Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By andymak
I occasionally have reason to place surplus office furniture in a corridor whilst it is waiting collection. Sometimes there are several items.
The items are always hazard marked so our partially sighted colleagues can see them clearly, and we always leave a minimum of 900mm between the items and the wall.
We keep clear of fire doors, office doorways and extinguishers.
A risk assessment is completed on the likely impacts of the storage and as posted in the area affected.
Is there anything else I should consider, and does the building regs guidance on minimum clearance widths apply to this?
The durations of storage are from a few hours to a couple of weeks dependant on the particular circumstances.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Saracen11
Hi andymak, why not ring your local Fire Service and ask them to call round to your place of work to advise you on this? If you are lucky, and they are in the area they may well call the same day!
Good luck with this...
Regards
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By sagalout
A corridor is a corridor not a storage space. Any obstruction in a corridor creates an unnecessary hazard and resulting risk. If you can store stuff, what about others in the business? How many obstructions do you accept before you say too many?
Of course, the degree of risk depends on conditions. e.g. is it a fire escape route? is it a dead end corridor with stock stored at the end? is it heavily used? is it well lit? floor surface? what is moved along the corridor? and so on.
However, this is so clearly not best practice that I would not allow it. I do not need a risk assessment to tell me that, it is just sensible risk management.
If you calculate that you have enough width and length in the corridor to build an additional storage area, do that (following relevant codes of course)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ken Taylor
The width distances in the Approved Documents to the Building Regs apply to the construction of corridors and not to the space available after storage therein. Travel distance is another consideration when considering escape in the event of fire - in addition to the concerns expressed above.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Martin Monaghan
On a related topic - why do supermarkets use their gangways as additional display areas for products. This usually happens at busy times, e.g. Christmas, when the full width of the gangway is needed to be able to get past all the shoppers trolleys. It's a bit like closing 2 lanes of the M1 in the rush hour - that would never happen, would it?
Martin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Dave Adams MIOSH
Took this from the Factories and Warehouses Guidance document
1.9 Particular hazards in corridors and stairways used as escape routes
Items that are a source of fuel, pose an ignition risk, or are combustible and likely to increase the fire loading or spread of fire, should not be located on any corridor or stairway that will be used as an escape route. Such items include:
• portable heaters, e.g. bottled gas (LPG)
or electric radiant heaters and electric
convectors or boilers;
• gas cylinders for supplying heaters;
• cooking appliances; and
• unenclosed gas pipes, meters, and other
fittings.
However, depending on the findings of your risk
assessment and where more than one escape
route is available, items such as those below
may be acceptable if the minimum exit widths
are maintained and the item presents a
relatively low fire risk:
• non-combustible lockers;
• vending machines;
• small items of electrical equipment
(e.g. photocopiers); and
• small coat racks and/or small quantities of
upholstered furniture which meets BS 7176
or the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire)
50 (Safety) Regulations 1988.
Seems less stringent than 'Fire Safety an employers guide' used to be.
All said though, I agree with the colleague who previously said that a corridor is a corridor.
Dave
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By andymak
The environment is low risk, the storage is to facilitate office moves or decoration. Unfortunately there is no decant area available, so the items (desks cupboards etc) tend to be stored in the corridors until they are either reinstalled in the office, or sent to another site as redundant and for disposal.
The local fire officer has been out on several occasions due to staff concerns, and does not have any issues as long as we have a written risk assessment and the required minimum widths are maintained. Unfortunately he won't commit to saying what the minimum widths should be hence my question so that we are not working totally in the dark!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Chris Hall
bit strange why the fire offier would not provide you with this information but herer you go - Taken from the new fire safety guide for offices:-
The following guide can be used to determine
the general capacities of escape routes:
A width of at least 750mm can accommodate
up to:
• 80 people in higher risk premises;
• 100 people in normal risk premises; or
• 120 people in lower risk premises.
A width of at least 1050mm can accommodate
up to:
• 160 people in higher risk premises;
• 200 people in normal risk premises; or
• 240 people in lower risk premises.
An additional 75mm should be allowed for
each additional 15 persons (or part of 15).
Note: The minimum width of an escape route
should not be less than 750mm (unless it is for
use by less than five people in part of your
premises) and, where wheelchair users are
likely to use it, not less than 900mm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By andymak
I feel at present there is a bit of 'political' posturing between us and the local fire and rescue at present. Or at least between certain fire officers and us!
But hey that is not my problem that is for the bosses to resolve....
Thank you for the information it will be most useful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.