Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By John Beadle
I am currently researching problems/issues associated in complying with H&S legislation in listed buildings where the ability to carry out structural changes may be restricted. Any experiences, information, publications or web links will be appreciated.
Many thanks
John
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By J Knight
Hi John,
We have 15 listed premises, ranging from Grade 2 all the way to Grade 1*, and there are problems because of this. For example, the building I am in right now (Grade II*) has numerous smallish holes in the floorboards on the first floor landing; we can't just fill them, or replace defective boards, we may not even be able to put floor covering down. What it boils down to is money, really, everything costs more and takes longer. But here's a story.
At my previous employer I was involved with a Grade I* manor house on teesside. This had a derelict victorian greenhouse in the grounds, also covered by the listing. The greenhouse was torched one fine night, and was left in such an unsafe condition that we couldn't even get a builder to go near enough to it to quote for stabilisation, let alone repair. So the Service Manager had it bulldozed, on the grounds of H&S. I supported her on this as I felt her grounds were credible. She was interviewed by English Heritage and they were clear that they were considering formal action. Note, this is for a victorian greenhouse, of which the country is awash, not for the Jacobean manor house. Eventually they backed off, as it became clear that there really had been no choice, but it was quite a scary time,
John
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Cr8r
John
There are loads of problems, mainly due to the fact that listed buildings weren't built to current building regs standards. Problems I have encountered are mainly access/egress, fire and DDA. Stairs are usually too steep, too narrow (for a fire escape route), in the wrong place and there's only usually one stair case when you could do with two! The buildings are often like rabbit warrens, with access to rooms through other rooms, making travel distances to place of safety difficult to reach. Doorways are not always wide enough to conform with fire regs or for wheelchair users. The floors, as said in the previous mailing, are not perfect. Upper storey floors often are extremely uneven and so are not well suited to anyone with walking difficulties.
And of course the trouble is that you can't just rip something out! Cost is just as much a prohibitive factor as the difficulty in finding an acceptable solution.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Chris Pope
in the last 5 or so years there was an article in the practitioner on this very subject where one of our fellow practitioners used risk assessment to beat bureaocracy at its own game, it was something to do with a staircase.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By J Knight
Yes, I endorse everything mentioned by Cr8r; we have a particular problem in that our applicable best practice for fire precautions is the HTM Firecode series of documents, as we manage Care Homes, and, in the case of our Hospices, small Hospitals. Firecode is rather more rigorous than 'Fire Safety, an Employer's Guide', and very often we simply can't meet the requirements. A particular problem for us is the provision of lobbies for lifts and protected staircases,
John
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Dazmo
Hi John,
I look after a couple of listed buildings. You could see if your local Building Control can help. They sometimes have a conservation department that can provide advice on methods of complying with the various regs that will also limit damage to the building.
Kind regards
Darren
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.