Rob64

Can anyone offer advice regarding appropriate travel distances in a basement corridor? This is a sheltered housing block to which the specialised housing guide applies. The basement has a 77 metre long L shaped corridor, off of which are storage and plant rooms. It is locked and accessible only by the manager and contractors. Normal entrance is from one of two staircases serving the building. At the far end of the service corridor is an escape hatch leading to a well with a Jacobs ladder to street level, which I believe is no longer suitable as a final exit. There is currently no cross corridor separation but AFD is present and there is no sleeping risk. If the escape hatch is discounted, this reduces directions of travel from two to one, with a full 77m travel distance. The only ventilation in the basement seems to be some air bricks. I’m struggling to find guidance as to separation in these circumstances. Applying the same distances as the accomodation corridors seems inappropriate as these are intended to protect elderly residents.

In a circa 1987 five story block of older persons sheltered flats there are AOVs at the end of the corridors with OVs directly below them. As I understand it, current principle is the AOVs should only open on a fire floor to prevent ingress of smoke ventilated from a lower floor into a higher floor. Where there are OVs directly below the AOVs that are used for day-to-day ventilation and generally left open, this seems somewhat pointless. In these circumstances should the aspiration be for the OVs to be sealed / replaced by AOVs or is it the case that as the building was approved at the time of its construction it remains acceptable?

Many thanks Anthony. I’ll check it out.

Can anyone signpost me to the relevant guidance / regulations on inspection and / or drop testing of fusible fire dampers on bin chutes. I understand it is somewhere within BS:9999 (2017) but I’ve trawled through it without success. Thanks

Many thanks, Tom.

Can anyone please advise whether inward opening windows are permissible on a single protected staircase in a purpose-built block of flats and, if not, where in ADB and / or elsewhere this is referenced? Many thanks

I’m trying to find guidance on the fire and smoke rating of passenger lifts in small blocks of flats (up to four storeys). What is required on passenger lift doors to prevent spread of fire and smoke between floors should a fire occur in a lift shaft or car?