Tom Sutton

The fire and rescue service (FRS) will deal with the chairman but you are all RP,s and responsible for the implementation of the The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 . Assuming the FRA has been conducted by an outside person, it is a guidance document and which items should be implemented is a decision for the committee, but could be overruled by the FRS if an audit is carried out by them, also any additional items that has been missed could be included.

No prob.

Are you simple confirming what has been suggested?

Q. How wide does that passage have to be? A. This will depend on the number of persons likely to use it. Q. Are there any requirements for the flooring... can it be gravelled or does it have to be concreted/paved? A. No, as long it is safe to use. Q. Are there any requirements for the exit gate into the park? Width? Can it be a wooden gate? A. It could be a wooden gate providing it is easily opened without the need of a key and again the width will depend on the numbers likely to use it. Q. Does there have to be any specific handle/opening mechanism? A. No, providing it is easily opened without the need of a key. Will this pasageway be on your land and under your control.

You are all Responsible Persons and are required to jointly to implement The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which includes conducting a FRA. You do not have to nominate RP the FSO does this (art 3) and there is more to the order than just conducting a FRA. The owner of the basement flat does have a legal responsibility but calculating the costs of implementing the FSO would be up to the management company.

A fire exit could be use for any purposes as long it is available in the event of a fire, if required to escape. This is not a fire safety matter it is a legal matter and it would depend on your terms and condition of you tenancy agreement so I would suggest you seek tthe advice of a lawyer.

Thank you kidde support team for such authoritive support.

I agree with you there should be smoke and heat fire dampers fitted because whats the point of fitting fire doors if you are accepting two 600mm2 holes in the roof of the container assisted by fans.

All doors except external doors in a single occupancy domestic home should be FD20 doors and as you have FD30 doors you meet the requirement. Fire doors do not require self closers except any doors between the house and an integral garage. So you do not need to fit, hold open devices but if you do wish to fit them, then this is the wrong forum for you, check out fire alarm engineers forum http://firealarmengineers.com/forum/. Check out Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: dwellinghouses.

You can fit FR purpose build doors or shutters just surf for "fire resistantant serving hatch doors" and I am sure you will find what you need. Its a normal situation they are used generally in commercial premises.

Sounds like they are "maintained" emergency lights, maintained emergency lights are lit all the time because certain situations require it or it could be a fault, it may be worth getting a specialist to check it out.

It was common to use them on class A in this country, a few years ago but new type extinguisers have changed views generaly and now usually confined to flammable liquids.

I am not sure as b only referring to boundaries not fire spread, lets hope the revision is more clear.

I cannot be definitive without surveying the situation, but appears the corridor you speak of, is a means of escape route of comparative safety, that eventually will lead to ultimate safety and consequently will be a very low fire risk. Assuming this is correct and the travel distance is within the required limits, then it should be satisfactory.

As you are the Responsible Person for the whole of the building the FRA would have to cover the whole of the building, because fire safety that affects the lower floors will also affect the upper floors. However the fire risk assessor would only have to review the lower floor accomodation, if it has been done recently, and a full FRA on the upper floor accommodation.

Do you employ a management company?

Check it out with the fire alarm engineers forum at http://fir.ealarmengineers.com/forum/

I am afraid the world is not very fair and if you break the ban you could find yourself in court. Halon Fire Extinguishers The ban on Halon fire extinguishers was implemented following the Montreal Protocol of 1987 and subsequent extension at Kyoto a decade later. The details are in EC Regulation 3093/94 and EC 2037/2000 and the UK Hazardous Waste regulations 2005 Exceptions to the Rule The EU ban on the use of Halon in fire extinguishers actually came into force in October 2000 and was implemented in the UK in 2003, as a result of scientific research linking Halon and other CFC’s to Ozone depletion. The ban in practice is not total. Existing owners and users of Halon 1211 portable fire extinguishers may be able to claim exemption to the EU ban for certain “Critical Uses”. Broadly speaking, this includes limited applications within the aircraft industry, military / armed forces, petrochemical industry and some specific marine applications. Refilling of existing Halon systems covered by these exemptions should also be from recycled Halon stocks. Halon 1301 is the version preferred in fixed fire suppression systems and its current use is also tightly controlled, although it is installed in the Channel Tunnel. The exemption can also extend to applications that can be justified on the basis of National security. Safe Disposal Not only is it illegal to own a Halon fire extinguisher not covered by these exemptions, it is also illegal to simply dump them or discharge the contents. Fire and Safety Centre can arrange collection and safe disposal (please note this is a chargeable service and is priced per kg) or you can contact your Local Council Waste Management department for advice. Identification Older Halon extinguishers are normally colour coded British Racing Green so is easy to spot, but variants on this colour are out there. The military use dark bottle green as you might expect and yellow and gold also turn up. They are now also supplied red with a green colour flash. You are most likely to come across a Green Halon fire extinguisher in an Aircraft where they are still permitted in the absence of an approved replacement. Alternatives Because of the strict regulations governing the storage and use of Halon it is not possible for Fire and Safety Centre to stock or sell this type of fire extinguisher. We offer two alternatives. For general portable use CO2 extinguishers provide the same protection for sensitive electronics and valuables. In fixed applications, for example, in boats, switch rooms, plant and machinery we offer FE-36 automatic fire extinguishers which is a more environmentally safe, non-corrosive and nonconductive gas based system.

Are the flats, self contained?

The area that will be the dwelling needs to be separated from the garage area by a full 30 minutes separation and without knowing exactly how you intend to carry out your proposals I cannot give you a definitive response.

As far as I am aware there is no legislation requiring rim locks be fitted to front doors, but there is guidance that requires doors, needed for means of escape, should be easily opened without the need of a key. What surprises me is that you didn't require the joiner to fit a rim and dead lock which seems a normal arrangement for front doors.

Thanks Andy? :)

I would think it depends on the carpet used, if it has passed the hot nut test, then not that critical but fitting FR threshold is a much better solution.

Any glazing in a fire door has to meet the same standard as the fire door.

The Regulations make a distinction between the permanent cover on a piece of furniture and a loose or stretch cover. The permanent cover can be defined as the cover fitted to the furniture when it is supplied to the customer even if it is removable for cleaning or changing. Similarly, replacement covers which are supplied by the manufacturer of the furniture at a later date should be regarded as permanent covers. The key point is that the removable cover forms only the wear/decorative cover used on the furniture and is designed by the producer/supplier of the furniture to be specific to that piece of furniture. Removable covers which are supplied with the furniture or at a later date by the producer/supplier as a replacement are regarded as permanent and must comply with Schedules 4 and 5 of the Regulations. Loose or stretch covers, on the other hand, are removable covers which are supplied by a producer other than the manufacturer of the furniture. These are designed to be placed on top of an existing finished piece of furniture which is already fitted with a permanent cover. This distinction is made because only the manufacturer of the furniture concerned will have detailed knowledge of how it complies with the Regulations. Loose covers for upholstered furniture must comply with Schedule 5, Part 1 of the Regulations and stretch covers must comply with Schedule 5, Part 2 of the Regulations as these are sold separately from the furniture. They also need to have a permanent label attached to them and this label may appear on the underside of the fabric. There are no display label requirements for loose and stretch covers. Check out http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1988/1324/schedule/5/made and Fire safety of furniture and furnishings in the home - A Guide to the UK Regulations guide 2.