office in basement car park

[terry martin]

Could anyone give me there opinions on the following?

There is an office, with computer terminals for 4 persons, in a basement car park 20m X 20m. (The office is effectively an inner room built within the dimensions of the existing structure of the car park)

The office has been built without being subject to building control, and any fire resistance the structure may offer is very questionable. with large glazing panels on the 2 sides facing the car park.

the car park has no FFE, sprinklers or AFD.

travel distance is 17M single direction only.

If this was an inner room to an office, say, on the first floor. I wouldn’t be too concerned. But I’m not sure if being in a basement car park would make this unacceptable?

Is there any legislation for this?

[nearlythere]

An access room should not be a room of high fire risk. Is a basement car park a high fire risk room? After all its only a store room for cars.

[Dinnertime Dave]

Break each part down in turn

1. Does it need to be fire resistant? From what you describe then no

2. Inner room - does everyone in the room have adequate vision of the access room? Two gazed panels sounds like yes.

3. No firefighting equipment, I’d expect to see FFE appropriate for the risk within the room.

4. Travel distance of 17m one direction ADB suggests 25m one direction for storage normal hazard.

5. Does it matter if it is on the first floor or the basement we aren’t jumping out of windows.  

BCO may have issues with ventilation and adequate lighting. I would assume that there is escape lighting fitted.

[kurnal]

Approved document B says something to the effect that a car park is a place of predictable, and not particularly high fire risk. So an inner room should not be a problem here from a fire safety viewpoint but other environmental factors may affect its suitability as a workplace- and a risk assessment under the Workplace regs will indicate this- lighting, ventilation, temperature, welfare facilities.

[jokar]

Hold on, many underground car parks have kiosks to pay money as you enter or leave.  is there a difference?

[PhilB]

I know I'm just reckless...but this doesn't scare me at all. As Hungry Dave correctly points out ...no need for FR....adequate vision and limited travel distance......maybe an extinguisher for the office....sorted!

[slubberdegullion]

I'm a bit naive on car parks but do I recall a recommendation that all electrical equipment should be 1.2m from the floor, in case of fumes from a leaky car?  

And, as kurnal said, ventilation would be critical - we don't want the poor old occupants asphyxiating themselves on CO fumes or getting cancer from petrol fumes.  Short term visits to a car par to pick up or drop off a car are one thing but working in it all day long every day is bound to result in longer exposure to potentially harmful fumes.

Stu

[terry martin]

Thanks guys, didn’t think it was much of a problem, just wasn’t sure if there was legislation recommending any restrictions on this type of set up.

With regards to ventilation, insulation and other workplace matters. Because this was built over a year ago without the knowledge of the Local Authority, they had no input, nor can they impose any changes retrospectively.
The LA can only make you serve a building notice within 12 months of the work being completed

[terry martin]

one of my colluegues has just raised an interesting point.

as the use of the office has nothing to do with the car park, doesn't this become an issue with respect to purpose groups and the respective compartmentation and fire resistance?