2 storey inner room

[terry martin]

i have recently been involved in a premises that has a 2 storey inner room, i have never seen one before so would like your thoughts.

the premise is a shop, the usuall kind, terraced, aprox (w)5m X (d)10m. at the back of the shop is a room used as an office aprox 2mx4m within the room is a staircase leading to another room above it of smaller dimensions 2mx2m (used as a staff/rest room)

because the stairs are considered accomodation stairs within ADB, i would consider the 1st floor room an extension of the gnd floor room (duplex i suppose)

there is sufficient SD in both access and inner rooms( the latter not really relevant but usefull), travell distance from the furthest point of the 1st floor room to main exit is just within guidance for single direction.

i don't really see a problem with it, but thought i would sound it out with you all.

[johno67]

If it is within single travel distance, has at least mains powered (battery back up) interlinked SD and the shop doesn't contain materials that are likely to ignite and spread fire rapidly, personally I wouldn't be too concerned.

[Colin Meech]

Can't really see the relevance of ADB to a terraced shop, assuming that was built umpteen years ago.  I agree with johno but might express the idea in the dreaded terms 'risk assessment'.  

This type of room at the top of a twisty stair was quite common in Edwardian buildings.  they were often the 'counting house', a small panelled room where cash was counted and bagged.  hence the relatively 'remote' design.

There has always been a paranoia about 'inner rooms' in England, they are all different, some present little or no additional risk, some should be boarded up as criminally insane, the rest fit in between.

Just as long as no-one is still making the assumption that all of the ills of every 'inner-room' can be resolved with a vision panel, I'm happy.

[kurnal]

What kind of shop is it? if a restaurant or a chip shop I would be worried, if a convenience store less so but may look for extra vigilance over the products stocked, if a fishmongers I would be OK without the smoke detectors.