Required fire protection for tunnel leading to parking area

[John]

My apologies I may have posted this question in the wrong place earlier...

Can anyone advise me what, if any, fire protection would be required in a small tunnel leading to a parking area at the rear of a block of residential flats ?

There are three floors above the tunnel, which currently has "naked" girders visible.  There are also 4 inch plastic waste pipes leading from the roof of the tunnel.

The entrance door to the flats is also in the tunnel.  The door appears to be of aluminium construction, with toughened glass panels.

In my opinion, the worst case scenario could be a car catching fire and stopping in the tunnel.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[BLEVE]

In E&W the beams would be required to provide 30 minutes FR (15 min if open sided carpark only).

It is possible that the designer has calculated that fire protection is not required or

the beams are provided with a thin intumescent coating appearing untreated or

the beams are a shelf angle floor type.

Can we presume there is an alternative means of escape from the cqar park proper and also from the residential premises.

Again is there a Fire/smoke door provided at the end of the access corridor from the tunnel to the residential property or is this just the aluminium door described.

[John]

In E&W the beams would be required to provide 30 minutes FR (15 min if open sided carpark only).

It is possible that the designer has calculated that fire protection is not required or

the beams are provided with a thin intumescent coating appearing untreated or

the beams are a shelf angle floor type.

Can we presume there is an alternative means of escape from the cqar park proper and also from the residential premises.

Again is there a Fire/smoke door provided at the end of the access corridor from the tunnel to the residential property or is this just the aluminium door described.

There is no alternative means of escape from the car park or from the residential premises, and the only door is the aluminium door as described.  Occupants of the car park would be in an open space, and could place themselves far enough away from the tunnel in the event of a problem, occupants of the residential premises would probably be unaware of any problem unless they were trying to exit the block at the time of a fire in the tunnel.

[BLEVE]

Should be an alternative MOE from both.

[BLEVE]

So are we saying the car park is an open sided car park? and the flats are provided with a siingle protected stairwell?

Is an automatic opening vent provided at the head of the stairwell?

What type of fire detection system is provided?

What is the stairwell/lobby arrangement at the enterence to each flat/floor level.

How long is the tunnel?

Again, previous comments re steel beams still apply.

You would typically expect FD30S at the end of the access corridor and at each lobby/entrance to each flat.

[John]

The car park is open, ie not under cover, but is surrounded by walls / fences.

The flats are provided with a single stairwell, which appears to be of a wooden construction, (not known if the wood has been treated with a fire resisting coating).

There is fire detection on each level in the stairwell, and also in each lobby area leading to the flats.  There are fire doors on each level between the stairwell and the lobbies leading to the flats, which also appear to have fire doors, I am assuming these fire doors will be FD30.

The tunnel is approximately 20 - 25 feet long.

[Phoenix]

If the steel work in the tunnel is supporting the floors above or in any way forming part of the structure of the building then it should be protected to the appropriate level for the building.

The flat exits leading to the tunnel is poor design.  If a defend in place strategy is in place then, at the very least, the door to the flats from the tunnel should be fire resisting.  Ideally, an alternative final exit from the flats should be sought - it is appreciated that this might be very problematic to achieve.

Otherwise, what can you do?  Put double yellow lines in the tunnel?

As for the lack of alternative exit from the car park, this is not uncommon in such situations whether it be from a car park or a garden or similar.  Again, what can you do?  Again, I would think that prohibiting parking in the tunnel and at either end of it could remove a good portion of the risk. 

Stu

[CivvyFSO]

It would seem that 60mins FR is required as the building will clearly be over 5m and it is flats that the structure is holding up.

[BLEVE]

If flats were existing or now converted to flats, 30 min FR is permitted provided height not above 3 storeys and MOE requirements are met.

[nearlythere]

What is the construction of the ceiling of the tunnel?
What is above the tunnel ceiling in relation to the flat over it?
Does the plastic soil pipe go through the tunnel ceiling into the flat over?

[John]

The construction of the ceiling of the tunnel appears to be of concrete construction.

Above the tunnel in relation to the flat above, I have no knowledge.

And yes, the plastic pipe appears to go through the tunnel ceiling into the flat above.

[Tom Sutton]

I would think that prohibiting parking in the tunnel and at either end of it could remove a good portion of the risk.

John is parking in the tunnel restricted by its width or yellow lines or can people park in the tunnel.

[John]

There is no area for parking in the tunnel, it is only wide enough to allow one vehicle through at a time, and is inted for access to the car park at the rear of the building.

My concern was that a vehicle may break down in the tunnel and catch fire.

[Tom Sutton]

My concern was that a vehicle may break down in the tunnel and catch fire.

I am assuming the tunnel is only about 12 metres so what do you think is the level of risk is to that happening, I would think it is extremely low.