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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Fire Safety => Topic started by: SidM on July 03, 2009, 11:10:21 AM

Title: Open cloakroom on a dead end corridor in a school
Post by: SidM on July 03, 2009, 11:10:21 AM

A door is impractical because you would lose the space and the little blighters could hide in the cloakroom and play funny games.  In such a situation what is the fastest acting detector head that could be used in the cloakroom.  Is it acceptable to use ionising or do you have to use optical?

Title: Re: Open cloakroom on a dead end corridor in a school
Post by: Big A on July 03, 2009, 11:25:13 AM

I'd go for a drencher system. That'll teach the little blighters.

Title: Re: Open cloakroom on a dead end corridor in a school
Post by: Phoenix on July 03, 2009, 12:09:59 PM

Cloakrooms are high risk rooms in schools and must be separated from escape routes by fire resisting construction.  No ifs, no buts...

Stu

Title: Re: Open cloakroom on a dead end corridor in a school
Post by: Dinnertime Dave on July 03, 2009, 12:50:12 PM

Quote from: Phoenix on July 03, 2009, 12:09:59 PM

Cloakrooms are high risk rooms in schools and must be separated from escape routes by fire resisting construction.  No ifs, no buts...

Stu

Cloakrooms are potentially high risk but I would be happy to accept any of the following -

1.   Separation by fire resistance
2.   Smoke detection
3.   Provide an alternative from classrooms thus removing the dead end/inner room 

Title: Re: Open cloakroom on a dead end corridor in a school
Post by: Phoenix on July 03, 2009, 04:19:48 PM

CLG Guide:

"Cloakrooms should not form part of circulation spaces and where this is not possible you should consider using lockers made from a non-combustible material."

Detection is insufficient compensation.

Stu

Title: Re: Open cloakroom on a dead end corridor in a school
Post by: Clevelandfire 3 on July 04, 2009, 12:23:31 AM

Detection is not a viable solution

Either alternative means of escape should be provided from each classroom or cloakrooms should be seperated from escape route.

Title: Re: Open cloakroom on a dead end corridor in a school
Post by: Phoenix on July 04, 2009, 11:28:00 AM

Thanks Clevelandfire 3 (what happened to 1 and 2?).

Just a further point - even if an alternative escape route is available for all, it is usually still a bad idea to have the cloakroom in a circulation space because of its vulnerability to arsonists.  With schools we are interested in much more than just life safety and high fire loads should be kept out of circulation spaces.  Of course, this is dependent upon the general arson threat to the school, but it is high for many schools and is never zero.

Stu