Single exit 3 storey student HMO above bar with commercial kitchen deemed safe

[Guest Sarah Waring]

Hi. A three storey student HMO with only one way in and out, windows with retainers, has been fire risk inspected by Manchester City Council and deemed safe. This goes against all my instincts but I understand that if robust mitigations are in place eg alarm systems, fire doors, emergency lighting and a “safe” corridor, it is still legal. Despite this the question remains as to how occupants escape if the single door is blocked - for whatever reason. So far GMFS and MCC have given me no answer. Can anyone advise what the students should do in this case? Please tell me the advice remains to be ”stay put” - surely not since Grenfell?

[AnthonyB]

It will operate a simultaneous evacuation policy where a detector will activate well before an escape route is affected and everyone be out in about 3 minutes. The single exit route is 'protected' from the effects of fire for up to 10 x this period and is intended to be free from combustibles, obstructions or significant ignition sources.
People are expected to take some personal responsibility and the only threat to this protection are the occupiers themselves - if they choose to prop open fire doors, store and e-scooter in the stair, etc, etc then that is their issue.

The design is not stay put as it is a single house, not a block of flats so built differently with different fire protection measures