Posted By shaun mckeever
No

Posted By Crim
I have a personal concern about the competency of some people undertaking fire risk assessments who do not have the necessary knowledge. There is another post to do with fire risk assessment today that reinforces my concern.

While I realise that people need to start somewhere and to be assisted through the process initially, we are talking about life safety here and that is something not to be treated lightly.

I just wonder how best to ensure that fire risk assessments are carried out correctly and produce the desired result in every case?

Posted By Crim
Bob,

My comment was made because I really do have a concern about unqualified people undertaking fire risk assessments.

I often get questioned to assist people who have taken on the responsibility for a Fire Risk Assessment and who think they can "get away with it".

With regard to your competency, you are right I don't know anything about you hence the comment was not directed at you personally, however "If the cap fits ......"

Posted By Robert K Lewis
Rob

Under FPA 1971 and its associated code they should already have been fitted and were not therefore it is proper to insist they comply with the standards of the day.

There is from the other point of view no chapter and verse that permits any risk assessment to reduce the requirements of design codes of practice. There is no such ability in the RRO, it repealed and replaced the FPA but assumes that up to that date the FPA etc requirements were followed. It is not a case of retrospective application but one of insisting that the standards are met unless equal or better spread of fire precautions can be demonstrated.

Thus the 30 min door requirement has been overlooked for a period during which they should have complied, The RRO now requires that the assessment recognises that 30 min spread of fire protection has to be achieved - the only question is how. Fires may not be expected and all ignition sources controlled but even then they can happen, after all you still have power supply to the room. If a resident does breach your rules and smokes, then sets fire to the bedroom what is to limit the spread of flame? It is too late to discipline him/her when they and several others are dead.

The fire authority do not need chapter and verse to instruct work - you need chapter and verse to prove the instruction has been matched or equalled in another at least equivalent way. Can you demonstrate 30 minute fire spread resistance? If not the assessment is deficient.

Bob

Posted By Ken Taylor
Aren't the FRS saying that they consider the controls for the fr of the doors as per your risk assessment to be inadequate? Considering the nature of the occupancy and the information supplied, I am also inclined to that opinion and would certainly prefer to see min 1/2hr fr.

Posted By GT
Rob,
Sorry, but I wasn't inferring that you were anything other than professional. But even professionals get heated at times especially in this wide open game of safety interpretations.

Can you confirm if this is a domestic dwelling or is it a commercial business in the name of "a house in multiple occupation" run by your client for profit?

Regards

GT

Posted By shaun mckeever
Good. Well done!

It goes to show that you know your building and circumstances better than we do.

Regards
Shaun

Posted By pluto
Rob

I am glad that the FRS has accepted your argument that in this case, the combination of additional measures compensated for the lack of certified FR doors.
Not all FRS inspectors are code huggers!

I would be interested in why they changed their mind? Was it just a more experienced officer who could juggle all the bits and come up with the appropriate decision?