Tom Sutton

Daveol the only regulations in my understanding, The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 article 18 requires the Responsible Person (RP) toe use competent persons to assist him/her to carry out their responsibilities. An explanation of a competent person states he/she must have appropriate training but doesn't detail that training so it is up to the RP to decide what that training is, and in the last resort the courts will decide, to date I am not aware of any such decisions. I do accept the guidance, standards and best practice has changed over the years but in this day of risk assessment, it is only recommendations. So training by other organizations is equally acceptable as that provided by the BRE. With regards to the hinge pads/locks as the intumescent strip is designed to fill the gap between the door leaf and the frame to prevent the fire from breaking through at that point. However, as the strip stops at the hinges/locks, I thought the pads where to fill the gap at that point.

I would think it is unlikely, although propane contains carbon it needs to combine with a poor supply of oxygen and a means of creating a chemical reaction, like heat. Without heat, the propane will remain CH3 CH2 CH3 which should not activate the CO sensor. Treat this explanation with caution I am not a chemist.

To work on a fire door you need to know what is possible and what is not, consequently if you should have the training, also you will have documentation that proves you are qualified. It is unlikely letter plates will be fitted in the factory and it is more likely to be fitted by a qualified joiner. Check out and contact hem to find the details, https://www.nptcgroup.ac.uk/courses/installation-fire-resisting-timber-doors/ www.firedoorscomplete.com https://www.nocn.org.uk/what-we-do/qualifications/unit/m-616-5829-installing-fire-resisting-timber-door-assemblies-and-doorsets-in-the-workplace/ https://www.nocn.org.uk/what-we-do/qualifications/unit/m-616-5829-installing-fire-resisting-timber-door-assemblies-and-doorsets-in-the-workplace/

If the hotel was upgraded before BS 476 – 22: 1987 then any fire doors would have met the previous standard which had 25mm rebates no seals or strips. This has been a subject of an appeal regarding bedroom doors and it was agreed that providing the doors are substantial, well-fitting then seals and strips do not need to be fitted until the door needs replacing, then the new fire door will meet the latest standard. This is also detailed in the guidance Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats. I would think as this applies to bedroom doors then it would apply to all fire doors in the premises.

Is the PVC curtain a flat sheet of PVC fixed to the door or is it fixed to the wall covering the fire door or is it a Venetian type curtain?

I know nothing about why premises are unmortgageable that is for the property lawyers and mortgage companies. What I can say is if you intend to take the freehold as owner/freeholder of a property with a common area, you will be designated the Responsible Person (article 3) under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which makes you subject to the Order and will be required to conduct a fire risk assessment, the guidance for the premises, assuming it is a converted house, is HOUSING – FIRE SAFETY Guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing. Again it will be your responsibility to ensure any necessary works are carried out, how to recoup the costs is a matter for property lawyers.

As I understand the installer of any passive fire compartmentation has to prove to the building control officer, his work meets the required standards which may include documentation. On completion of the contract, the BCO has to provide a completion certificate which says, the building is compliant with the building regulations, there should also be a fire safety strategy plan which should be provided as well.

HI, Mike, I cannot visit any of the premises in the submissions, I base my submission on what they tell me and quite often explain I cannot give a definitive answer because I have not surveyed the premises. I never mentioned the overcrowded staircase. I would also disagree with "internal protected corridors within the flats which are supposed to form part of the minimum sixty minutes," as the flat themselves, do not enter the equation considering they are exempt from the RR(FS)O, the sixty minutes only involves the four external walls of the flat, floor, and ceiling. The front door has to meet FD30s standard and the fire would have to breach the door then breach the front door of the adjoining flat thereby achieving the 60 minutes.

Having a label doesn't make a sofa fire safe but it is proof that the sofa conforms to the Furniture-and-furnishings-fire-safety-regulations-19881989-and-1993/ and should be fire safe, also you have proof. The problem is if things go pear-shaped and you are brought to task then you do not have any proof and a delivery receipt would not convince anybody, all it would do is involve the retailer as well.

If the petrol filling station was small why would they need a fire alarm, a verbally warning most probably would be sufficient, I suspect your corner shop doesn't have a fire alarm. A rule of thumb would be no fire alarm give a verbal warning, manual fire alarm and then electric fire alarm, depending on how complicated the building is.

What do you man additional hardwood lippings?

If the doors are locked in the open position the type of door handle is irrelevant but I cannot see the doors wide open in the depths of winter so I would suggest you keep the panic bars as it is a place of assembly.

I would think so, very neighbourly of you.

What I did not ask was, is the room a high fire risk or is there an explosion risk, this would change the situation.

If they conform to BS EN 1125: 2008 and if they are the lever type they most probably do.

A repeater panel only has one wire from the main panel to the repeater, this is why they are recommended.

It would appear to be acceptable, but to be certain you would need to study the full layout of the floor. Thumb turns are accectable but you should use the lever type used on modern rim locks.

If you say locking a room that does not form part of the means of escape then I would think it is quite acceptable.

I would suspect this is the person lowering the ceiling and insulating it thermally/sound, it doesn't appear to have anything to do with fire safety, quite the opposite I would think.

I think it may work, if not bring in a professional.

If you remove the smoke detector from the ceiling and press the hush button that will fully discharge the battery.

It may look like you are getting contradictory advice but it is how the RR(FS)O is interpreted. The order says, where necessary in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, the responsible person must ensure that routes to emergency exits from premises and the exits themselves are kept clear at all times and the following requirement must be complied with in respect of premises where necessary. Emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in the case of failure of their normal lighting. It is unlikely that a bedroom could be classed as an escape route but that would be up to the person conducting the FRA. I would suggest you check out article 14 to fully understand the situation.

Surface spread of flame (BS476: Parts 6 & 7) because when it is in a fire door the letter plate could breach the fire resistance of the fire door but when it is in the escape route the principle concern is the surface spread of flame.

I can understand your frustration but the way I interpret the order, there is no requirement in to make the RP share the FRA with other persons other than the enforcers and they have to co-operate with the other responsible person concerned so far as is necessary to enable them to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed on them by or under this Order.

You must not have to travel more than 45 meters to a call point when escaping, in an occupied premises, measuring around furniture and stuff ( a defined route) or 30 meters if you are working from plans using straight lines (an undefined route), this can be reduced to 25 or 16 meters in high-risk areas or disable persons need essential access to the call point. All final exits should have a call box adjacent to the door and additional call points will be required depending on how far you have to travel to escape, from the furthest point to that call box.