I've been out of fire safety for quite some time, so I can't remember where I've read that the single, protected means of escape from a converted house should not contain furnishings or other combustible materials, so could someone point me in the right direction, please?

I appreciate housing associations may have their own rules, for example, but this is a house where the freehold owner of the building maintains responsibility for the common areas, but the flats are owner/occupied.

These are quite exclusive apartments, and there is a desire to have a small seating area within the means of escape, reasonably close to the entrance door.  Clearly, the carpets and furnishings would need to comply with the appropriate fire standards, but I thought this information would be in the LACORS guide?

Thanks

If they are hall seats (decorative chairs made only of timber) upholstered chairs would be a fire hazard and should be discouraged. 

Thank you, Tom.  I guessed you'd be the one to answer!