Compartmentation in Roof Voids

[D Smith]

Hi there - is compartmentation required in roof voids where there a supported living service where disabled residents require support to evacuate and it may take additional time at night to reduced staffing. I head landlords often say the building is compliant and it is down to care providers to fix the issue based on their customers. I am talking about small buildings with multiple rooms where residents live and share communal areas. I see in the ADB that 30 minutes of fire resistance can be spread throughout the home to 30 minutes fire resistance however does this allow for a PHE. It is also quite difficult to know whether dwellings or buildings other than dwellings apply. 

[AnthonyB]

Yes, in essence it's built as a care home or residential (other) as not stay put - the roof voids should follow the compartment lines of at least each PHE compartment boundary & preferably every bedroom. Improper compartmentation in roof voids helped kill 14 people at Rosepark Care home.

Unfortunately too many developers and their Building Inspectors seem to use semantics to get through inadequate safety standards in design by classifying a premises as something it clearly won't be when operational