Rank: Super forum user
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In the late 1950s, road planners decided to separate the busy A406 North Circular Road from the A40 Western Avenue as even then, this junction in west London was very busy. In 1962 the Hangar Lane underpass was opened.
Its a 2 lane dual carriageway cut and cover tunnel around 385 metres in length - not particularly long when it comes to road tunnels. Safety systems have been improved over the years and the underpass now has good lighting, hydrants and recently, fire service information 'Gerda' boxes have been fitted at each tunnel portal.
Since Xmas, following overnight road closures, I have noticed cable trays have been fixed to all four walls of the two-bore tunnel and loads of cabling installed and couldn't understand why. Now it is clear, as the tunnel has been fitted with maintained (permanently lit) emergency lighting/fire exit directional signs. Not in its self a bad thing but IMHO, they have got a bit over the top
There are 88 illuminated fire exits signs in the 385m long tunnel - yes I counted them!. If they were laid in one line throughout the tunnel there would be a sign every 4.4 metres!!.
This underpass has been in existence for 52 years, and 'they' have just decided it needs nearly 90 exit signs. It does make you think that the world has gone mad when you see this insanely excessive/expensive approach to Elf & Safety where there is only a nominal risk
Rant over :)
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Rank: Super forum user
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Mssy it could be down to European laws re road tunnels?
Not so long ago the first Mersey Tunnel was required to improve its evacuation procedures and had to install 7 refuges to supplement the four emergency exits. The refuges take people under the roadway to await arrival of emergency services.
The second Mersey Tunnel was built in two bores that enable transfer between bores in case of evacuation, the first tunnel built in the thirties was a single bore.
The first tunnel has excellent state of the art fire safety including smoke control that controls the direction of smoke travel.
Might not by anything to do with that of course but I thought it may be interesting anyway.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Its everywhere you go messy - some of the people undertaking FRA's simply (out of adequate, training experience) default to gold plating everything.
I went in a refurbed retail store yesterday (high street - B2- BS9999) retail 1st floor accommodation 2nd floor - sales floor 308 metres sq.
Sales floor
- 7 sounders
- 9 bulk head luminaires (celling fixed) + door luminaires
Accommodation
- smoke detection and e lighting in toilets (staff only)
- tea room (kettle ad microwave only) sire blanket, heat detection , Vision panel and eliging (much less than 60 sq metres) with an illuminate next to the VP on the outside corridor
I dispair
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Rank: Super forum user
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DP I suggest it was the designer/s that required all of that if the store was refurbished ? Otherwise it could have been the fire equipment supplier?
Personally I like to think as a fire risk assessor I would not be so much OOT.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Sorry firesafety should have stated 'same team' responsible
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