Automated roller shutters in kitchens

[Phil B]

Do I have to install an automated roller shutter in the kitchen (connected to the fire panel) of a public building or is it just regarded as good practise to do so?. Can anyone quote the law regarding this please

Thanks

[Mike Buckley]

All the Law says is you have to take general fire precautions which in this case is covered by:-

(a) measures to reduce the risk of fire on the premises and the risk of the spread of fire on the
premises;
(b) measures in relation to the means of escape from the premises;
(c) measures for securing that, at all material times, the means of escape can be safely and
effectively used;

How you do it is up to you and will depend on your risk assessment. Guidance is available from the Guides to fire precautions available from the CLG website and the British Standards. However there is no legislation that tells you exactly what to do.

[kurnal]

I agree with Mike, such a precriptive rule would conflict with the spirit of the legislation in England and Wales. There is no such specific legal requirement. Your risk assessment must consider what suitable risk control measures would be necessary to protect persons from any fire risks arising from the use of the kitchen taking into account matters such as  the activities going on there and its location in respect of exits from the area.

[Phil B]

Thanks chaps