Sue W

Thank you Tom for your response. I will read the document and check the size of the windows. Am I right in assuming that the entrance door to the flat itself (at the top of the internal staircase)) needs to be a FD30 fire door? I have asked the letting agency if we can see a copy of the current Fire Risk Assessment for the building. They have advised that one is not required for the flat (not a direct answer to my question, as I referred to the building) and that there are sufficient smoke alarms etc. I have read a lot about 'Fire Separation' of the floors between commercial use properties and above dwellings, but I'm unsure if this only applies to newly built properties and not existing ones. Could you advise me at all on that matter please? I very much appreciate any advice.

Hi, My daughter and her partner are about to rent a flat above a cafe. The only entrance/exit is via a staircase that runs along side the cafe kitchen but is divided by a full brick wall and a doorway at the bottom of the stairs which leads into the cafe kitchen, and a separate doorway that leads to an outside area. There is a door at the top of the stairway which is the entrance to the flat - I have yet to ascertain if this is a fire door. There are plenty of smoke detectors and a CO2 detector present in the flat. My concern is that, there is no apparent escape route in case of a fire below in the cafe. There are windows that open wide enough for a person to climb through but they do not lead on to anywhere that provides a standing surface. There is no rope ladder provided. Should there be an escape route provided, by means of a rope ladder?