Fire Risk Assessments

I've had an FRA completed of a small charity shop (old building but likely refurbished in 90s) and the assessor has requested a fire strategy be undertaken. Am I correct that this is a requirement of Regulation 38 of the Building Regs? If so, are they required for older buildings too? (e.g. a retrospective fire strategy) Would this be a legal requirement and if not, can we justify not having to pay for one? Thanks

Looking for some different perspectives... 4 storey building, ground floor and basement flats all have own access/egress so not in scope. Converted to studio flats (open plan) in approx 1985. No fire risk assessment has ever been completed. Common area (MOE) is a single staircase enclosure and corridor providing access to flats on first and second floor (12 in total). Travel distance from furthest flat is approx 20m. At point of inspection, no fire alarm system, inadequate compartmentation, no confirmation that flat doors were fire doors (RP thinks its unlikely they are). Immediate suggestions: L3 alarm and fire doors to flats (FD30S). Collea…

Hi, I work in a carehome, recently a resident pushed his way through an electric gates, the manager has now put a padlock on these gates (small ( for walkers) and large gate ( for drivers) so he cant push through. My problem is this is a exit route in case of a fire, is this ok?

With the legal requirement of an FRA being life safety over property protection, does this include the risk to fire fighters too? For example, when assessing compartmentation of a premises, it may not be deemed necessary for the protection of people on site. However, it could result in a small fire becoming a much bigger fire, therefore putting fire fighters at risk. Does this need to be considered, as it will of course involve an extra cost. An an example, the door of a boiler cupboard in a historic building. No impact on escape routes, etc, but obviously a high fire hazard. Would a fire door be needed? Thanks!

Staff accommodation above pub/restaurant with primary escape route via an external staircase. However, the FRA gives an alternative route using an unprotected staircase into a commercial kitchen to use the fire exit there. Is an alternative escape route via a commercial kitchen acceptable? In my opinion the fact that it is not a protected route and utilises a risk room it is not. Also an alternative route is not required due to small numbers present.

Hi All Are agricultural buildings exempt from the RRO2005?

Hi All, I am a leaseholder in a purpose build flat (2 ground and 4 1st floor flats) and the freeholder is proposing an expensive set of works based on a RA recommendations. Me and others would like to consult a person with relevant accreditation/competencies who may be able to advise which works are mandatory and which aren't. Could you advise where I should look for a relevant professional or service? Many thanks for any help you can provide. Best, Lukasz

Hello, i visit many flats on my work journeys, and a lot of entrance door in blocks of purpose built flats have been fitted with Yale type locks,mortice dead and sash locks, non euro profile, non fire rated letter plates,no smoke or intumescent seals, nearly all flats are privately owned and are leashold. Question is their a time limit set by Government for all these doors and frames to be replaced to current safety standards as above. Also can lack of funding be used as a valid reason for not doing the work, eg residents not having the funds or refusing to pay for the replacements.

Hi. Where an L2 system requires detection in high risk rooms such as kitchens and boiler rooms, would a calorifier be considered a high fire risk too? As an example, in a commercial premises with guest sleeping accommodation, would detection be needed in a cupboard containing a direct electric hot water heater (located within a common area)? I'm assuming it would? Thanks

I was recently listening to a fire risk assessor who's opinion was, that the use of Dorgard devices within an NHS building (used for the rehabilitation of individuals with mental health issues, who sleep in.) is not suitable or allowed. However, looking at HTM 05-02 I cannot see any reference to this? I would appreciate your thoughts, thanks in advance.

Question, should the arrow on a final fire exit (over door) sign face down? as opposed to up? I know its not critical but my thinking is it is arrow down over the final exit and arrow up (over head) on route to the final exit. Thank you.

I live in one of the two upstairs flats, am I required to have FD30 firedoor under the the regulatory reform (fire safety) order 2005??? Thank you in advance

Hi All Can an escape route go through different purpose groups to get to a final exit? I.e.. From Purpose group 3 (Office) to 4 (Factories) then to final exit. Thanks

Hi. Can anyone advise me on the following? Does a ground floor open plan restaurant need an alarm system if it has separate apartments above? It currently has sufficient exits, emergency lights, staff training, and extinguishers, etc in place. However, if there is a fire what about the apartments above? I understand that the whole building is owned by the same person. There appears to be a minimum 60 minutes fire separation from the restaurant to the flats and they have their own entrances to the rear.

Hi All Is it necessary to have AFD in a lift shaft where the motor and associated components are enclosed in the lift shaft and not in a separate location? Should there also be AFD on each floor within a certain distance of the lift entrance? This is a three storey multi occupied office building with the lift located in a protected storey exit. Many thanks for your advice.

Hi All If an office is ancillary to a warehouse, and the office is under 20% of the total floorspace of the building, is compartmentation needed between the two purpose groups?

Hi, All Can anyone please explain What are the implications for the Fire Service of not complying with regulators' codes? Thank You In advance

I have received a fire risk assessment and 1 of the points on there is some doors have what looks like from the pictures steel plates all over the face of the door. Another has plates covering just half of the door. In both cases they are asking for the plates to be removed from the fire doors. Question - Do they have to be removed? Wouldn't the door take longer to burn in the event of a fire with the plates attached? Any advise would help, thank you.

Does anyone know if a wooden balcony on the ground floor of a 12-meter block of flats is legal? All the other balconies are tiled / concrete, but this one appears to have been added recently.

Hi. Will a 3 storey 7 bedroomed detached property used for self catering holidsay lets need fire doors.

Hi Is a fire escape acceptable that goes from one first floor building across its roof to the first floor of another part of the same building?

Morning all, I’m currently trying to clarify the regulations around lipping on fire doors. I understand lipping can be carried out on sides of doors but I’m seeing a lot with lipped tops and bottoms. From my understanding work should not be carried out on the top of a leaf as, and I assume this includes lipping, is that correct? Thanks

Timber clad converted detached building of 12 self contained flats. Would you suggest a FRAEW in the absence of any in-built, Reg 38 documents? Premise operates a stay put flats with Grade LD2 non linked between flats and a communal L3. Obviously the current stay put flats could be jeopardised by the potential external fire/smoke spread from the timber fascia. Thoughts are appreciated as always,

Hi All Please can someone assist me with guidance relating to chimney flues and compartmentation requirements if the chimney is no longer in use. I recently inspected an old building with a ‘decommissioned’ chimney that appears to start in the basement of the building. I observed several openings in room walls on first and second floors of the building. These openings were above head height. My question relates to compartmentation and if these openings in walls should be sealed to prevent the spread of smoke/fire in the event of a fire incident. I would welcome any information/additional guidance

Hi all, I have a question, i'm trying to find an answer online but it seems that the situation is a bit different for everyone. We are buying a 2 beds apartment, on the ground floor, in a victorian house composed of 4 flats. We're wondering if we are able to break down the wall in the hallway (crossed in red on the below plan) to open up the living room/kitchen space, but I know there's some regulations regarding fire escape. Does this seem possible? Thanks Marie