Mike North

You may get certification to say that the building was built to building regulations, however a building that was built in the 1980s it does not mean it comply with the current building regulations. Any alterations or maintenance to building would make the original certification null and void as what was signed off is not what was is there now. You need to look at the regulation 38 information, which should be an up-to-date record of all the fire safety information for the building Including fire doors along with the latest FRA and any recent fire surveys to get an holistic view.

The correct US advice (which does not differ from the UK) Following a building fire in the US, if asbestos is suspected, prioritize safety by restricting access to the affected area, informing occupants, and contacting a licensed asbestos surveyor. Avoid disturbing suspected materials and ensure professional asbestos abatement if asbestos is confirmed.

If you have concerns than you need the advice of an asbestos survey company. Your insurance company should be dealing with it. How quickly should an asbestos inspection be carried out? Before re-entry Is it safe to enter the property before testing? If you suspect, then NO, it may be illegal under the HSW act What precautions should be taken during cleanup? Removal should only be done by an approved asbestos removal company

look at the installation instructions for the door, some can some can't

Building regulations can only be applied to new buildings or material alterations whilst they are being built, can you imagine the cost of bringing Windsor castle up to date? You won’t get certification to say it meets the regulations. Once a building is built and handed over, building regulations are out of the window except for material alterations. The fire safety order then comes onto force which (amongst other things) requires the responsible person (or their agent) to conduct a fire risk assessment on the building and address the findings. It is not a money-making scheme, If the glazing says it is fire rated, then unless the assessor can prove it isn’t then it’s acceptable

To certify a repair to a fire door you must know what the original certification was and what is allowed to be done to the door under the certificate if approval. I also don’t think that this would be covered under an Approved Repair Technique

Possible solution is a free swing closure such as Briton 996 Hold Open Free-Swing Door Closer

I assume that the removed closers where Percos? Why did you not just cut the chains, problem solved. I don’t think you could certify a repair

British standards are not a legal requirement, however, the man with the curly wig may have some serious concerns if you do not follow them. If a building is unoccupied for any length of time, there is nothing wrong with reducing all the building inspection regime (along with the Alarm testing) as long as prior to the reoccupation all testing is completed, this reduced maintenance should be written in the maintenance instructions for the building. Don't forget that if the building is unoccupied the maintenance may reduce but the chances of arson may increase.

What is the difference in measurements? If its only small (1 to 2 mm) its probably 1. Operator eyesight 2. Different operator 3. Different expansion rates (walls, doors, wood) 4. Movement of the building

I think that this is a bit of a grey area, is it some doors that need replacing like for like through wear and tear? Then probably not If you are changing the fire strategy, then definitely yes. Anything between the two, could go either way

Looks like an overzealous manager A guide to making your small block of flats safe from fire (accessible) - GOV.UK 4 Fire Hazards Housekeeping Good housekeeping is fundamental to reducing the risk from fire in the common parts. The common parts should be kept clear of any combustible materials or storage. There should be a zero-tolerance approach, in which residents are not permitted to use the common parts to store any belongings or dispose of rubbish. However, in well-managed, secure blocks, it is often acceptable to permit items of lower risk in the common parts, such as doormats, pot plants and pictures on walls.

PP2055_Maintenance-Brochure_Issue-9_1_.pdf Apollo recommend that although the detector will work after 10 years, there will be an increase in the unwanted alarms. Smoke alarms expire because their internal sensors degrade over time, making them less effective at detecting smoke and potentially leading to false alarms or failure to activate in a fire. This degradation happens even if the alarm is still beeping when tested. Most smoke alarms have a lifespan of 10 years, and should be replaced by the "replace by" date marked on the device.

Smoke detectors degrade with age, the NFCC recommends 10 years NFCC reminds people to replace smoke alarms every 10 years - NFCC As for the removal of an extinguisher, with out the building size and complexity I wouldn't like to comment, but there should be a minimum of 2 per floor

You say that the management company upgraded the existing cabinet in 2017, the regulations have not changed that much that would make something that was compliant then not now, something to discuss with the management company. As Anthony states, its probably more cost effective to upgrade the distribution boards to the latest regulations (which will be fire rated) that upgrade the enclosure