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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Fire Safety => Topic started by: Centurion on June 17, 2008, 06:18:33 PM

Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: Centurion on June 17, 2008, 06:18:33 PM
Does anybody have a clue how much a fire strategy costs. Im  surprised at the different prices quoted..some wanting a % of the build cost some a flat fee. Stipulation being it must be PAS 911 or equivalent standard.
Cheers
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: kurnal on June 17, 2008, 10:42:56 PM
It will all come down to how long the job will take- in the end we all work to an hourly rate. So the answer is it depends on size, complexity, design- does it comply with standard design templates or will fire engineering be required, how much background info is available - work already done by the architect.

So some will give a quote based on the total building cost- thats generally how Approved Building Inspectors calculate their fees and its a fair indicator for a standard, code compliant building, others will take a look at the plans and give a quote based on that.  Sorry but thats how it is- you should invite several quotes and take it from there.
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: Tom Sutton on June 17, 2008, 11:06:52 PM
I have heard this term banded about but where do fire strategy documents fall in the scheme of things? Sorry Centurion.
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: kurnal on June 17, 2008, 11:24:59 PM
Hi TW
The followng link may (or may not) cast some light on the subject.

http://www.kingfell.com/uploads/PAS911WhitePaper.pdf

I'm afraid that to straightforward folk like you and I this PAS may contain liberal quantities of what we used to call bollox. But its the future.
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: Centurion on June 18, 2008, 07:22:14 AM
Yeah PAS 911 like it or lump it I suppose its hard to attain standardisation without a standard. BS will follow im sure. Again its no different to PAS 79 and the likes.
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: kurnal on June 18, 2008, 08:00:54 AM
Or was PAS911 only necessary becoause the BSI rushed into adopting PAS79 and then realised that reallty its only an audit and does not effectively record the risk control measures and how they work together in concert?

Is the strategy you are looking for something produced in hindsight on completion or partial completion of the project as many of them are,  or will it be starting in the initial design phase of the project?
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: Centurion on June 18, 2008, 09:41:21 AM
Its hindsight..BCO has thrown back a requirement for a strategy...prescriptive build no big licks...no fire engineering...just a pulling together of ifre measures.
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: Big T on June 18, 2008, 09:51:06 AM
I was at a presentation regarding 911 and it came accross as a "new wave" yet simple way to create a strategy.

Why must it be written in line with 911 though? its a guide but there are other ways of creating one.
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: Centurion on June 18, 2008, 10:07:11 AM
Its doesnt have too be..just prefered. Guidance is guidance after all, though after reading PAS 911 the methodology although not that different to the norm does create an opportunity for some standardisation.
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: kurnal on June 18, 2008, 10:19:53 AM
I would ask the BCO to clarify why he is asking for the strategy. If its something to support Regulation 16B then thats one thing a necessary and useful overview to inform the Responsible Person in the completion of a fire risk assessment, but generally the BCO will only require a strategy document to justify variations from the ADB or 5588 prescriptive documents.

For straightforward BCO  request for a strategy document  to support the Building Regulations Approval process in a prescriptive building I usually just run through the Functional requirements B1-B5 and bring together all elements that contribute to compliance and then put together the ongoing management requirements- depending on the quality and content of the CDM H&S and O&M file . This falls short of PAS911 - but theres no need for duplication of effort in my view.

Now if we were to do it properly we should have sat down with the client and architect before anybody put pen to paper and then the PAS911 approach  becomes very relevant and of value. But it never works like that.
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: Centurion on June 18, 2008, 12:24:35 PM
It could have something to do with L1 (landlord areas only) and hard wired not interfaced to the private accomodation. As the fire service in a attempt to drive down unwanted fire signals prefered a part 6 to the accomodation and nothing to the communal areas.
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: CivvyFSO on June 18, 2008, 01:54:27 PM
That is more related to building regs/ADB etc than to any requirement/suggestion of the fire service.
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: nearlythere on June 18, 2008, 02:53:33 PM
Quote from: kurnal
Hi TW
The followng link may (or may not) cast some light on the subject.

http://www.kingfell.com/uploads/PAS911WhitePaper.pdf

I'm afraid that to straightforward folk like you and I this PAS may contain liberal quantities of what we used to call bollox. But its the future.
The small to medium sized businesses are going to love this.

Wonder how it will fit in with the following though?

http://www.berr.gov.uk/bbf/better-regulation/red-tape/page23677.html
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: Davo on June 18, 2008, 04:42:28 PM
Prof

I think they call it b****** nowadays too.
Don't show it to my boss, he will get very excited, he loves stuff like this.


davo
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: Centurion on June 18, 2008, 05:25:30 PM
The best bit is it costs £99 for a copy either downloaded of hard for all 48 pages!! Or you could wait a year or three. Or source it underground!
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: Tom Sutton on June 19, 2008, 09:19:18 AM
Quote from: kurnal
Hi TW
The following link may (or may not) cast some light on the subject.

http://www.kingfell.com/uploads/PAS911WhitePaper.pdf

I'm afraid that to straightforward folk like you and I this PAS may contain liberal quantities of what we used to call bollox. But its the future.
Thanks Kurnal but it just raises more questions than answers and why is it necessary for a graduate and member of IFE to produce the strategy. I agree it is a load of small spherical objects and I shall place it on the back burner for now. However you mentioned Regulation 16B could you elaborate?
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: nearlythere on June 19, 2008, 10:21:11 AM
Quote from: twsutton
Quote from: kurnal
Hi TW
The following link may (or may not) cast some light on the subject.

http://www.kingfell.com/uploads/PAS911WhitePaper.pdf

I'm afraid that to straightforward folk like you and I this PAS may contain liberal quantities of what we used to call bollox. But its the future.
Thanks Kurnal but it just raises more questions than answers and why is it necessary for a graduate and member of IFE to produce the strategy. I agree it is a load of small spherical objects and I shall place it on the back burner for now. However you mentioned Regulation 16B could you elaborate?
I'm surprised the author did not advocate that the strategy should also be undertaken by companys whose names began with K and ended in L.
Qualified, experienced and IFE. Why? A qualified person is not neccessarily experienced and an experienced person is not neccessarily qualified. What a pompus and arrogant person.
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: kurnal on June 19, 2008, 10:26:27 AM
Quote from: nearlythere
I'm surprised the author did not advocate that the strategy should also be undertaken by companys whose names began with K and ended in L.
I ccould be very much in favour of that
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: kurnal on June 19, 2008, 10:42:50 AM
Quote from: twsutton
However you mentioned Regulation 16B could you elaborate?
Hi TW

Rather than reinvent the wheel the new regulation is very well explained on page 147- (APPENDIX G)  of the approved document which you can download here
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_App_Doc_B_v2.pdf%20
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: Tom Sutton on June 19, 2008, 11:38:19 PM
Thanks Kurnal I eventually found Regulation 16B and Appendix G and it cleared it all up. It does make sense but even in complex buildings I do not understand why anybody would ask for it to be in accordance with PAS 911, the AD guidance lays out all that is required.
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: wee brian on June 20, 2008, 11:53:14 AM
PAS 911 is utter rubbish and should be smothered at birth.

Its definately not what reg 16b is about
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: Davo on June 20, 2008, 01:43:06 PM
kurnal wrote:
I'm surprised the author did not advocate that the strategy should also be undertaken by companys whose names began with K and ended in L.

I ccould be very much in favour of that



Prof, you developing a stammer?

Wee Brian, top comment!


davo
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: kurnal on June 20, 2008, 02:41:58 PM
No Davo I just got so excited thinking about the opportunities, you know replacing the current Rolls with a lear jet that my hands started to shake.
Title: Fire Strategy for new build residential premises
Post by: Davo on June 20, 2008, 03:20:07 PM
Prof K

Understandable, old chap, understandable
Oop north we call 'em teacakes though.

davo