fire access

i hear what you are all saying but myself i believe in preparing for the worst then anything less should be easy. but thanks for your comments

Stephen,

If this wasn't right then 99% of the offices in London would have to be knocked down and rebuilt. For example the largest office blocks near London Waterloo station has a central corridor running along it's entire length on most floors, and the tower section has one staircase.

As the others have said, if the RA's are in completed properly and their recommendations put in place then then as it's name suggest the risks have been assessed and control measures been put in place to reduce the risks as much as possible. Taking the view that a plane is going to hit is a bit of a pesimistic view, I used to think that the USSR were going to nuke half of Europe but it never happened.

I wouldn't worry about terrorist attacks happening, if they do they do. Its a good idea to have procedures in place to deal with them or any other disaster.

Hello Stephen

it is difficult to comment accurately on any particular workplace condition without inspection and consideration, however, if there are a number of passive structural measures in place, active fire safety measures in place and a robust management of fire safety practices within the workplace you will find that the environment may be more safe than you think.

Fire Regulations accept dead end conditions to exist so long as there is compliance of guidelines in respect of distance to be covered to enter a protected escape route, the numbers resorting within the area in question and the presence of certain structural conditions in the fabric of the building.

Once in an escape route, if there is the possibility of escape in more than one direction, then the risk falls significantly.

In certain buildings there might only be a single staircase for access and escape but again this will be acceptable dependent upon the number of floors above and below ground and the structural elements incorporated.

The provision of active fire safety measures further enhances the safety in the building and as long as the provision of the relevant equipment and systems is suitable and sufficient.

The implementation and management of a robust safe working culture and provision of adequate training applicable to all employees will further reduce risk.

As I stated at the beginning, without a proper inspection the actual conditions within your workplace cannot be fully commented upon.

Regards

Mike Kane

the building has all fire RAMs in place i just find it hard to believe that an office can have only one access. the H&S officer's response to my question was we have an ample automated system. well i would like to hear him tell that to some poor persons family should the worst ever happen. all fire fighting appliances are located in the corridor. but that don't help should the fire engulf the corridor. you would think after 9-11 buildings would consider better egress in case of fire. but it seems as long as someone with an iosh/nebosh has writ a fire RAM then we are covered. even though there is a potenial disaster staring you in the face.

Difficult to respond without knnowing more. There must be a current fire risk assessment in place, with consideration of fire detection and fire fighting appliances included for example. Ask to get sight of the fire risk assessment?

hi gang i have question about fire access. in the building i work i have noticed that many of the offices only have access and egress through the same door. and that all fire fighting equipment is in the corridors. so if a fire engulfed thr corridor then the people would have no way of getting out of the room or to fight any fire. is this right or should all office space have some sort of escape