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Posted By Brenda H
In a block of flats (4 floors) we are required to maintain there is an electrical riser cupboard which goes up through all floors.
When you open the cupboard on the fourth floor the shaft drops right down to ground floor with just a rail (not dissimilar to a curtain rail!) nailed across the door way!
So, this needs to be rectified from a WAH perspective, but also, should the cupboard be separated at each floor level from a fire perspective?
If so i'm thinking of the cupboard on each level having a floor put in which would solve the WAH issue and the fire compartmentation one.
Comments please?
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Posted By Dave Merchant
Your curtain rail is certainly not adequate edge protection, but as to the legality from a fire standpoint it depends on the doors - are they BS rated or not?
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Posted By Brenda H
No I know it isn't, far from it!
The doors are fire standard yes.
The idea with the floor board was to stop any incidents with small children climbing through any gap in the railings.
Whilst the work area shouldn't/won't be left unattended; it only takes a minute whilst the operative is turned away to get something out of their tool box when a child come's alon as the area is in a corridor where people live.
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Posted By CFT
Brenda
I think you need some help by way of a visit to site for the fire break situation; yes, from how you describe this would generally be quite unacceptable for a fire path to be unrestricted through all floors, thus making the inclusion of fire doors and other such fire retarders pretty useless compared to the riser area.
One the work has been completed to include a fire break to each floor you 'should' have eliminated your potential fall problem.
I am imagining a fall void that would allow an adult to pass through, not to be confused with a fire break shaft which is protected from fire by the outer surfaces. If this were the case, your concerns (quite rightly so) would be to eliminate any possibility of fall and there are many ways available to you to just that.
I can't quite picture your situation to offer some changes to control measures regarding access and working within.
Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, it is difficult sometimes to imagine the site from a brief description.
All the best
CFT
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Posted By Brenda H
Hi CFT, thanks for your response.
I don't think it is a fire break shaft, although how would I know?
The area, on each floor if you open the door contains electrical boards etc, so I doubt a shaft.
The gap is big enough for someone to fall down, about 3ft wide and 2.5 ft deep. Fair to say they would probably catch themselves on something first, but an area I class as at height.
I think flooring on each level is the option, which removes the WAH issue and the compartmentation aspect. Also, as you open the door, on the wall facing you (other side of the gap)there is a strut which the flooring could be mounted on to.
This could be put in by our carpenter's couldn't it providing the material is that which offers 30 mins protection?
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Posted By CFT
Brenda
It is more than likely a fire retardant shaft, similar to a lift in-so-much as the exterior will have protection to prevent the immediate ingress of fire. I would advise confirmation via survey or inspection of the individual building manuals or the shaft itself (if they exist)
As far as the potential fall goes, then the simplest way is to reduce down the size of the opening to prevent the possibility of fall much as you described earlier. Materials wise it is probably a bit more complex than you first imagine, as whatever is installed should be fit for purpose and easily capable of withstanding someone stood on it, and a slightly over engineered solution would (IMO) be quite acceptable in this instance.
Sheet metal is likely to offer the best solution in terms of integrity; mounting and securing may be the issue.
I'm sure you won't, but do remember the SSOW that any contractor will be working to whilst undertaking any works in this clearly hazardous situation.
Good luck
CFT
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Posted By Colin Reeves
One point not mentioned so far - why is the shaft there? Surely there must have been a reason when the building was built, by blocking off each floor will you be compromising something else?
Colin
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Posted By CFT
Colin
It is a shaft to bring up services and any post completion requirements (among other things), usually they are fairly small to non existent as time goes by because they get filled up. Reducing the opening to only accommodate future service requirements should not pose a problem.
As mentioned earlier, I think Brenda realises that a specialist visit to site may well be prudent in this instance.
Charley
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