Hi Stern, is this construction work notifiable under CDM? (i.e. will it exceed 30 working days duration or will involve more than 500 man days). PH2

It is the Client who has dictated that the refurb work is to be undertaken whilst the business remains open, therefore all of this rests squarely with the Client. Where there is a will though, there is often a way? Not unusual for a fire escape route to be maintained across a site boundary and hoarding - takes a bit of planning and cooperation, can be done - but needs to be considered at the design and planning stage? On a Notifiable Project, I'd expect the Desinger and CDM-C to be flagging this very early on.

Hi Ron, Thanks for the response. I agree that where there is a will there is usually a way and we very often end up installing elaborate setups (tunnels, walkways etc) in order to maintain the store's fire escape routes. However, sometimes there is just no way which is where we are now. We also had a similar situation regarding a fire wall within a live store. I pointed out that a wall which we needed to dismantle, move back approx 10 feet and then re-erect was a fire wall and that moving it would impact the store's existing fire plan/risk assessment. My view was that the client needed to speak to building control and update the existing fire plan/risk assessment for the store. Again though, the client tried to push this onto us and get us to amend their fire plan/risk assessment. I may be missing something but i can't see how we have become the responsible person!? Have they never heard of the RRFSO? PH2, I told you a lie. Typically these would be notifiable jobs but the recent issue (which prompted me to post on here) was a 3 week project in the carpark of a trading store. Our works meant that one of the store's fire exits couldn't be used for approx 2 weeks of the job and try as we might there was no way around it. Their response was basically "that's ok, we're happy to use the other exits but you need to update the risk assessment and ensure that the store (their own staff!) are aware of the new arrangements". Again, i can't see how this becomes our responsibility? Am i missing something? Stern

Hi Stern, I agree that revision of the fire plan rests with the Client, but he should have discussed his proposals with the other members of the team; CDMC, Designer and the PC. The CDMC should have picked up on this at an early stage and arranged a meeting with all parties (including the Client) so that so that responsibilities and controls will be clearly understood by all. Although CDMC's rarely stay involved in a project after work commences (until the H&S file needs to be prepared) this is a situation where I believe they should have been an active part of the team. The Client is entitled to rely on their advice regarding construction matters including fire safety during the work in a live store (and should have their own "competent person" providing advice on routine matters such as fire safety in their premises, under the RRFO). PH2

Hi Firesafety101, Thanks for your response. I agree with what you're saying except for the last sentence; We never say "tough it's part of our works". As stated previously, we do everything we can to stop this happening on our projects. Unfortunately though, sometimes a fire exit must be taken out of action. Of course alternatives must be made available for the duration of the works, that goes without saying, and we are always in discussions with the client ref these kind of things. The issue is that introducing alternative arrangements means that you are altering the building's existing fire plan which is something that our client keeps telling US (the principal/main contractor) to do. Of course we are happy to display signage to the alternative exit but as far as i can see it is not our job to decide where this alternative exit is and to make temporary changes to their existing fire plan - that is the job of the client (as the responsible person under the RRFSO). Would you agree? Stern