I've been asked to look at fire safety for a friend. She manages on behalf of her company a block of 20 flats. They are like a US style morel, so all front doors open onto an external walkway with stairs down at either end.

All the flats are privately owned and some are subletted. My friend owns 3 of the flats.

My question is, my friend has fitted smoke detectors to the hallway but not in the kitchen diner. I know it makes sense to fit them in the kitchen area but can't find it written specifically. Can anyone who is more proficient than me in fire matters help?

EDIT

Another search shows that there only needs to be 1 detector on each level. Nothing about where it is to be sited.

Also looking at fire fighting equipment, it says that they should be placed in communal areas. The flat complex has no communal areas. But surely that doesn't absolve the landlords of providing fire fighting equipment?

There is an extinguisher in the lobby of the lift but that is central to the flats, so the furthest flat away would have to run/walk over 50m to obtain this extinguisher which isn't realistic

Edited by user 16 July 2018 11:05:47(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

The regs on fire risk assessment only apply to Common Areas such as the external walkway.  The door to the flats will also come under this but not inside the flats.  Assume the external walkway is the means of escape and ensure a fire resisting door is the front door, not UPVC and if glazed FR glazing.

OK it is a good idea to fit smoke alarms and I would recommend it but not in the kitchen.  I recommend a smoke alarm on the ceiling of the next room/lobby etc. to the kitchen.

Wried in is better that battery although a regular check/test of the smoke alarm may ensure the battery it still connected.

Is this new build?

Building Regulations Approved Document Part B will assist, but that defers to BS 5839-6.

I would discuss with Aico, you can put a detector in the kitchen, there are several options, just not a smoke detector, a heat or a multi sensor would probably suit.

If you tell me what part of the country I can put you in touch with the local Aico specification engineer, I don't work for Aico, but I am trained as one of their "expert installers", mind, I tend to use their technical guys for design as it is quite a complex area.

You may even be looking at a full blown 5839-1 panel system, however, the Aico's can interface with that.

Fitting a smoke detector at home was the best thing I ever did. Now I always know when my dinner is ready.