Evening all, Would like som opinions with this one.... Very large acute hospital..... All wards have what are called "kitchens".... But only have toaster, kettle and microwave....some have ice making machines!! I am arguing with project managers that they are not kitchens..... Any opinions gratefully appricatied. Thanks Ed

wish there was an edit ... why? what is the problem with calling them kitchens?

What's the LFB and what consequence do they fear from the 'misleading' name? Many workplaces have areas just like this (maybe not the ice makers) that are called kitchens.

It does not matter what you call a particular room, it’s the risk of fire that needs to be considered during a FRA. We have risk assessed our snack areas (about 80 in one of our buildings) and have determined where there is no major cooking appliance (hob, grill or oven) they are a ‘snack area’. Such snack areas do not automatically attract the same fire separation as kitchens - including no requirement or a fire door in most cases, heat detection (where no toaster is fitted), and smaller snack areas will not attract at fire blanket or a CO2 extinguisher (if there's a CO2 in the corridor nearby). Are the LFB advising you to change the name of these areas???

Eddie Misleading? The LFB have a fire station in Isleworth they call 'Heston Fire Station' and another in Harlington they call 'Hayes'. If your car catches fire opposite Lambeth fire station, they will send an appliance from Westminster and not Lambeth, as you are north of the river, therefore in Westminster. Just like your kitchens, these fire station names are misleading, but they are not illegal!!!! Unless they have issued an enforcement notice, tell them where to get off I cannot think of one Article of the FSO that requires rooms are named in a certain manner - unless I am missing something here. If they persist, please ask them under what Article are they asking for the renaming, then post their reply here. I could do with a laugh!!!

The term 'kitchenette' is commonly used for a facility of the sort discussed in this thread. The office building where I used to be based had one on each floor, each with a sink and draining board, wall-mounted boiling water dispenser, refrigerator and microwave oven. As I can't remember any toasters, perhaps there weren't any so as to avoid possible problems with burnt toast setting off the smoke detectors. They were very handy facilities and used by many employees. The office cleaners cleaned the kitchenette floors and worktops each day, but their remit did not include the insides of the microwave ovens. As nobody seemed to be responsible for cleaning inside them and some users didn't know how to use them correctly, their interiors tended to become as wholesome as the base of a parrot's cage long overdue for cleaning! :-(

The marine industry also uses the "pantry" for these small areas - works well.

Its all very well that upmteen H&S professionals have now produced a list of 1001 names for a kitchen, but I ask the question again, what the hell has it got to do with any fire safety enforcement agency as to what you name your kitchen area???? How does the actual name of the space have ANY bearing on whether the fire safety provisions are acceptable???