Rank: New forum user 
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Hi All,
We have large roof spaces in our building, in which we've discoverd staff are using them to store all manner of items including Christmas trees & decorations, pieces of furniture, boxes of paperwork, training equipment, old IT equipment etc.
We've asked that the various teams responsible to review the current content & get rid of anything no longer needed. But (with no other available storage space) we're not sure whether any remaining necessary items should continue to be stored in the roof space. We're particularly thinking about fire safety.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi yes we have the same thing - in fact if I didn't know better I would think you worked in our building !!
What we did was put a safe staircase in. We recently had a fire audit from our local fire brigade and they weren't unhappy with it. We also have audits from a vocational college who are providing NVQ training and they weren't unhappy either.
I guess there is an expectation that all our junk needs to be stored somewhere.
Every 6 months we go and review the IT equipment and get SHP Ltd to come and take it all away. They strip it down and clean the PCs etc and sell it on and the money raised goes to the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity
From what I can gather the most important thing appears to be safe access & egress.
Hope that helps a little
Regards
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Rank: Super forum user
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Obviously Fire safety is a big factor to consider but as suggested so is safety. There is access and aggress but what about loading! Can the structure take the weight of the items being stored and persons putting them there.
Many retailers have been issued with IN's and PN's due the poor practice of storing old stock e.g. Xmas lines in such places as roof voids and flat roof space above offices.
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Rank: Super forum user
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When permitting the use of roof spaces we are consious and mindful of the need for fire detection, comparmentation/fire breaks, alternative means of escape if travel distances are a significant factor and the presence of or ease of access to fire fighting equipment. Some of our roof spaces are extensive and cavenous. We also consider the loading. We do not permit plant rooms located in the roof space to be used for storage and access routes to plant must be kept clear at all times. We also have regular clear outs to avoid the areas becoming a complete dumping ground. It is not generally common practice but it is accepted from time to time if the above issues are all sufficiently covered. The fire authority has not objected to the use of roof spaces in the past.
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Rank: Super forum user
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As someone who does contract work for a global insurance company. Take it from me they (the insurance type people) wont like it.
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Rank: Super forum user
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We don't allow any roof voids / spaces to be used for storage.
For us the decision was easy based around the plethora of H&S and FS risks associated with such storage. To implement control measures for us would not have been cost effective.
The other risk is that if you allow these areas to be used for storage within the guidelines you set, it is more open to abuse because it's out of sight out of mind. Having a blanket ban for us was the common sense thing to do (though we have sufficient space in the store's warehouse to store what we need to, this may not be the same for you)!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Include the area in your fire risk assessment, look at ignition and development risks, detection etc etc and make a decision on whether you are comforable. As others have said, access, head space and loading must also be considered.
How many of us use our our loft spaces (if we have them) at home? I certainly do and do not belive that what I have up there adds significantly to the risk of fire in my house.
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Rank: New forum user
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Thanks ever so much for your responses - this will be discussed & agreed at our next H&S Committee
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