Hi All, I am involved with a fire risk assessment for a small respite home for disabled children, where the children stay on a temporary basis, and will have a range of both physical and mental disabilities. At present the childrens bedrooms are on the 1st floor, where two exits are available. Our risk assessment found that the structural compartmentation was adequate to support a stay put strategy (FD30 doors to bedrooms and subdividing the escape corridor staff fully trained etc). However, the local building control have threatend to close the building down as their is not a lift in place which will allow for the children to be moved to the ground floor and then outside of the building. My view is that the strategy (and subsequent compartmentation does not required the children to be moved outside the building - with an emphasis on stay put or progressive horizontal evacuation if a child is in an areas affected by the fire). However, I would be pleased to hear any views on this, or similar experiences. Many Thanks, James

Hi Just to add some further info/clarity - There is a standard lift in place which building control have insisted must be changed to an evacuation lift and both escape stairwells are internal. Thanks

Hi, Not been getting much help from the fire officer. Specifically, I would like to receive views on whether an evacuation strategy for young persons with disabilities MUST include a means of transfering them to the outside on the ground floor? Or whether moving them to a supervised refuge is adequate (provided that an acceptable level of compartmentation, fire precautions and trained staff are adequate). Many Thanks

I would suggest that a 60 min rating is required for a refuge area,and also at top and bottom of protected staircases plus I guess that you have an L1 fire alarm system. External evacuation could be very hazardous to these children and I would concur that progressive horizontal evacuation is the key. Whay happens if thje lift is compromised is also a question to ask, DO YOU THEN RESORT TO progressive horizontal evacuation????? Cheers SBH

Why are building control getting involved in a fire safety enforcement area? and in particular, threatening to close your building down. Have we a jobsworth at work here?? It's (as always) difficult to imagine the specific picture of what is involved here. However, if your FRA has determined that no evac lift is required, it's for the local fire service to audit your arrangements and not the LA building control people. PHE maybe possible if the building is long enough and has suitable separation/afd. However, when I worked in the NHS, total evacuations were rarely planned (as PHE was in place) so when full evacs did occur, it was chaos. So just because a refuge type system is in place, you must also consider a full evacuation if it is later required. You say the local fire officer has not been helpful. In what way? Why not request an audit? If they are happy with your systems, then the LA should go away with any luck