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AnthonyB

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Everything posted by AnthonyB

  1. AnthonyB

    Technology

    Emergency light fittings almost invariably use NiCad batteries anyway, so aren't really a concern, I'd be interested to know whose brand is using Li-ion
  2. Fire safety legislation is functional and does not go into specific prescriptive detail so you won't find anything specific in the legislation on storage in cupboards (although it could be seen to breach functional standards in 4(1)(a) & (c) of the regulations.) A Henry will burn and produce a lot of fire effluent if exposed to sufficient external flame, possibly if your fuseboards are old and in a combustible (plastic) housing, this could be seen as a suitable pilot flame source. Private property or not you are leaseholders, not freeholders, so be aware there may be sufficient lease clauses to empower the freeholder and their agent in their actions, also the Housing Act applies across the whole building and can be resorted to for enforcement if there is a genuine risk. Zero tolerance is preferred for management companies as easy to implement & monitor, so many use this rather than a more sympathetic risk based managed approach (which can be completely fine & compliant). Having said all that the legislation is risk based and so whilst a fuse cupboard should always be empty in an ideal world there are certain combinations of items that could be deemed low risk. You could also argue if the cupboards are now suitably fire proofed and smoke sealed they would contain a fire (if a small cupboard it might even contain it long enough to go out through lack of oxygen)
  3. I'm guessing it's a service visit where a large percentage of the points are tested and the panel log checked to see they've reacted correctly. If so then as part of servicing sounders are supposed to be tested so it's correct. Most building users ask for the sounders to be silenced during servicing though although this does mean sounders end up never tested (partcularly the out of the way ones where no one will be in the weekly test.
  4. If the fire separation between it and the upper floors is OK then it wouldn't - but if (possible as a pre '91 conversion) it isn't then it'll possibly need heat detection off the common system
  5. If potential escape would only be needed through those doors from the hall to the corridor and not vice versa then yes.
  6. HI, 1) No as it is under 60 persons and a shop (technically) not a place of assembly 2) Yes, you could brick the door up all night if you wanted if the premises were closed and empty! 3) 750mm minimum (assuming no wheelchair access)
  7. Try the Housing/Environmental Health under the Housing Act - if they can't help then sadly you are stuck.
  8. Self closers to interior doors used to be a Building Regs requirement, but was relaxed years ago. It would be no issue to remove closers to all other than the door to the garage.
  9. Seating and gangways in a hall or assembly space should be so arranged to allow free and ready access direct to the exits. Audiences seated in rows will first have to make their way to the end of the row before being able to use the escape routes provided. Seating and gangways in an auditorium should therefore be so arranged as to allow free and ready access direct to the exits. Standing and sitting in gangways, or in front of any exit, should not be permitted. This includes adults standing by children. (Dancing in would be considered the same as sitting or standing, i.e. a presence) That's what the Government Guidance says. If you want dancing, have a dance floor!
  10. AnthonyB

    Porta cabin

    Regardless of temporary or permanent as it's not a private dwelling you must comply with the Fire Safety Order which includes appropriate General Fire Precautions - which may not need to be much in your case!
  11. AnthonyB

    Mx

    1. Not necessarily 2. Yes, you should be getting out not messing around with extinguishers that you are untrained in and aren't suited for the risks in your home. (A fire blanket in your kitchen is better as long as it is BS Kitemarked and not the £4 Chinese stuff on eBay/Amazon that are counterfeit & don't work) 3. If not in good order yes. Whilst the guidance allows for smaller old blocks of flats to retain original fire doors that's only on the basis that they were compliant fire doors originally by the standard of the day and that they are in good condition - yours sound not to be. 4. Standards have changed, especially for HA's so higher cover is increasingly required. Also if they are deeming the premises as being full evacuate they would need wider coverage from the common system - you don't make clear if the detectors being fitted are domestic or an extension to the common one. 5. Depends on your lease terms
  12. It doesn't sound like you will be coming under the statutory ADR regime unless you are carrying hazardous goods so you wont be required to carry an extinguisher. You might still consider it wise to have an extinguisher in any case in the cab - usually 2kg is advisable (anything smaller will be of little use) with Powder being most commonly used.
  13. As long as it is a protective shaft it should be fine - i.e. all horizontal penetrations suitably fire stopped. With dry riser shafts I sometimes find that whilst the original landing valves are stopped correctly, where a landing valve has had to be replaced there is a large hole around the new valve.
  14. Not without Building Regulations approval. If you think unauthorised work is going on contact your council Building Control for the Building Regulations contravention & the council Environmental Health/Housing or the Fire Service for the fire safety issues resulting from approval (it might be in either jurisdiction, start with the council)
  15. Several possibilities, you should really get your service engineer out.
  16. If your let is no bigger than a typical family house and does not have a complex layout you may be able to use this alternative guidance which may allow your current layout: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/do-you-have-paying-guests
  17. Check the manufacturer's instructions - you will find most are self testing and do not require servicing as long as they show that they are OK. A log of regular inspections of the status indicators, pad & battery dates and the accessories kit should suffice.
  18. Not unless there's an external escape stair nearby or an external escape pathway that you can only get to safety by passing the door and would be within a metre or two max if it.
  19. If it's in a Care Home detection wouldn't go amiss - after all some are having to even put it in bathrooms (& fire doors) if there's significant ignition risk (electric hoists, height adjustable and therapy baths, etc all surrounded by plastic)
  20. If it doesn't use CLASP and is just used as a school during the day then technically a Category M system suffices. Add extra curricular use, sleeping risk or the fact that it sounds like the school doesn't have it's own site and is in a multi tenant building and you are looking at anything from L3 upwards. The flats are more of a concern as I doubt it's purpose built or compliant modern conversion and without detection there will be a significant risk (especially as residential and non residential uses shouldn't share escape routes unless there are protected lobbies) The residential smoke alarms aren't suitable and are pointless anyway - you'd notice the fire before activation if in the room & if the room is empty they won't sound throughout the building. I'd suspect poor fire doors and compartmentation too. One worthy of an enforcement audit!
  21. Colt do free online CPD seminars on smoke control systems
  22. It's possible, several smoke seals are advertised as combined acoustic, draught & smoke seals - they are only to stop cold smoke prior to the activation of the intumescent seal.
  23. I think that this could be acceptable in your fire risk assessment, there are no locks/keys involved, staff led evacuation, small numbers, etc
  24. No. There are suitable products available for new doorsets: https://www.safelincs.co.uk/astroflame-fire-rated-door-viewer/ https://www.safelincs.co.uk/fire-rated-letter-plate-system-from-doorset-global-solutions/ Often they would be specified with the new door so they can be incorporated in the manufacture and still meet test criteria
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