NickCSL

I'm probably missing something obvious, but I can't find anything in any of those regulations that states the main entrance door (from the street) to a terraced house operating as an HMO needs to be a fire door. Could you (or anybody else) please be so kind as to cite the exact part of the regulation that covers this?

Thank you for providing such a detailed response. You say "If the terraced property is rented out to three or more unrelated people who share facilities, it faces strict fire safety laws. The main entrance door and individual bedroom doors must be fire-rated". Are you able to point me in the direction of the regulations/guidance that says the main entrance door must be fire-rated?

Thanks for the replies. I'm still a bit confused though. So does the communal front door to the building converted into flats need to be a fire door? If so, then this does apply to a lot of terrace houses in the country. Building Regs state that openings within 1.8m of an external escape route should be fire-rated, as do openings within 1m of a boundary. Does this apply here or not (for relevant alterations since the regs came into force - whenever that was)?

Would a fire alarm system in an office block converted into flats and operating an evacuation fire strategy (linked to heat detectors within flats) need to be Part 1 or Part 6? There are no commercial units. The Safelincs summary of Part 6 says the communal parts of blocks of flats are outside the scope of Part 6, which suggests the system would need to be Part 1. Or should converted offices (and other commercial units) be treated in the same was as converted houses (which are within the scope of Part 6). Guidance I've found on this seems to be quite vague/contradictory.

Thank you ? I'll definitely make sure the system is properly checked to ensure it's configured properly.

We have no manual controls whatsoever! So a switch is needed at the main entrance to operate the staircase AOV, and switches needed in each lobby to operate the lobby AOVs. Does that mean a switch is not needed at the top of the stairs to operate the staircase AOV? Are you able to point me in the direction of the regulations re this? The contractor we had hoped to use has said we need a control at the top of the stairs and if this isn't necessary we'd like to avoid the additional expense. Interestingly he neglected to say we need controls in the lobbies, so it looks like this is already going to cost more than expected ?. We need to get this right first time! NS

Hi I'm looking for some clarification about the need for and locations of manual smoke vent controls in a four-storey single-staircase property with protected lobbies. Smoke detectors are installed in the lobbies only. On activation AOVs in both the staircase and lobbies open. There is no audible alarm. Where should the AOV manual override switches be located? NS