Posted By naomi Hi hope you can give me some guidance. I work as a Health & Safety officer for a Housing Association (newly appointed) one of my areas regards inspecting the sheltered accomadation schemes (tower block, three storeys, two storeys)I have concern regarding the amount of plastic flowers the residents (all elderly) have outside their flats and on the communal areas. I would assume in the event of a fire these would give off toxic smoke or at least accelerate the fire. The same is with the cork notice boards I thought that if they are in the path of the safe exit zones to escape if there is a fire all notice boards had to be covered with glass or fire resistant plastic? (the fire policy is stay put in flats but what if you are not in the flat at the time?) This has not been mentioned or documented by the fire consultant who carried out the fire risk assessments on the flowers or cork board (before I joined) Any advice or experience on this would be welcome

Posted By Kate Graham The guide you need is here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1162105 Be careful with how you approach the removal of fire hazards from the communal areas - the tenants may well take offence if they think you are being heavy-handed, and then make things difficult. Kate