to be any change in future legislation to counter act them still being classed as compliant?

My dad bought a building some 30 years ago and transformed it into a guest house. He put a fire exits in the back as we use the cellars for the guests. We had an agreement with the then owners that the fire exit pathway was ours and they could use it! Now we have new owners who tell us that the path is on their land and belongs to them and they want to block it up! We laid the path down some + 10 years ago and i have been running the guest house for 9 years now. We are searching through the deeds ut have nothing about the land itself or its size etc. Q: can they block it up? It is civil dispute and land registry can not help in this matter! The building is …

Hello All My first post, so go easy on me and be nice! For the purpose of FRA on flats build above shops, do we include the shop level as part of the building, even if not owned by the landlord? ie, 2 levels above the shop will indeed be classed as a 3 story building or not? Thank you in advance for advice offered.

Hi there. I'm tasked with providing an FRA for a 5 storey premise - B,G,1, 2, 3. Floors 1-3 are 2 flats, they have a separate communal entrance. AFD is provided throughout, mains interlinked to the Basement and Ground which are a restaurant. Control panel is in the communal area. Fairly straightforward here. The restaurant is provided with 2 exits at the Ground floor. Entrance door and rear fire exit. Basement is served by one staircase, with no exits at Basement level. Should the alarm sound, persons in the Basement have to make there way up the stairs back to where they came in. Trouble is, the kitchen/cooking area is situated here. I'm trying to contact Building …