Rank: Forum user 
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I have a few questions for the people with good knowledge of the fire regs:
1. I visited a office the other day (low risk) but it has multi occupants. I double checked one of their fire escape routes and it runs through an old metal door onto a some metal stairs cases and runs down, it then goes through a door which lead back into the building THROUGH A GENTS toilet and then into the main building and you can either escape through going centrally into the buildings main stairs and through the main entrance or you can go down the side steps and escape through the goods entrance which is also a fire escape.
Can you have a fire escape running through a gents toilet ?
2. They only have on call point in the building, this is well out the way in the board room but is next to said fire escape, this cannot be tested at the call point as it sets the whole building alarms off, which will cause all occupants to evacuate, there are quite a few business in there.
So the landlord should do a weekly alarm test:
2.1. What if he isn't carry out the alarm tests what should the occupant of the building do?
2.2 What if he is only activating the alarm from the fire panel and not all the call points, how does this stand ?
3. I understand that it is not required to have fixed call points to raise the alarm, and use can either shout fire if the area is small enough but
3.1. What if the building is multi occupant as above and there is only one call point located in a position that people may not go to in and event of a fire, how would it notify the other occupants of the building?
3.2. Do all fire escapes need to have a call point or means or raising alarm and a extinguisher next to it? (this may seem a silly question and I think I know the answer but I have had a dispute with someone)
Apologies for all the questions, but help on the above would be great.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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....Just had the fire officer round today so me and my colleague thought we'd have a go at answering your queries! (Testing ourselves really)
1) Unsure - depends if this route is a 'protected one'. I wouldn't like to say however not knowing the building itslef.
2.1) Alarm testing is mandatory - you would have to notify all in the building of the test and ensure that it is just an alarm test.
2.2) Call points again must be tested to ensure they are in full working order and good repair. Fire panel check isn't sufficent on its own. Both need testing.
3.1) You haver to have call points, they should be located in areas of medium to high risk of a fire. In this case multiple call points should be installed and in areas where people can access easily. With regards the notification of the rest of the building - you state that when testing the call points this would set the overall alarm off - this is therefore how the call point would notify others in the building.
3.2) Cannot see anywhere in the regs (art 14) that states the need for anything by fire doors/escapes. Our office does have them next to escapes but not sure if that is just for ease and as an area of high risk?
All the best - Jay
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Rank: Forum user
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JayPownall wrote:....Just had the fire officer round today so me and my colleague thought we'd have a go at answering your queries! (Testing ourselves really)
1) Unsure - depends if this route is a 'protected one'. I wouldn't like to say however not knowing the building itslef.
2.1) Alarm testing is mandatory - you would have to notify all in the building of the test and ensure that it is just an alarm test.
2.2) Call points again must be tested to ensure they are in full working order and good repair. Fire panel check isn't sufficent on its own. Both need testing.
3.1) You haver to have call points, they should be located in areas of medium to high risk of a fire. In this case multiple call points should be installed and in areas where people can access easily. With regards the notification of the rest of the building - you state that when testing the call points this would set the overall alarm off - this is therefore how the call point would notify others in the building.
3.2) Cannot see anywhere in the regs (art 14) that states the need for anything by fire doors/escapes. Our office does have them next to escapes but not sure if that is just for ease and as an area of high risk?
All the best - Jay Thanks for the swift response Jay. 2.1 - I'm aware it's mandatory but what if the landlord isn't carrying them out or is only doing it from the fire panel? 3.1 - In a low risk area such as an office 'call points' aren't needed specifically from my understanding, you could use an air horn as long as this is in your fire procedures and is communicated to all staff, There is only one call point in the office which is located in the board room next too the 2nd fire exit which not many people are likely to use, so therefore it would be hard to notify the rest of the building. I suppose the obvious answer would be to install another one next to the other exit 3.2 - I didnt think this was a requirement either, but have seen many places like this and one of my colleges thinks you have to. Thanks for the response and it would be good to learn and hear some more opinions
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Rank: Super forum user
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..on 3.1 - I thought that under the L, P and M categories set out in BS5839 Part 1, M was a requirement of most if not all buildings (workplaces that is). Building Regs B – Part 2 Non-domestic properties however states otherwise and supports the horn idea for example.
Nowhere near an expert but would be good like you say to hear other opinions....so glad I didn't choose fire safety as a career pathway!
Jay
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Rank: Super forum user 
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You may not be in fire safety but you are right to raise concerns, as a human being.
The FRS is the enforcer as far as fire regulations go so why not contact the fire safety officer for the area and let him/her know your concerns. They will attend the premises.
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Rank: Super forum user
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It is not possible to give definitive advice on this specific premises from the details given.
However, it is possible (depending on the layout of the premises, the occupancy and the nature of the business etc) to have escape routes from an external staircase thru a toilet, and have a premises which rely on shouts of "fire" - ie not fitted with a manual or automatic fire alarm system. However, if an electrical fire alarm system is installed, it should be maintained & tested to an accepted standard.
Only a fire risk assessment (or a review of a current FRA) which considers the actual risks presented with the possible control measures will be able to establish what measures should be adopted
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Rank: Forum user
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FireSafety101 wrote:You may not be in fire safety but you are right to raise concerns, as a human being.
The FRS is the enforcer as far as fire regulations go so why not contact the fire safety officer for the area and let him/her know your concerns. They will attend the premises. FRS ? Also a FRA is not in place as of yet, it will for the communal buildings I assume but not for the actual office. Would they penalise for this?
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Rank: Forum user
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FireSafety101 wrote:You may not be in fire safety but you are right to raise concerns, as a human being.
The FRS is the enforcer as far as fire regulations go so why not contact the fire safety officer for the area and let him/her know your concerns. They will attend the premises. Sorry the first part of the post above was meant for you. Can you help out with the question regarding and extinguisher at fire exits ?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Fire and rescue service.
In commercial premises I would usually recommend extinguishers located at exits to enable a decision to be made to either keep running or to attack the fire.
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