Author Topic: Camping and Caravan Sites (Read 11001 times)

Firewolf · « **on:** August 18, 2006, 12:02:26 PM »

Hi folks. Dont get many campsites / caravan sites in my part of the world.

Looking for legislation that deals with fire safety regs on camp / caravan sites, and also static mobile home sites.

Can any one direct me as to which Act deals with these type of sites?

Thanks

wee brian · « **Reply #1 on:** August 18, 2006, 12:31:43 PM »

Theres some stuff on Park homes here.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1151800

Firewolf · « **Reply #2 on:** August 18, 2006, 02:56:22 PM »

Cheers for that Wee Brian!

CJK · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2006, 03:31:01 PM »

Hi If you can get hold of a copy of the "Caravan sites and control of development act 1960" it covers fire safety on caravan sites and includes such things as the minimum distance between caravans etc.
Hope this is of help

CJK

John Webb · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2006, 09:32:48 PM »

I'd point out that the 1960 Act mentioned by CJK is, I believe, out of date on minimum distance between caravans. I recommend going to:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=115189
There is a paper from September 1991 by my former colleague at BRE, Martin Shipp, on 'Fire Spread between Caravans' which I recall led to spacings being modified.

CJK · « **Reply #5 on:** September 01, 2006, 08:14:57 AM »

Great info John, I wasn't aware of an update.
Can you check the link as I think the ID code at the end "115189" maybe a digit short as the link doesn't work

Regards
CJK

John Webb · « **Reply #6 on:** September 01, 2006, 10:12:37 AM »

Yes, it should be 1151891 - sorry about that!

They had several caravans in the FRS/BRE Hanger at Cardington which they set light to. Various measurements were made of radiation levels, flame height etc. Not being directly involved I only saw one of the tests - it was quite spectacular!

Firewolf · « **Reply #7 on:** September 01, 2006, 10:47:11 AM »

Hi John and CJK

Thanks for the info there - very helpful indeed.

The Colonel · « **Reply #8 on:** September 07, 2006, 01:43:27 PM »

John. Do you know if the report and research undertaken by your collegue Martin at BRE is in the public domain or where I might obtain a copy

Regards

Colin

zimmy · « **Reply #9 on:** September 07, 2006, 07:09:30 PM »

From an RRO point of view, caravan and camping parks are covered in the 'sleeping guide'. When I say covered, there is about 5 lines on them (p50) which mention a 6m spacing and then it refers you to three other documents namely-

BS 5576: Specification for fire safety features of camping tents, awnings, trailer tents and
caravan awnings. British Standards Institution.

Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960. Model Standards, Circular 14/89.

Fire spread between caravans, Information Paper 15/91. BRE.

I have also heard that the 1960 act is under review but as a guide published only a month or so ago references it, I assume it is still relevent

John Webb · « **Reply #10 on:** September 07, 2006, 08:02:10 PM »

The Information Paper 15/91 from BRE will be the work by Martin Shipp. You could try ringing him up - switchboard is 01923 664000 or www.bre.co.uk

Ricardo · « **Reply #11 on:** February 20, 2007, 06:18:25 PM »

Following on from all the above, under RRO at a caravan site, as already mentioned there aint a lot to go on in the sleeping guide,I assume that portable fire fighting equipment would be provided and located at strategic locations within a site,( not having stayed at a caravan site since I was a kid and dont remeber much about it)and one would assume only to be used by trained staff if available, as you wouldnt expect an untrained holidaymaker to just pick one up and start firing it of on his caravan that has developed a small fire.
I just thought that some more may have been offered on the subject of fighting fires within a caravan site within the guide.

AnthonyB · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2007, 01:30:27 PM »

I have a vague memory of ols standards for such sites requiring a 2 kilo Powder extinguisher in every static caravan and fire points of rotary gong or triangle with either a fire hose reel, or if no supply of water either 2 x 9 litre water extinguishers or a static tank of a certain capacity (escapes me at present) with fire buckets to scoop water from - all for use by the public!

kurnal · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2007, 03:21:27 PM »

Heres an extract from a recent report we have produced for a new site- hope it helps (and more to the point is accurate!!)

The enclosed schedule of recommendations has been drawn up using extracts from the Caravan and Control of Development Act 1960 and Model Standards for Touring Caravan Sites 1983.

Density

There should not be more than 75 units per hectare (caravans or mobile homes). This site complies.

Pitch Spacing

Every unit should be not less than 6 metres from any other unit. From measurements taken from the supplied site plan the proposal complies with this requirement.

Fire Points

No unit shall be further than 90 metres from a fire point.
There will need to be three fire points as marked on the enclosed plan.
All firefighting equipment within the fire points susceptible to damage by frost should be suitably protected by an enclosed unit.

The fire points should be clearly marked and accessible.

Each fire point should exhibit a conspicuous notice indicating the action to be taken in case of fire and should include:-

•   Raising the alarm
•   Evacuating the area
•   Calling the Fire Service
•   If practicable attacking the fire

In addition at the site entrance there should be a notice indicating action in case of emergency and showing where the emergency services can be contacted.

Fire Fighting Equipment

It is recommended that each fire point should contain a dry powder fire extinguisher (6kg or 9kg) complying with BSEN3: 1996 with a rating of at least 26A. Dry powder has a number of advantages in these situations:-

•   No risk of frost damage
•   Suitable for all classes of fire including flammable liquids and vehicle fires
•   Excellent fire ratings compared to size and weight
•   Effective even in untrained hands.

It is recommended that a fire extinguisher of at least 13A (foam spray or dry powder) be fitted within the reception area.

All firefighting equipment should be maintained in working order, tested and maintained in accordance with BS5306 (Weekly inspection to check it has not been damaged or discharged, annual inspection by a competent person, 5 yearly discharge and refill) and all records of tests and inspections to be kept available for inspection by the licensing authority.

Fire Alarm

A   The site itself

At each fire point there should be some means of raising the alarm in case of fire. This could be a manually operated sounder, a gong or a hand-operated siren.

Osprey · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2007, 10:34:49 AM »

I've spent several years as the officer responsible for caravan sites at a Local Authority in SW England, and have plenty of experiences in trying to persuade site owners to address fire issues.

Generally the 6m spacing issue is paramount, but this relates mainly to park homes where many of the sites are made of wooden mobile homes. Modern touring caravans are metal construction, but a 6m spacing is usually specified for consistency. As radiated heat is the main risk of fire spread between units, then ensuring the absence of combustible materials between units is paramount,. especially in permanent residential sites.

The Local Fire Safety Officer and myself have applied RRO principles in certain sites where the 6m separation could not be achieved, and the units could not be moved due to their age and condition. In one case a 2m concrete wall was constructed between units to act as a fire break, and in another the wooden units were clad with materials with a 60minute fire resistance and the windows removed to reduce the effects of radiated heat between wooden units that were less than 6m apart

News:

Author Topic: Camping and Caravan Sites (Read 11001 times)