Be it nobbler in the mind to... Oh Sorry! As it's sleeping accomodation above I'd be inclined to say half an hour isn't long enough. Was the computer equipment in use or just being stored?

When you carried out the risk assessment, what was your finding re classification of fire risk low, normal or high? Was the travel distance to a place of safety within acceptable limits 25m, 18m or 9m? Was any form of fire/smoke detection provided? Cant see the building owner providing a protected staircase when there is no legal requirement to do so.

Hi bleve - Is this now an exam :-) Fire risk low, Travel distances all with acceptable limits, Smoke alarm installed in the first floor flat, I agree that the landlord may not wish to provide but the occupier of the ground floor is willing to have it done. Please bear in mind this is not fire protection walls ceiling or floor but immediately beneath the stairs. Am I being a little ott? I did a fra there last year and found lots of "main findings" for them to get sorted, which he did most of. This is new as the area involved was sealed last year but since opened up to form a cupboard. My original topic mentioned the fire safety officer telling me to just concentrate on the premises I was assessing and not the flat above ???????

Hi Chris To add to my previous post. The advice I had received from the FRS regarding this type of issue is, the fire protection between domestic and commercial properties should be 1 hour. (Staircase and Ceiling). The exposed underside of the staircase could be plaster-boarded and skimmed (ensuring no gaps and breaks into staircase structure) Cheers

Chris, If you apply protection to the underside of the stair, you will also have to consider similar period of FR at the side of the stair and door to the cupboard area.

I agree with the general advice given by Bleve and others and if I were doing the FRA I would recommend boarding the underside of the stairs as a minimum. However the Fire officer's opinion brings up an interesting point if you look at the strict application of the FSO. The Order does NOT apply to Domestic premises. It can be said that the flat forms a domestic premises separate from the workshop, etc below as it has its own spearate access. Therefore an argument can be made that any recommendations resulting from a FRA are not enforceable in respect of the prmises above the workshop. Contrary to this it could be argued that the occupants of the flat are "relevant" persons ("any person in the immediate vicinity of the premises who is at risk from a fire on the premises") and thus the RP must "take such general fire precautions as may reasonably be required in the circumstances of the case to ensure that the premises are safe." in respect of such relevant persons. I believe that this one has been argued for some time on various fire safety forums and the consensus is that the legislation in England and Wales is poorly drafted!