Paul B

Thanks both for your help. It is an existing building that has undergone change over the years, there is indeed a common alarm system and simultaneous evacuation. I suppose the most important element is ensuring all shared common escape routes have a minimum of 30 minutes separation?

Hi All In a multi occupied premises consisting of multiple units rented out to individual businesses would you need compartmentation between each unit? And if so how many minutes? The purpose groups are 3 and 6. The units are not ancillary to each other and are totally independent businesses but share common escape routes and fire detection system. Many thanks.

Hi All Does a shop always need a commercial fire alarm system? I visited a large retail shop today with a domestic system fitted with some detectors on the ceiling 20ft high….how can these be tested? There were fire action notices stating to activate the alarm but there were no manual call points fitted to activate. Can a part 6 system be used in a large retail space instead of a part 1 system?

Hi All Are agricultural buildings exempt from the RRO2005?

As always thanks for the responses and great points raised😊

Hi All Would it be reasonable for a hotel to silence their fire alarm panel whilst they investigate for a fire to avoid waking residents in the case of a false alarm? At the moment the sounder goes off, they silence it then if a real evacuation is needed they set the sounder off again. In my opinion this would cause confusion and raise doubt with the residents of the validity of any alarm sounding in the future.

Great, thanks 😊

That's great, thanks Anthony.

Hi Anthony Yes they are separated fire compartments. Yes the occupancy is the same. Thanks

Hi All If an office is ancillary to a warehouse, and the office is under 20% of the total floorspace of the building, is compartmentation needed between the two purpose groups?

Hi All Can an escape route go through different purpose groups to get to a final exit? I.e.. From Purpose group 3 (Office) to 4 (Factories) then to final exit. Thanks

Hi Anthony it’s an L2 system.

Hi All Is it necessary to have AFD in a lift shaft where the motor and associated components are enclosed in the lift shaft and not in a separate location? Should there also be AFD on each floor within a certain distance of the lift entrance? This is a three storey multi occupied office building with the lift located in a protected storey exit. Many thanks for your advice.

Hi Anthony B Thanks for the advice... as I am looking at purpose group 6 (Factory) with purpose group 4 (ancillary offices) with both of the following applying; i. The building or compartment has an area of more than 280m2 . ii. The ancillary use relates to an area that is more than one-fifth of the total floor area of the building or compartment. I would be looking at 60 minute compartmenatation?

Hi All I have assessed a shop with a smoke detector in the basement. Currently the basement zone is disabled due to unwanted fire signals caused by damp. The basement is sterile and has sixty minute separation from the shop floor above. Should I advise the client to: Remove the smoke detector Fit a heat detector instead Or just make a note of the disablement in my findings. Thanks

Hi Is the minimum compartmentation between different purpose groups under the control of single occupier (eg. office and factory floor) sixty minutes? Thanks

Hi Is a fire escape acceptable that goes from one first floor building across its roof to the first floor of another part of the same building?

Yes the building is grade two listed so I think they will be going with wireless detection! Many Thanks Anthony

Hi All Following a fire risk assessment, a shop owner has to fit a sounder linked to his alarm system to warn tenants in a flat above his shop of a fire in the shop. Who is responsible to pay for the work? The shop owner? The tenant? The building owner (owner of the flat)?

Hi I manage a converted house of three stories with a basement. It was converted pre-1991 so may not have adequate compartmentation. Which guide do I use regarding fire precautions, is it the LACORS guide? Currently there is a BS 5839 Part 4 Alarm panel installed with one detector on the top floor and Manual call points on each floor...will this need improving as the LACORS guide recommends: Grade A LD2 in the common areas with a heat detector in each flat and a Grade D LD3 Non interlinked alarm in each flat?

A house has been converted to seven flats pre -1991 building regs. They are for elderly residents over 55, they are owner occupiers and run their own management committee for the premises. It has a ground floor and two further upper floors and a basement, there is only one smoke detector at the top of the stairwell linked to manual call points on each storey level and warning bells on each level. The residents doors are all fire doors leading onto the communal landing with a single stairway to the exit on the ground floor. The residents flats have battery smoke detectors they have supplied themselves. Is this level of fire detection suitable, or would they require detectors on each floor linked to heat detectors in the flats?