FireNet Community

FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Fire Safety => Topic started by: Underground on February 09, 2007, 06:55:02 PM

Title: Mezzanine floors - fire protection?
Post by: Underground on February 09, 2007, 06:55:02 PM

Hopefully a simple one?  A small 6m square mezzanine floor in a warehouse.  Underneath it is a workshop area - main risk is electrical.  Should the mezz floor have smoke detection underneath as it is chipboard?  The mezz is used for storage, but people could be up there for an hour.

thanks in advance

Title: Mezzanine floors - fire protection?
Post by: kurnal on February 09, 2007, 07:20:24 PM

Yes as a fire could start and develop without people on the mezz being aware of it in the early stages

Title: Mezzanine floors - fire protection?
Post by: ian gough on February 10, 2007, 03:18:05 PM

Not necessarily. Could be a bit OTT there Kurnal!

Title: Mezzanine floors - fire protection?
Post by: Graeme on February 10, 2007, 10:38:08 PM

it could be covered under a category L5

A mezzanine floor of limited size and designated as a storage area, and requiring
automatic fire detection as a means of reducing other fire precaution requirements.

Title: Mezzanine floors - fire protection?
Post by: kurnal on February 11, 2007, 08:43:50 AM

Maybe OTT Ian I agree- should have said IF not AS.
So to clarify

A small mezz is normally same level of risk and has the same means of escape considerations as the floor on which they sit.
The benefit of an open mezz is you get an open view of everything going on between you and your exit.

Open mesh mezzanines even give you an indication of what is happening beneath and allow a small fire to vent vertically  rather than spreading laterally inder the mezz floor. If it spreads laterally it may affect the point of access - steps or ladder. The chipboard (surface spread of flame rating class 3?) may cause this to happen.  
If there are any possibly hazardous or combustible  materials or  substances stored or used under the mezz, if possible move them.

If there is any chance of a fire starting under the mezz that could develop and a risk that it may not be detected in its early stages  then early detection is required. An L5 system may be all that is needed, depends on the level of risk and the system already installed.

Alternatively if area under mezz is occupied at all times with staff training and awareness of the risks that would do instead.

Title: Mezzanine floors - fire protection?
Post by: Underground on February 11, 2007, 10:25:32 AM

Thank you all very much - most useful.

Title: Mezzanine floors - fire protection?
Post by: ian gough on February 12, 2007, 09:50:02 AM

Underground: and check the Building Regs requirement/approval for when it was built. This might save you lots of time and hassle.