Posted By shaun mckeever
In a seven storey office block (not including ground and basement) there are 1100 employees. The building currently has a fire certificate but research has uncovered that the statutory bar applied to the building. In a nutshell this means that at the time the fire certificate was issued the Fire Authority did not respond in time to Building Control and could not go back and demand improvements. This has resulted in the building having two staircases each of which lead to a ground floor corridor of only 850mm width. The two corridors are too narrow for the number of people involved. Evacuation times are currently in excess of 8 minutes. There is a modern Category L3 detection system installed and all floors have two door protection to each staircase. With the arrival of the RR(FS)O and the repeal of the Fire Precautions Act does the statutory bar still apply and if not what can be done to improve the means of escape arrangements from the building?

Any answers greatly appreciated.

Posted By Ken Taylor
I should be interested to see what replies you would get on the FireNet Fire Safety Forum on this one Shaun.

It seems to me that the building has Building Control consent and certification but that the dutyholder(s) must assess and manage the fire risk through adequate controls, procedures, etc. In this case stringent control of the condition of the stairways and Ground Floor corridor would seem essential to ensure that there is no risk of fire spread in the fabric or contents and that they remain unobstructed. It will, of course, also be necessary for the storey exit doors to remain in full working order. Is there adequate fire separation (eg fire door) in the corridor between the two stairways at Ground Floor? Does the Ground Floor corridor have at least two exits in opposite directions Is there any smoke-venting to the stairways or corridor? Whilst the evacuation time may be rather long, the more important need is for the occupants to be able to escape safely - despite the time taken.

I have come across examples of narrow exit routes in single staircase conditions on four storeys in the past where exceptions have been allowed for low occupant design density and then change of use has led to considerable numbers of persons present.

Posted By shaun mckeever
The trouble is Jack that the building doesn't comply and the situation exists now. What do you think are potential solutions?

Posted By ivorfire
The statutory bar will cease with the implementation of the Fire Safety Order on 1st October.

The building can be considered as per the risk presented and dealt through the fire risk assessment and susquent significant findings.

The evacuation strategy is not covered. There are considerations that may be apparent e.g. if the building was designed with staged evacuation as opposed to total evacuation. I have come across this before with narrow means of escape buildings.

May pay to dig further and see if the orginal fire strategy is available? This may offer further information. Falling short of up grading fire alarm or putting sprinklers into the building, staged evacuation may be a solution. This will mean more money being spent on reviewing fire alarm arrangements etc.

Hope this helps.

Posted By Adrian Watson
Shaun,

Statutory bar will be removed re 1st October if the change produces a serious risk to life;

Options include;

Adding an extra protected escape route to the lower levels of the building;
Reducing no of people using building;
Staged evacuation;
the enforcing authority serving on the responsible person an alterations notice requiring notification of changes to the use of the building etc.

Regards Adrian Watson

Posted By GJB
Have a word with these chaps, they seem to offer a good consultancy! Bit of free advertising there too!

http://www.s2partnership.co.uk/fireconsult.htm

Take care!

Posted By shaun mckeever
Thanks GJB. I hear they have an excellent consultant - one of the UK's best! And at a very good price too. I hear he sticks to what he knows best and doesn't meddle in other areas where he has limited knowledge. ;0)