Stairwell Fire escapes

[frazw]

Hi,

I was threatened with legal action by a neighbour over my keeping my bicycle locked to the banister in the stairwell.  I live in a top floor flat and use the banister opposite my front door which means I am not blocking access to any other flats escaping down the stairs. The only point I'm not sure about is the hatch above the area where I keep my bike. There is a hatch to access the crawlspace above my flat, where the water tank is, which has no lighting or proper flooring however there is a hatch from this crawlspace onto the roof. The hatch is locked with two padlocks (keys presumably lost, unscrewing the latches is the only way I know of to get up there) and has no fixed ladder or stairs up to it.
I want to know where I stand as I don't want to endanger anyone, but I also want to protect my property.

Fraser White

[nearlythere]

Frazw
Can't see the link between the the bike and the hatch. Do you think the bike might prevent someone getting up to the roof space?
You might find in your tennancy or flat owners agreement that the stairwell must be maintained sterile ie empty. When people see a landing being used as a bike store some might see also see it as a good safe and dry place to keep a motorcycle, which I have come across.
Can't see it as a hinderance to escape unless there was the chance of people falling over it or it being knocked onto the stairway.
Certainly can't see it being an actual source of fire unless it is a super dooper one made from a combustible material.

[frazw]

Thanks for replying and giving me some ease of mind.
I don't believe that the hatch is a fire escape or that I am blocking it since my flatmate and I have gotten up into the crawlspace using a ladder when the bike was locked there, I think the worst that could happen is a minor injury caused by the handlebars if a ladder failed.  I wondered if perhaps the law might view it differently e.g. minimum clearances or something like that.
There is absolutely no chance of anyone knocking it over firstly because the only people who could would be myself or my flatmate (unless people were trying to escape via the hatch) and secondly it is locked to the banister, and couldn't fall over.
My flatmate is the owner so I will ask him if he has an agreement over such things, but I am getting the impression I have nothing to worry about since there isn't even an official agreement over stair cleaning as far as I know.

[jokar]

Is yours the only flat at that level?

[slubberdegullion]

Frazw,

What problem could your bike possibly be causing for the means of escape for people in the building?  

There are two groups of people to consider.  

The first is people who resort to the crawl space accessed by the flap above your bike.  Generally, means of escape from such places is not even considered by anyone carrying out a risk assessment because:

                          1) they are resorted to very infrequently,
                          2) when they are resorted to it is the responsibility of the person going into the space to ensure that they have their own personal satisfactory means of escape.

The only way you could cause a problem to these people is if someone goes up into the crawl space when your bike isn't there and then you come along and plonk your bike down in precisely the spot where it makes it impossible for the person in the crawl space to get out.  You wouldn't do that, would you?

The second group to consider are the people who normally resort to the more accessible parts of the building.  For example, your neighbours or their visitors or you, yourself, or your visitors.  You would cause a problem for such people if you obstruct the normal route of exit in the stairway.  Don't do that and there is no problem.

Simply. just ensure that your bike isn't causing an obstruction and no problem exists.

I'm assuming here that your bike is not built of highly combustible material!

Stu

[slubberdegullion]

What happened to the html??

[CivvyFSO]

try "["

[frazw]

Thanks again for the replies.
Yes the bike is indeed made from non flammable aluminium. So I think I'm safe. The only flat which could conceivably be block is mine and there is over a metre in clearance anyway.
Thanks for your thoughts on the RA side of things, I suspected it to be the case but wanted confirmation. I appreciate that.

Fraser

[nearlythere]

Remember that if it is a common stairway anybody from any level has legitimate access to any part if it. Somebody looking for a few shillings could fall over it. It does not have to be an obstuction, even partially, only during an emergency.
Mind you, it would not be unreasonable for someone to be entitled to enjoy the use of a stairway in a residential environment without having to take precautions to avoid falling over a bicycle.

[slubberdegullion]

try "["

oh yeah.  Ta