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#1 Posted : 25 August 2009 11:33:00(UTC)
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Posted By Junebug Good day, Could you please advise on the issue below: It has come to my attention that we will soon be leasing a building that apparently has the following: A fire detection system in the common parts i.e. alarm, smoke heads etc The area we will be responsible for is sort of attached to the main building, but does not have a detection system in place, there is no alarm system etc etc Budget has been requested to remedy this in our area, but apparently if it gets slashed it doesn't matter because 'there is nowhere in the regs that states that we must have a detection system in place.' Please advise, I am not sure I agree with this at all, I just don't see how this can be possible. Am I overreacting? If you need more info just let me know. Many thanks.
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#2 Posted : 25 August 2009 11:39:00(UTC)
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Posted By Stuff4blokes Junebug, your question is hard to answer without much more information: the type of information that would be gathered during a fire risk assessment. After taking all the fire risk factors in to account (occupancy, construction, fire initiation and spread etc etc) the competent person will be able to determine whether the existing fire precautions, detection and evacuation arrangements are appropriate or whether improvements (possibly including detection and alarm) are needed.
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#3 Posted : 25 August 2009 12:03:00(UTC)
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Posted By Swis It's not the regs but a british standard which suggests haveing a detection system...
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#4 Posted : 25 August 2009 12:15:00(UTC)
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Posted By AJM Junebug, if you want to discuss this off the forum please e-mail me as i have had quite a few experiances with this sort of issue and the measures to address the issue. Alan
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#5 Posted : 25 August 2009 13:55:00(UTC)
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Posted By Messy Shaw Actually the Regs do say you need fire detection 'if appropriate'. By that it means if appropriate to the risks and circumstances present in the premises and definitely NOT if appropriate to your budget!!!!! (if that were the case, hardly any buildings would have fire alarms or any FS provision!) As has been said, only a full FRA will be able to determine what is required RR(FS)O 2005 Article 13... Fire-fighting and fire detection 13. —(1) Where necessary (whether due to the features of the premises, the activity carried on there, any hazard present or any other relevant circumstances) in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, the responsible person must ensure that— (a) the premises are, to the extent that it is appropriate, equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and with fire detectors and alarms
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#6 Posted : 25 August 2009 15:12:00(UTC)
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Posted By Junebug Many thanks for your responses thus far. Once I have calmed down I shall take this issue up again. You have all confirmed what I thought - it seems they wanted to determine whether such cover was necessary without an assessment just in the board room sitting around deciding what they would like! They are reading the regs literally as it does say you might not always need these measures, but but but but.......as you and I know and as it says throughout the regs these decisions cannot be made without a risk assessment! Thanks again.
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