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Posted By Brenda H
Scenario is this:
Warehouse style building which has had a quarter of it sectioned off and made into offices on the ground and first floor.
On the first floor there is a suspended ceiling (30 min fire tiles), a main office, kitchen, meeting room off main office and another inner office.
What level of fire stopping is required above the suspended ceiling tiles?
At the moment there isn't anything, space runs right across different rooms. Is this sufficient based on the fire resistant ceiling tiles?
If not, can you point me to correct guidance. I've looked in the Red Book, fire safety for offices and the Approved Doc B bld reg book and can't see anything specific.
Cheers
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Posted By Mitch
Brenda, I would suggest in the absence of any guidance you contact your insurers, they will have a Fire Safety Surveyor to advise you
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Posted By Brenda H
Thanks Mitch, is there not guidance on this anywhere? I know fire stopping is a normal requirement, I just wasn't sure whether it made any difference because of the fire resistant tiles
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Posted By Robert Randall
Hi Brenda,
fire stopping would be required if a compartment (room) abuts onto an escape route, e.g. central corridor. Also the simple way to look at it is if there are fire doors in a compartment wall then the space above that compartment should have a fire wall between it and the compartment that the doors give access to.
There is little point in putting fire doors on a room exit if the fire can leap over the top of the wall.
I am not sure about the 30-minute ceiling tiles though. I personally was not aware that ceiling tiles can be fire rated.
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Posted By Brenda H
Hi Robert.
What you say is what I thought! But then I got confused about the 30 minute tiles!
I might take advice from the local brigade I think!
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Posted By Ashley Wood
Yes, some tile systems are fire resistant for 30 mins. However, if the light fittings are standard light fittings then the fire resistance fails. As already mentioned, a fire barrier should be in place above the tiles if there is a protected escape way i.e corridor, above an electrical or services cupboard, IT or telecoms room, kitchen. Also, if the office area is vast and the space also vast it makes sense to break the space down by erecting barriers. Not knowing how big the space is above the ceiling I can not comment further.
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Posted By Brenda H
The area isn't vast, about 18m squared I think.
However, the offices, meeting rooms and kitchen are all off the corridor (protected route), which agree is not much point being there if flames can nip up and over the doors!
When you talk about normal light fittings, what do you mean regarding 'normal'? opposed to what?
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Posted By Mitch
Brenda the light fittings can be fire rated or alternatively proprietary insulators can be fitted there is a company in Manchester that makes these.
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Posted By Brenda H
Cheers Mitch
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Posted By shaun mckeever
Brenda
What Ashley is talking about is the hole in the ceiling to accommodate the light fittings. Unless the light fittngs are designed to be fire resisting then the ceiling tiles cannot be fire resisting because of the holes to accommodate the lights.
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Posted By Ashley Wood
Brenda, I see this a lot in ceilings and doors. If they were fire rated when they were fitted, this is lost as soon as you cut a hole in them unless you fit something that seals the hole above the light or in and around the hole in the door.
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Posted By Mark Eden
Brenda
one thing you don't mention is the age of the building and in particular the office accommodation. The reason for this is to ascertain what Building Regs were in place at the time construction. There be no requirement for a fire break above the ceiling if the floor space is below the requirements.
Has the building had a fire certificate, if so were there any specifications about the office area?
The local fire safety centre may have some record of the building and be able to offer you the advise you require.
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