Siting of dry riser outlets in flats

[kurnal]

Does the forum have any views on the siting of dry riser outlets in purpose built blocks of flats?

ADB does not require a firefighting lobby in flats, as the corridors are so well protected.

So the outlets could either be placed in the staircases- ensuring that the stair door cannot close and may trap the hose- or in the corridor where it is possible that untenable conditions may be encountered by firefighters whilst attempting to connect their hose.
If the outlet is placed in the corridor should any limit be placed on the distance from the stair?

I think there was an incident in the past where firefighters lost their lives when advancing towards a fire as they lost water due to a hose trapped or kinked as it passed through a fire door as they advanced towards a fire.

[jayjay]

The report and recomendations following the firefighter deaths in Stevenage High Rise is avialable to down load at the following link
http://www.hertsdirect.org/yrccouncil/hcc/fire/

This is worth reading if you are involved with High Rise flats. In existing high rise flats, a fire risk assessement  is not bound by the ADB if you think there is a risk to fire fighters then it should be identified.

[wee brian]

Kurnal - Recommended procedure is that the hose is connected below the fire floor.

So outlets in the corridor would involve wedging two stair doors. The problem is that FRAs have not got a clear and consistent procedure - this is one of the key issues fron the Herts incident - procedures were not followed.

[kurnal]

Thanks for both the above replies.
The Herts incident report makes some very significant recommendations that surely hold good for all brigades for the safety and welfare of our firefighters. I hope they are taken on board.

The reason for the query was that for  a current project I placed the riser and outlets in the staircase, the BCO  and brigade have asked for them to be resited to the corridors.

This would suit the client as it means he could possibly  cover the block with one riser in the centre,  reaching all parts within 45 m  on that floor but ignoring the fact pointed out by wee brian that it is standard operational practice to operate from a bridgehead from the floor below.

There is in any case a risk that persons above the floor involved and who need to be evacuated as firefighting takes place may have their means of escape jeopardised by the hose passing through the staircase doors.

[wee brian]

If the FRS are happy then that's fair enough - I dont think many brigades have taken the high rise advice on board.