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Fire extinguishers or not....? - Can fire extinguishers legally be removed from communal area?
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Mr Rahbek  
#1 Posted : 05 January 2017 20:15:56(UTC)
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Mr Rahbek

I live in a council owned block of flats, and the council is adament that they do not have to provide fire extinguishers in communal areas. I very much beg to differ, and I strongly believe it is a legal requirement to provide and maintain extinguishers, but where do I find the evidence? I have also heard the the Association of Fire Fighters are discussing this at the moment? If anyone could lead me to a conclusive argument, I would highly appreciate it.

Thank you.
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JayPownall  
#2 Posted : 06 January 2017 08:00:30(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
JayPownall

Can you share the reasons given by the council? There may well be a valid justification - but without knowing why the council want to remove, its unwise to comment. I live in an apartment block and have no extinguihers, except for one close to the plant room.

The Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) do state there is no need, unless the RA states otherwise, for extinguishers to be placed in communal areas.

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imwaldra  
#3 Posted : 06 January 2017 12:56:24(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
imwaldra

As Jay says, the positioning of extinguishers, etc. is all linked to the Fire Risk Assessment (FRA). There's no absolute legal requirement to provide extinguishers anywhere. So, if you think removal is wrong, find a way to check the FRA.

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Invictus  
#4 Posted : 09 January 2017 13:43:30(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Invictus
Originally Posted by: Mr Rahbek Go to Quoted Post

I live in a council owned block of flats, and the council is adament that they do not have to provide fire extinguishers in communal areas. I very much beg to differ, and I strongly believe it is a legal requirement to provide and maintain extinguishers, but where do I find the evidence? I have also heard the the Association of Fire Fighters are discussing this at the moment? If anyone could lead me to a conclusive argument, I would highly appreciate it.

Thank you.

The council are correct they do not have to provide extinguishers in the communal parts of the flats.. They would have to train people to use them.

Try this document page 104 

http://www.local.gov.uk/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=1138bf70-2e50-400c-bf81-9a3c4dbd6575&groupId=10180

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Kate  
#5 Posted : 09 January 2017 14:35:02(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

The actual legal requirement is here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541/article/13/made

It's 'where necessary' and 'to the extent that is appropriate' which as others have said will depend on the fire risk assessment.

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Invictus  
#6 Posted : 09 January 2017 15:10:33(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Invictus
Originally Posted by: Kate Go to Quoted Post

The actual legal requirement is here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541/article/13/made

It's 'where necessary' and 'to the extent that is appropriate' which as others have said will depend on the fire risk assessment.

Or you could just follow the guidance document I posted as the regulations tell you very little as always. If they put them in comuninal areas besides them being stolen or set off for fun who is going to train all the residents and maintain the equipment. Even if they complete a risk assessment they will just quote the government guidance,

They do not have to put them in full stop, 
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Kate  
#7 Posted : 10 January 2017 11:41:41(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

Yes, I agree the guidance is much more informative than the legislation.

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