Sheltered Housing (again sorry)

[jasper]

Hi all,
sorry to bring the subject of sheltered housing up again but I am having problems with the actual internal layout of sheltered accommodation flats; basically the flats have the correct detection throughout with a part 6 detector to the entrance lobby, however the problem is that once passed the lobby you go into a lounge with a kitchen door to the right (not a fire door), then after passing through the living room is a bedroom. So a fire in the kitchen would render the lobby (going through the living room) impassible in the event of a fire for occupants in the bedroom - any ideas?

[kurnal]

Is this ground and first floor only? Escape windows from the bedoom?

Otherwise it sounds out of line, though with a fire door to the kitchen and a smoke detector in the lounge it couold comply with the RRO sleeping accommodation guide - which (I think on page 70) allows bedrooms to be inner rooms subject to several conditions.

[jasper]

Hi Kurnal, yes it is two storey with escape windows from the lounge not the bedroom

[Izan FSO]

Is this ground and first floor only? Escape windows from the bedoom?

Otherwise it sounds out of line, though with a fire door to the kitchen and a smoke detector in the lounge it couold comply with the RRO sleeping accommodation guide - which (I think on page 70) allows bedrooms to be inner rooms subject to several conditions.

i am new to the forum and have missed the other posts on sheltered housing but does sheltered housing fall within the scope of the RRO? if it is their primary residence then it is a domestic premises and the RRO does not apply.

[kurnal]

Common areas are subject to the RRO. Domestic parts are not.

However as consultants we are often asked for advice in respect of private dwellings and offer best practice advice,  this advice is sometimes requested by tenants who have concerns and sometimes by landlords wishing to make sure that all is as good as it reasonably can be. Sometimes when a building is changing hands the prospective owners will wish to have a survey of all parts undertaken so they know what they are letting themselves in for. In these cases we compare the domestic parts of the accommodation to the benchmark guidance of the Building Regs or whatever design standard is appropriate. We will make recommendations but not set out an action plan for the domestic parts unless they impact on the common areas.

[kurnal]

Jasper- it may comply with the RRO guidance then if there is a smoke detector in the living room, a fire door on the kitchen and the smoke detector is within 7.5m of the bedroom door. Sounder in the bedroom would be better- LD2

[GB]

With the likely occupant characteristics of the sheltered accommodation users, are escape windows of any real value? Should we not look at a solution that will work for the user bearing in mind the likely deteriotion of their health, mobility and agility in the years ahead?

[kurnal]

Absolutely- that is the principle of the legislation-  but in the real world convincing landlords to spend money on upgrading buildings that remain  compliant with the building regulations for the protection of persons who sit outside the fire safety legislation once their flat door is closed could be difficult.