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Posted By Scott d
Hi All,
We have recently acquired a new building and are about to start fitting the warehouse area out with laboratories. The principal contractor wants to turn one of our fire exit doors into a lockable door, for access in and out of the construction area when our staff are not on site.
The building has three fire exits - two in the warehouse and one in a small office, which is accessible from the warehouse. The warehouse is around 10m x 10m and the door which they are trying to alter will be kept open during occupation, therefore, will be available as an exit should a fire occur. The route into the office area will be locked and will not be available as a fire exit, thus leaving only the two in the warehouse available for use.
Can any of you see any concerns with this and if so, can you get a door which is accessable by key from the outside, whilst remaining operational from the inside?
Apologies for the long explanation but any views would be much appreciated.
Scott
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Posted By Charles Mcilwhan
This is not easily answered without additional information if you e-mail me direct I will contact you to try and help you.
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Posted By Crim
If you have a fire certificate for the premises you should look at it regarding fire exits and it should answer your question. If not then you can get a lock with a push pad on the inside and a yale outside. You can then close the door which will require a key to open from outside but the simple pushpad operation from inside. I will also add that if the contrator maintains the door unlocked and available for use at all times persons are on the premises then there is no problem! You should also require the contractor to provide a daily check sheet and nominate somebody responsible for checking the fire exits are available for use at all times with signatures in the check sheet.
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Posted By Frank Hallett
Hi Scott
May I most respectfully suggest that you make ues of a competent person to undertake the Fire Risk Assesment of the premises that takes in to account the intended use of the premises and the stock to be housed and the requirements of the incoming Fire Safety Order?
There is no way that you can get a reliable and defensible answer to your your question as you are essentially looking for free consultancy and everything that entails.
If you wish to contact me direct I can explain the reasons for my comments in greater depth.
Frank Hallett
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Posted By ivorfire
I have e mailed you direct.
Shaun
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Posted By Crim
Hello again,
Can we determine here that the question refers to short term fire exit arrangements during a refurbishment while the contratcor is in attendance and managing the construction work, or is it to finalise the fire exit requirements once the building has been put to use.
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Posted By Crim
Scott, I know you have direct communication with one or more people giving advice but I would like to know the outcome if you could post it once concluded?
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Posted By Lorraine Shuker
Try contacting your local Fire Station and ask for their fire safety officer. My local one is brilliant and really helpful. It's effectively free consultation!!
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Posted By Bob Shillabeer
Good morning Scott,
A goog source of info on fire exits is the building regulations guidance contained in Approved Document B available through the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's web site WWW.opsi.
This contains details of the building requirements that may help.
In addition it is worth looking at the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (also available through the OPSI website) which comes into force on 1 April this year. Section 14 covers emergency exits and states that emergency doors must not be so locked or fastened that they cannot be easily opened by any person who may require to use them in an emergency.
In general the fire doors are only required when the building is occupied and when it is the number of exits required depends on the number of persons working there and the distance needed to travel to gain safe escape. You say the building is 10m by 10m and has two fire exits. I would say you are more than covered and can actuaslly manage with one if this meets the building regs guidance. Read and enjoy.
Bob.
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