AnthonyB

Possibly. Depending on the conversion work & materials used you may have 30 mins FR already.

I'd need to see it as part of an FRA to be sure, but the current edition of the official guidance would allow, as a legacy building, OV. However they would need to be readily openable so some alterations would be necessary as you suggest

No, individual bedrooms don't automatically require emergency lighting under standards or guidance, it's bending the terminology in BS5266 to sell more lighting & installation.

Fortunately we still have some UK manufacturers of EL - try these who may have some insight as they've been around over 50 years - https://blelighting.co.uk/

Whilst recent changes in legislation have been more prescriptive in maintenance intervals there has always been a requirement for planned maintenance of fire doors under Article 17 of the Fire Safety Order and this has been re-emphasised in the latest guidance due to confusion that it was new or only applied to certain heights of building.

This would be subject to Building Regulations so this would be your reference: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/639ae7e98fa8f5069839c7d7/Approved_Document_B__fire_safety__volume_1_-_Dwellings__2019_edition_incorporating_2020_and_2022_amendments.pdf

It's not anywhere near as simple as that. A pre-1991 conversion would need extensive structural work to upgrade the fire resistance of all the ceilings and both the walls between flats and the walls between flats and common parts (including providing walls in any roof void) to give 60 minutes fire resistance. It would also need some form of smoke control system. Only then would it be suitable for 'stay put' and not need a site wide common alarm. Pulling down ceilings/pulling up floors, stripping back walls, etc to make good the construction is quite impractical before even trying to retrofit smoke control so the usual approach is for a full evacuation policy which requires the fire alarm system as described in the FRA. As a leaseholder you would be liable for a proportion of the costs as would the other leaseholders who let out rather than occupy.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 - 8 Duty to take general fire precautions. The fire stopping forms part of the general fire precautions to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of any of his employees; and in relation to relevant persons who are not his employees, take such general fire precautions as may reasonably be required in the circumstances of the case to ensure that the premises are safe - by stopping the spread of fire/smoke though the building affecting escape.

From the applicable Government guidance (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64257cff2fa8480013ec0fec/A_guide_to_making_your_small_paying-guest-accommodation_safe_from_fire.pdf) "In the event of a fire, evacuating the premises is the safest thing to do and guests should not be expected to use firefighting equipment. If you have staff on the premises, or if they regularly visit the premises, firefighting equipment should be provided, and staff should be trained on how to use the equipment. You will need to make sure that the instructions on how to use any firefighting equipment are clear, that there is a warning that evacuation is preferable, and that staff should not put themselves at risk or tackle anything other than a very small fire. In self-catering accommodation, although guests are not expected to use fire-fighting equipment, you may wish to provide a small multi-purpose fire extinguisher and/or fire blanket in the kitchen area. You can buy suitable multi-purpose extinguishers, guaranteed for five years, from a range of larger DIY outlets. You should check the gauge regularly to make sure the ‘stored pressure’ has not leaked. Low maintenance 10-year extinguishers are also available. Multi-purpose powder fire extinguishers should not be provided, as they are not suitable for use in enclosed spaces." 5 year multi purpose extinguisher https://www.safelincs.co.uk/1-litre-water-mist-fire-extinguisher-ultrafire/ Low maintenance multi purpose extinguisher https://www.safelincs.co.uk/britannia-p50-2ltr-water-mist/

There is nothing to assess other than the external wall which would inevitably be low risk due to the small height of the property, it would be pointless to have an FRA as 99% of it would just say 'n/a' Some of the government guidance has said small sites like this are not intended to be subject to the full legal regime that would if there were areas in common.

As the properties involved are both single private dwellings the fire service have no jurisdiction as the relevant fire safety legislation does not apply. I assume you have a normal front entrance? Most houses only need a single final exit door so the rear route may not be a formal escape under Building Regulations. Do you have a covenant, deed or other formal written legal right of access over the adjoining houses' land? This may be a civil matter and you should ask a relevant solicitor.

If the tenant and managers aren't doing anything, you should inform the business fire safety department of your fire & rescue service. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Emergency routes and exits 14.—(1) 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.

The self closing devices are fully adjustable so should be able to close more softly, especially as, unlike flat front doors, they don't have a lock latch to overcome. Doors and closers don't need replacing just because the strips are painted over, just the strips do (and if they are not fitted with smoke brushes or fins can be painted anyway) If they are taking a very long time to repair them and you have concerns your fire service's fire safety enforcement team may be able to help.

How old is the school? Schools Fire Design Guidance (originally BB7 for decades, currently BB100) is quite clear. A lab did not need to have fire doors in older versions of BB7, only the (higher risk) technicians room. If however the lab was on an initial dead end corridor or onto a stair or stair lobby then it did need a fire door, just as any room other than a toilet did. BB100 & the latter versions of older guidance requires them to be fire doors. I've done a fair amount of school fire work including advising on compartment boundaries - the requirements on doors and walls are quite relaxed for schools.

You might as well leave it rather than damage the door, it's likely to be notional only which is either acceptable if a low rise block or needs complete replacement anyway if in a high rise.

It's not as clear cut in Scotland as their equivalent of the Fire Safety Order excludes common areas of flats (other than maintaining fire service facilities like dry risers) and a fire risk assessment is not a legal requirement. Only Housing & Tenement legislation for which rather vague requirements apply if not a licensed HMO.

If the fire compartmentation between the butchers and your flat is not good enough (usually needs to be a 60 minute fire resistant floor/ceiling) then a fire in the shop could quickly breach into your flat, potentially with fatal results (especially at night). Where this is the case (often due to the age of a property) it's usual to have fire detection in the shop linked to the flats above. They may have incorrect detectors - they should have heat detectors where the ovens are so they won't false alarm but would still activate before even a non fire resistant ceiling failed.

The Article 50 Guidance sums up the scope of the law as follows (my highlighting): "The Guide is intended to support the application of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (as amended) and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 to the common parts of small blocks of flats (limited to 3 storeys) as well as the building’s structure, external walls and the doors between the flats and common parts. This includes premises with more than one storey, which has its own private exit, and within which there are no internal spaces used by more than one household, such as common hallways, landings and stairwells (“maisonettes”). "

But not all supported housing is a single dwelling - I have been to several that are: - Purpose Built Flats - HMO's - Sheltered Housing

It's very wrong if in the UK! You should probably be in touch with your local fire service enforcement team as well as your local council housing enforcement team, it has illegal flat conversion written all over that description - you aren't in a London Borough by any chance?

From the manufacturer: Trimming Allowance To maintain the integrity of this door you may trim up to 3mm off each edge, up to 3mm off the top and up to 3mm off the bottom*. Trimming beyond this amount will invalidate this doors fire certification. Trimming Note In trimming any part of this door you will need to re-seal the exposed edges. In trimming the height the core may become exposed. Please contact a Door Expert about the appropriate finishes available for this door.

No it isn't mandatory in an existing premises. A new system in a care home exceeding 10 beds would require an addressable system, but in existing homes it's up to the risk assessment to determine if the zoning & zone size/complexity is adequate to remain conventional or whether an upgrade to addressable would result in quicker and more accurate search times.

You must carry out a fire risk assessment and keep a written record of it - guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-your-small-non-domestic-premises-safe-from-fire The number of persons can be accommodated by a single exit, but travel distances and layout could affect this. You should not exceed a travel distance of 25m measured from any part of the premises to a final exit door that leads directly to a place of safety, clear of the premises

What is the width of the exit? You should keep that outside it unless you want a pinch point, how many would be using the route worst case?

Employees are involved, I doubt they are on an AST & the accommodation will be in connection with their employment so the FSO could be seen to apply. They are relevant persons who would be affected directly by a fire in the non domestic premises below so the FSO applies to some extent (with respect to the FRA for the unit) Usually where the FSO doesn't apply the Housing Act does. The whole lot sounds like it's worth a multiagency inspection by Council & Fire Service (& others..)