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#1 Posted : 20 July 2009 14:41:00(UTC)
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Posted By wizardwheeze I have carried out a fire risk assessment of our offices. We have recently carried out a major refurbishment. Part of the refurbishment has involved relocating fire doors on various levels approximately 2m from it original location. The result is that the maximum travel distance to the staircase is approximately 20m on each floor. It is a single staircase, 4 storey building. I have told the boss that the doors should be relocated to their original position in accordance with the max 18m travel distance in the government fire risk assessment guidelines but the boss thinks I am being pedantic. My question is am I or is it ok to have a couple of extra meters on the travel distance?
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#2 Posted : 20 July 2009 14:47:00(UTC)
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Posted By Stuff4blokes Are you anywhere the maximum numbers of occupants? Are there any dead ends? Is there any auto detection/alarm fitted on the escape route? How much additional risk does the 2m extra travel distance introduce? Answer these questions yourself and you will be able to make a decision.
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#3 Posted : 20 July 2009 14:49:00(UTC)
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Posted By Dave Dowan Hi Back in the days of fire certificates we had a building where the travel distance was exceeded but the fire officer said it was OK as out walk ways where wide and therefore evacuation was not hindered. Dave
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#4 Posted : 20 July 2009 17:44:00(UTC)
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Posted By shaun mckeever The number of occupants is not excessive, I'd say about 15m2/person as a guess. I assume by 'dead ends' you mean a place where you would have to turn back to find a way out, the answer is no but there is only one route to the stairs on each floor. There is a good fire alarm system installed as part of the refurbishment. How much risk does the extra 2m introduce? I don't know because I don't know what the basis for the 18m in the guidance was hence my asking on this forum. Perhaps you can help me out there stuff4blokes. Thanks.
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#5 Posted : 20 July 2009 17:58:00(UTC)
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Posted By Larry Its not a simple question to answer. My initial thought that is as your company has modified the building and introduced a situation where the distance is now out, then its not OK. But having thought about it, what does the architect/designer of the modification think. If it has not been considered can THEY be brought back into redress the situation.
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#6 Posted : 20 July 2009 19:04:00(UTC)
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Posted By Stuff4blokes wizardwheeze, I have just noted the significance of your forum name, aka Shaun McKeever, fire expert of this forum. From the nature of your previous postings you should be well able to answer your own question.
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#7 Posted : 20 July 2009 19:50:00(UTC)
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Posted By Crim In a case such as this I would contact the local fire safety officer and get his/her opinion, and record the answer in writing as part of the fire risk assessment. You could even get the fso to visit the premises if you have nothing to hide?
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