Tom Sutton

I am assuming the property manager has conducted a fire risk assessment and considers a fire alarm is necessary, also has to maintain it in good working order. He/she is using BS 5839 as good practise which states the maintenance should be a minimum of 6 months but it is only guidance and if things went pear shaped he/she would have to explain to the enforcing authority why they had varied from the guidance, but as they have said its not cast in stone its all about risk assessment. I wouldn't think this would invalidate your insurance but you need to speak to the insurance company to get a definitive answer.

In addition to what Harry has said you should be trying to rectify the original problem which appears to be that the stove in not drawing properly, (sucking in air to support the combustion) check out http://www.ehow.com/how_12150359_improve-draw-woodburning-stove-burn-better.html which may help.

There is no legislation that requires fire door sets to be fitted, that is up to the fire risk assessor and the enforcing authority, what they are prepared to accept. If you fit a certified fire door set, then you will have documentation from a third party proving the installation will be fit for purpose and acceptable to any enforcing authority. If you don’t it is classed as a nominal 30FD and you will not have any documentation, proving it is fit for purpose, this will be up to you to prove it, if things go pear shaped. Consequently following the guidelines of the door manufacturer on what door furniture to use and how it should be installed is very important. Check out http://www.pfpf.org/pdf/passive_data/timber_fire_doors.pdf and http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-doors/ for more information.

I agree the cushion cover can be non-fire retardant and the filling must be fire retardant but what you are proposing is a piece of Domestic Upholstered Furniture. Which is defined as “furniture of any description which is ordinarily intended for private use in a dwelling and includes beds and divans (including the bases and headboards of both), sofa-beds, children’s furniture, cots (including carry-cots, playpens, prams and pushchairs and any other article of a like nature and use designed to contain a baby or small child), cushions, high-chairs, mattresses (of any size) and pillows, but does not include bedding or floor coverings (including carpets and mats) also furniture which is ordinarily intended for private use in the open air but which is also suitable for use in a dwelling”. Consequently I think your upholstered wooden dog’s bed fall within that definition and therefore will be subject to the full regulations, including the cover and filling. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/and http://www.fira.co.uk/flammability

The website is all about fire extinguishing systems but I am sure it will apply to portable extinguishers. I cannot find the appropriate legislation consequently I would suggest you contact the author of the website who should be able to help. Check out http://fesoa.weebly.com/contact-information.html

Check out http://fesoa.weebly.com/ban-on-halon.html but I need to find out more about the legislation referred to.

Assuming the means of escape is satisfactory for yourself and the surgery when the shutter is down; also assuming the one way travel distance from the front of the pharmacy to the rear door is satisfactory and there is no inner room situation, using the rear door would be acceptable, for all purposes. All doors are fire exit doors, if you can use them to escape to outside the premises in the case of a fire, just some are not in constant use and need signing with “Fire Exit” signs to show relevant persons not familiar with them, they lead to safety. So your rear exit can be used like any other door for staff coming and going and for deliveries but you must ensure they are never blocked. If the rear door opens outwards and could hit persons passing, then, it must not be inset; if this is the case then the door should open onto a concrete platform to ensure level going to prevent persons tripping when they pass through the door. If this is the case then it is unlikely persons passing would be hit by the door because it is unlikely the persons passing would step up onto the platform and then down when passing your rear exit. In any case I do not see how self-closing hinges, could help but you could use barriers/handrail which could prove effective.

Emily also consider the layout of the office and if there was a fire in the tea room would this jeopardize the means of escape, would you be able to turn your back on the fire and escape safely.

As I understand it, any upholstered furniture, manufactured after 1st January 1950, and re-upholstered is subject to the full regulations and therefore the upholsterer should fix a permanent label to the finished article, but a display label would not be required. Any upholstered furniture manufactured before that date is not subject to the full regulation, but when re-upholstered the upholsterer should indication to the customer it does not comply with the regulations. You should check this out with http://www.fira.co.uk and you may find http://www.fira.co.uk/document/fira-flammability-guide-october-2011pdf.pdf useful. When selling second-hand upholstered furniture manufactured before 1st March 1993 it should carry a display label in accordance with schedule 8 of http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1988/1324/contents/made but in your case it should comply with the regulations and this would not be necessary. http://www.firesafe.org.uk/furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/

The gap around the door, (two sides and head of door) should be 3 mm, however if the door is a FD30s then that gap needs to be sealed by a cold smoke seal to prevent cold smoke from percolating through that gap in the early stages of a fire. If you sink the cold smoke seal into a grove and it doesn't contact with the frame then its purpose will be lost. Have you tried other types of seal which may prove more silent than the ones fitted now.

I am assuming it is an integrated garage and the guidance is Approved document B (fire safety) Vol 1 page 30 which states, " The wall and any floor between the garage and house to have 30 minutes fire resistance with a self closing fire door. Floor to fall away from the door to outside". So the door will need to be a FD30 fire door with self closer and you can purchase such UPVC fire doors.

This depends on how much you remove and threshold gap left, (the space between the floor and the door). If it is a FD30/60 fire door then the gap should not exceed 6 mm, if it is a FD30/60s then the gap should be filled with a cold smoke seal or a drop down cold smoke seal, if necessary. If a small amount is removed then it should not affect the integrity of the fire door. Check out http://www.safelincs.co.uk/search.php?q=cold+smoke+seals+bottom+of+door+draught+excluder&a=products

Are you saying, the fire alarm operated and you did nothing, nobody investigated the reason why the FA operated and nobody considered evacuation? The first thing is, there should be a Fire Evacuation Plan detailing what you should do in the eventuality of a fire in the building, indicated by the Fire Alarm operating. You should also be regularly trained on this procedure including other fire safety measures and a fire drill should be preformed occasionally. I would be surprised if the procedure didn't require the staff to investigate the fire alarm operating and what action to take if a fire is discovered. If a fire is discovered then it would require the staff to evacuate the residents and themselves immediately. The reason for the self-closing fire doors is to prevent the fire spreading and provide time for you escape, not to allow you to remain the premises and be in some danger. If the fire alarm operates, stop what you are doing and investigate in accordance with you Fire Evacuation Plan, then act accordingly depending on what you find.

The Building Regulations (1991) state that all domestic dwellings built since June 1992 must be fitted with mains operated interlinked smoke detectors/alarms with at least one detector per floor level. It is also the case that all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) are required to supply mains operated interlinked smoke alarm system. In the case of older single family rental properties, technically there is no legal requirement for landlords to provide a smoke alarm. However, it is strongly recommended that landlords do provide at least a battery operated smoke alarm or alarms in their rented properties. They would be more legally protected if they fit them and have a clear conscience that their tenants are safe. Landlords must remember that they are the supplier therefore are always responsible for ensuring their tenants safety. It cannot be assumed that the ‘innocent’ tenant has any knowledge on how to keep safe themselves. With regards to Health and Safety, the courts will always rule in the tenants’ favour, landing harsh penalties on the landlord who refuses to comply. The Consumer Protection Act 1987 established the need for the above, simply put, they have to do everything within reason to ensure that the property is “safe and not to cause injury or death to humans or pets” as the law states. If asked to, they must be able to prove “due diligence” in a court of law, should a fire ever occur within their property and the tenant becomes injured as a direct result. Should a tenant be killed or injured at the result of a fire where inadequate fire alarm systems can be proven, then harsh fines, in some cases in excess of £100k in addition to prison sentences can be given to the ‘responsible owner’. Where landlords do provide battery operated smoke alarms they should have a clause in the agreement making it clear that it is the tenant’s responsibility to check their operation and replace the batteries as and when necessary. You need the heat detector checked and I would suggest you contact your local Fire and Rescue Service. They will have a home fire safety check scheme and will advise you accordingly. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/uk-fire-rescue-services-details/ As well as a smoke alarm, it’s a good idea, though not a legal requirement, to provide a good quality carbon monoxide detector, if there are gas appliances in the property.

Check out http://www.safelincs.co.uk/fire-retardant-spray/?showAllReviews=true& and http://www.flameguard.nl/en/products/fire-resistant-paper-and-cardboard may find them useful.

Assuming there is no mechanical or electrical devices involved and it is a free hanging sculpture in the atrium, out of reach of all the occupants, with no fire risk below (waste bins) then I would consider the source of ignition being low. As a source of fuel it would be high and there is no way of making it fire resistant but it could be made flame retardant by the application of FR spray/paint/lacquer which would ensure the sculpture is a lower source of fuel risk. The people who are the experts, are theatre scenery designers and there are many companies providing the products they need to achieve flame retardant scenery for the stage. The DHB may accept this compromise. I would suggest you make a visit to your local theatre and surf the web looking for flame retardant products suitable for treating scenery. I would also remind you that there is bound to be upholstered furniture in the building which uses flame retardant means to achieve the match and flame test.

I would suggest the warning device, it will not stop the children opening the doors but it will inform you it has been opened and you can act immediately. You could try a home made device, door bell, bell wire and a micro switch and see if it works and then purchase purpose made devices. Check out http://www.safelincs.co.uk/fire-exit-door-security/

Sorry to be pedantic but you are not the Responsible Person that is defined by the regulations and in this case is likely to be the employer, you will be a Competent Person assisting the RP. This is important because in the event of a prosecution it is the RP who is in the dock not the competent Person. All fire resisting doors require "Fire Doors, Keep Shut" signs on both faces and those leading into the stairwell fitted with self closing devices are like to be fire resisting fire doors. You are correct all fire exit routes, in normal use, daily by the staff do not need to be signed but you have to consider Relevant Persons like visitors to the premises, other persons who are not familiar with the premises and they may need signage to find their way out of the building.

The shop is subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and therefore you need to conduct a Fire Risk Assessment, which includes safety of relevant persons and is a fire alarm necessary. Consequently you need to consider a number of points such as the level of compartmentation between the shop and the flat, is there independent access to both premises including more important egress and there are other considerations. I think I would err on the side of caution and install a part 1 system in the shop with a sounder in the flat, with a means of silencing the sounder located in the flat without affecting the remainder of the system. Details of the Category of system can be found in BS 5839 part 1. I would inform the occupier of the flat they should install a BS 5839 part 6 system depending on the layout of the flat.

In addition to courve-feu posting you will find LACORS guide at http://www.cieh.org/uploadedFiles/Core/Policy/Publications_and_information_services/Policy_publications/Publications/National_fire_safety_guidance_08.pdf and if the premises is more than two floors you will need to contact the local housing authority to find out which guidance you should be using.

Rebekah check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/security-and-fire-safety/ and consider warning devices. It will not stop the door being used but you will know immediately, when it is and hopefully the children will realise they cannot sneak out..

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 does not apply to ships and is outside my area of expertise you should contact the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) who should be able to assist you. Check out https://www.gov.uk/health-and-safety-on-ships/fire-prevention for more information.

The enforcing authority for HMO's is the Local Housing Department and the regulation is the Housing Act 2004 but it doesn't dictate how the require standards are achieved that is up to the appropriate guidance. In most cases the LHA will accept the LACORS Guide for up to two story's, more than that you, will need to contact them because they may have their own guidance. Check out www.gov.uk/house-in-multiple-occupation-licence

I was a bricklayer for 10 years and a firefighter specializing in fire safety for 34 years, if you need advice on any of those subjects I will try to help, I only hope there is a joiner on this forum who may be willing to assist you.

I stand corrected the fire and rescue service is not the enforcing authority, as it is crown property and Office of the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser, Crown Premises Fire Safety Group are the enforcing authority. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100413151441/http://communities.gov.uk/documents/fire/pdf/1496020.pdf