[Fire Alarm Testing frequencies]

Fire alarms need to be tested weekly, monthly in house, and minimum of six monthly, twelve monthly by a competent person. Check out

http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-alarms/.

Emergency lighting should be checked daily, monthly and annually. Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/emergency-lighting/.

[fire proof drapes]

Many man made fabrics are inherently fire retardant and those fabrics that aren't can be treated but for the best advice go to FIRA although experts in upholstered furniture they are experts in fire retardant fabrics used to cover furniture and I am sure they would be able to help. Check out http://www.fira.co.uk/

[Emergency Lighting in Low Rise Communal Areas?]

Certainly a legal requirement check out article 14 (h) of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

[Duplicate fire exit closed with chains]

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is all about risk assessment and it can be argued that providing the available door capacity is capable of ensuring the safe evacuation of all the occupants required to use it then the other could be secured. However I cannot see any reason for securing one door and leaving the other available it would have to be a very strong argument to convince me.

[Minimum width of fire escape route door?]

I cannot find in Approved Document B Fire Safety Vol 1 any reference to width of escape routes but in Vol 2 it states for up to 60 persons the minimum width of escape route is 750mm. Check out http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/approveddocuments/partb/bcapproveddocumentsb/ for more information.

[Keeping old door as fire door?]

Check out http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-doors/ there is a section on upgrading fire doors but it all depends if the building control officer will accept them.

[Fire resistance of plywood]

I doubt it has ever been tested but It will not give you a half hour fire resisting standard. However 12mm plasterboard will.

[Softwood frame for fire door????]

Fire doors should be installed as fire door sets which means the door and frame which are tested as a unit. A fire door blank fitted in a standard frame will not give a guaranteed standard and would be considered a nominal fire door which may not be accepted by the enforcers. (Fire and Rescue Service)

[Can I paint fire doors?]

Fire door leaves are generally not required to provide a specific surface spread-of-flame barrier, and may therefore be decorated as desired.

There is no evidence to suggest that over painting of intumescent seals has any detrimental effect on the ability of the seals to perform efficiently. There are some benefits in over painting the seals as they are less likely to absorb atmospheric moisture. However, there are limits on how much paint can be applied without there being a risk of the seal being rendered inoperative. It is recommended that over painting be limited to a maximum of five coats of conventional oil-bound paint or varnish. When preparing a frame for redecorating, the use of heat or chemical strippers should be avoided if intumescent seals are incorporated. If seals are damaged by either of these processes, they should be replaced. If glazing beads have been painted with intumescent paint, it is essential that they be repainted with a similar paint.

[Fire Risk Assessments Software]

I am not aware of any software to record a Fire Risk Assessment most risk assessors use a template. An example can be found on http://www.firesafe....isk-assessment/ ( Download FRA Template ) and then modify it to your liking which you may find useful. If you search the web with " Fire Risk Assessment template " you will find other examples for a comparison.

[Emergency Lighting in Low Rise Communal Areas?]

It all depends on the risk assessment some buildings may require emergency lighting others not. When a fire risk assessment is conducted in the common areas of blocks of flats the need for emergency lighting will be identified in the documentation, assuming you are not conducting the FRA yourself. Check out the DCLG Sleeping Accommodation guide, Section 5 for more information. A link to the guide can be found in http://www.firesafe.org.uk/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005/ plus other relevant information.

[Glazed fire door - Can we avoid upgrading by evacuating quicker?]

Short of us replacing the door, would the installation of additional pre-warning systems be sufficient in adhering to regulations?

The thinking behind this is if additional systems were installed triggering alarms sooner in the event of a potential fire, the building will be cleared quicker meaning no potential risk to those attempting to escape past the entrance.

In principle The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is all about fire risk assessment and the above is just that. However the DCLG guidance on offices and shops ( download from this link http://www.firesafe....ety-order-2005/ ) provides the benchmark and requires all escape staircases to be full protected. If you could provide a safe alternative to this then it may be acceptable.

Principles are one thing consider the practical issues,

1. How would you achieve this pre-alarm and give sufficient time for the building to be evacuated before the fire affected the staircase.

2. You must consider how long it would take to evacuate the building.

3. Have you considered the radiation risk from this door to people attempting to pass this door.

4. The costs between a new FDs 30 door and the additional systems you propose.

Personally I think a new FDs 30 would be the best option.

[Shop without rear exit]

You don't necessarily need a rear exit it all depends on the layout of the shop and the travel distances. Go to http://www.firesafe.org.uk/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005/ and download the guidance document on offices and shops the information you need will be found there.

[Width of communal hallways]

What happens if the bike is knock over in the panic to escape what happens to width of the corridor? If this happened it would cause a serious obstruction and any calculations would be irrelevant.

[Inspection of metal fire escapes]

Try http://fire.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5062.0 it may be of some use.

[Maintenance of fire escape ladders]

Try http://fire.org.uk/f...hp?topic=5062.0 it may help.

[Fire exit blocked by smokers]

The smokers are not inanimate objects, if there was a fire and people were trying to escape then I am sure they would simple walk away so I don't see a problem.

[House without fire escape!]

True it applies to new or altered buildings but yours must have been new at some time. If it was before Building Regs the local bye-laws applied before that builder must have had a free reign. However if you apply modern recommendations this most probably the best guidance.

[Mixing Security alarm and smoke alarms?]

Study BS 5839-6:2004 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in dwellings you should find all your answers there.

First establish which grade requires installing, if it is a grade C for example, then fire rated wiring is not required, as for sounders when the fire alarm operates the fire alarm warning should be clearly distinguishable from the sound produced by any other alarm system in the dwelling (e.g. an intruder alarm system or a carbon monoxide warning system).

So it is a case of following the recommendations of the British Standard and designing the system accordingly.

Go to http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-alarms/ for a link to the standard.

[House without fire escape!]

It all depends on the height and layout of you premises you would need to provide much more information to be able to give a considered response.

You can checkout http://www.planningp...ocbvol1/volume1 and download the Approved document B Fire Safety Volume 1 the answer can be found under means of escape.

[Statutory requirements for testing emergency lighting]

Article 17 of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 maintenance.

Maintenance

17. (1) Where necessary in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons the responsible person must ensure that the premises and any facilities, equipment and devices provided in respect of the premises under this Order or, subject to paragraph (6), under any other enactment, including any enactment repealed or revoked by this Order, are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

Checkout http://www.firesafe....ety-order-2005/ for mor information.

[Can I make a bespoke fire door]

First of all there is no such a thing as a FD20 fire door the lowest standard is FD30 fire door. I accept people still use the term but it was altered years ago.

There are two types of fire door a certified and a nominal fire door. A certified door set has documentation to prove the specification has been subjected to BS 476 part 22 and/or part 31.1 and the paperwork is a form of guarantee. A nominal fire door is one were an assessor is thinks the construction of the door should prevent the passage of fire for the stated period. You cannot have a certified fire door it must be a fire door set ( door and frame) therefore anything else is a nominal fire door.

It all depends on your customer and/or the enforcing authority to accept your assessment.

A solid door 44mm thick should provide the necessary fire resistance the weak points are the gaps, therefore the installation is very important. The gaps between the door and frame should not exceed 3mm and because a door is subject to warping in a fire the need for intumescent strips on each jamb and the top of the door or frame is essential. The door furniture is also very important especially the hinges usually three steel hinges are required and if the intumescent strips are rebated in to the door intumescent material must be fitted under the hinges. All fire doors should be fitted with self closers and if the door is required to control cold smoke you must fit cold smoke seals.

The testing of fire doors is not economical for a small run of doors and if you require a certified fire door set you should buy in. However your suggestion to veneer a fire rated door would most probably be acceptable because once the veneer has burned away you will still be left with the fire door. simples!

If you require a more in depth information check out Architectural and Specialists Door Manufacturers Association and download the Best Practice Guide to Timber Fire Doors. You can also try http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-doors/

[distance between door frame and wall]

If you require a more in depth information check out Architectural and Specialists Door Manufacturers Association and download the Best Practice Guide to Timber Fire Doors and there is one on installation. Also "BS 8214:2008 Code of practice for fire door assemblies" is relevant. Try http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-doors/

[Multi-Sensor alarms]

In a kitchen there is likely to be steam or smoke from burnt toast which would most likely operate the optical sensor therefore I would stick to heat only.

From the installation guidance accompanying the Ei2100 series,

"The ideal system would consist of Multi-Sensor Fire Alarms installed throughout the dwelling apart from the kitchen which should have a Heat Alarm installed (Note: alarms should not be installed in toilets/bathrooms)."

[is a slam lock latch ok on fire exit?]

Will a panic bar be compatible with a controlled entry system? Another thing I should have mentioned was if the mains electric should fail will it still be possible to exit though the controlled entry system door from the escape side?