Posted By P.J.O'Callaghan Seeking some professional advice for warehouse development. The company I am working have engaged a contracting company for installing a mezzanine floor within the original racking structure. The stairwells they have proposed to install are not enclosed. As this is a 2 tier floor I have raised concerns as to emergency evacuation procedures. I am saying that the stairwell be a self supporting structure and should be encased with a flame retarding material complete with self closing fire doors to comply with the fire regulations. The contracting firm have informed me they are working to SEMA and FEM code of practice and that under this they do not need to comply with the fire regulations, which I FEEL IS A LOT OF RUBBISH. Can some one assist me here as the company will not submit to me a copy of these code of practices relating to mezzanine floors, or is there an EN standard relating to this. The main problem is that the company are committed to a contract in that they require this project to commence soon. Also as typical managements do they have proceeded to negotiate with this contractor without the input of safety advice. I am looking for some professional assistance from a safety practitioner who has experience in this field. My view is that this contractor has submitted a cheep price and are now seeking extra money to install the system that I am insisting is installed. Under the 2005 Act all designers and suppliers have a duty to install systems that are safe and without risk to to working environment. All assistance is welcome here.

Posted By Darren Kirk PJ O I dealt with excactly the same situation in 2007, the company that did our work tried it on. No way was i having any of their nonsense, i contacted our local planning department & they were excellent, there was no need for planning however building notice was required. Regarding the fire safety aspect of the project, you most definitely DO have to review you FRA. Do not rely on others, when you have doubts check for your own piece of mind. It does tend to sound as if the contractor's just want the work to begin & the managers will be managers until it all goes pear shaped.Then they will direct the questions toward you asking why you didn't advise. A little cynical i know but at least it is realistic. Darren

Posted By willhiem may be worth taking a look at BS : 5588 also. You should be able to find something of use in that.

Posted By Robert K Lewis PJO Your stance will actually only work if each of the new floor areas constructed are in a separate fire compartmentation from the original warehouse floor. If not fire spread will occurr throughout the whole compartment unles you are using sprinklers or fire shutters. Mezzanine floors generally are not however segregated into new and separate fire compatments for the reason that this can be exceedingly difficult to achieve in some instances. Yes the fire strategy changes but simple enclosure of the stairwells is not a solution and certainly is not one when used alone. You will need to consider the usage of these areas and the maximum numbers present before moving forward. The fact that they are in a warehouse suggests primarily storage use with possibly some individual offices. Bob

Posted By Robert K Lewis Shaun We are both politely trying to point this out methinks:-) Mezzanine floors are built within the fire compartmentation and are not therefore subject to the same enclosed escape route requirements as gallery type structures for workers within a an office environment. This is a warehouse mezzanine and I fail to understand where the fire consultant is coming from. Bob