Crusher

I understand your point, but it if the premises is largely compliant in terms of life safety anything you recommend would have to be backed up by a strong argument. Especially if there is a significant cost attached. If you consider large insulated sandwich panel buildings, they are not designed for firefighter safety, at all!

Combustible storage in escape stairs is to be avoided. Even for accommodation stairs it is best to keep it to the absolute minimum, and limit ignition sources. If the stairwell is the only area for receiving goods in, then it has to be managed carefully, and firmly! Storage of sack barrows and other predominantly non-combustible equipment can be tolerated if there is sufficient space to keep it well out of the pedestrian route.

This is the age old 'security v safety' dilemma. I agree that the gate should be secured in some way; however it is also important to guard against unauthorised entry. My own recommendation is that a good quality combination lock is fitted, to which all staff have the code. Also, I suggest that the numbers are all the same i.e. 9999, or similar. Resorting to a key is not robust enough, as the key may be in the building whilst everyone is out in the garden.

Whilst AR-AFFF is effective in extinguishing ethanol fires, it has been tested with the ethanol in a bund/pool/tray, only then will it be able to form an effective blanket over the liquid. Otherwise the liquid runs out from under the foam. Dry powder is the extinguisher of choice for running liquid fires. That's what you'll find them at petrol stations, next to the sand.

If the outlet is in the same corridor as the flat entrance doors, is it possible that each flat has a lobby beyond the front door? It would be worth asking the local FRS for their comment. Current practice in many services is to connect to the outlet one floor below the fire floor. This is a departure from the reason for locating it in a lobby in the first place; therefore, makes the location of the outlet in the corridor a moot point. The FRS logic is also a sound reason for outlets located in stairwells, as there is one less door to hold open. Hope that helps.

It's all too common for this to be the case. However it is not the preferred signage for a door which is there for everyone's safety. If there is an overriding and critical operational need to restrict access to customers then you should investigate some form of access control that fails safe when the fire alarm activates and is backed up by a manual override. Subliminal messages from Staff Only signage should not be underestimated. It's difficult enough to get people to use the nearest available exit as opposed to the one they came in.

A Colin S. Todd, A Comprehensive Guide to Fire Safety. BSI Of course the book cannot be used isolation. The process of fire risk assessment can be broad and complex, however it is a very good starting and reference point. Good luck

This subject is very topical in my workplace. Essentially if you afford someone access to your premises, you have a duty to consider their egress. In my opinion, the assessor is being too specific and is verging onto territory that is the preserve of the building managers. However, if there are people above the ground floor that have impaired mobility, and you have facilitated their access, you should also take reasonable measures to ensure that they are safe in the event of a fire or other emergency that would require a full evacuation. Just my observations, but I hope you reach a successful conclusion.

This topic interests me. In my experience the best locking mechanism for riser boxes is the budget lock. From a fire service perspective (and in the absence of a 'master key') the budget lock allows any fire station to respond to any premises and access the firefighting riser. It is not particularly resilient to supply the nearest two stations with keys. They may all be out at incidents. Despite not being with the fire service any longer, it still irks me that riser boxes are supplied with Yale type keys on nearly every occasion. Is the Q key system adopted by the riser box manufacturers and installers? It could be that I am missing a trick and that all riser boxes are 'keyed alike'. I'd be grateful to hear if anyone has further information on the matter. Thank you